06/20/2026
The Bus
Do you know the name Brandon Bussi?
Brandon plays hockey—the not-so-coveted position of goaltender.
Goalies tend to have customized masks that they wear. Bussi wears puzzle pieces and rainbow butterflies on his goalie mask in honor of his brother, who has autism, to help raise awareness.
Today, Brandon Bussi is also known as the goalie who clinched the Stanley Cup finals with a shutout, despite being the backup goalie—despite not even being in the NHL until very recently.
Brandon Bussi went undrafted, and he played until last year in the AHL. He had a great career in college and the AHL, and by all accounts, seems to have been playing his best hockey, waiting patiently for his big chance.
This year, he was called up to the NHL first to the Florida Panthers and then found a place on the Carolina Hurricanes roster as the backup goalie.
He played a handful of games during the regular season with the Hurricanes and was showing some promise.
But that all changed in the Stanley Cup playoffs this year.
The starting goalie, Frederik Andersen, had an off game and was pulled before the final period, presumably to give him some rest to live to fight another day.
Brandon Bussi came into the game with the expectation of not letting the 4-0 score bleed much worse in the final 20 minutes of play.
But to be honest, when you’re already down by 4 points—it doesn’t much matter if you save anything at all. It feels like the game is already over. It wasn’t like the pressure was on.
But the game wasn’t over for Bussi.
He had a job to do, and he was determined to do his best.
Something clicked in that final period. On offense and on defense for Carolina.
They stormed back to score 4 goals in the final period, tying the game, while Bussi held up a brick wall by the net, making truly spectacular saves and inspiring new energy into the team. Nothing got through.
The game went to overtime. And still. Nothing got through.
Then, it went to double overtime.
Bussi faced 19 shots on goal during his time in net, and finally, in double overtime, let one in, and Carolina lost that battle—BUT there was now a new energy in the playoffs.
A new secret weapon was unlocked.
Bussi put in such a performance that he was named to start the next game. And the next. And the next. In. the. Stanley. Cup. Finals.
In game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs (what turned out to be the clinching game)—Brandon Bussi helped his team to victory with a shutout. The final score was 3-0.
He was quick to point out in interviews after the wins that this was a team. They wouldn’t be here without their main goalie, Frederik Andersen, and he, Bussi, was just doing his part. He was just another guy on the team.
I have absolutely loved seeing the story of Brandon Bussi unfold.
Of a guy who almost no one had heard of, put into the hardest position on the ice—with the unfortunate task of finishing out an embarrassing game.
He made a difference that night.
No game is over until it’s over. As my stepdad was infamous for heckling as fans would exit the stadium before time expired, “Where y'all going? Game ain’t over!”
Bussi knew it wasn’t over yet.
And he fought for his team.
Even though they lost that game, he’s being lauded for helping turn the tide back towards Carolina and stunning the Vegas Knights in the finals.
But according to him, he’s just another guy on the team.
He may be just another guy on the team, but today, his name is now etched on the famed Stanley Cup.
He may be just another guy on the team, but he’s the one every single member of the team met at the goal to dogpile to celebrate their victory.
He may be just another guy on the team, but he made a difference.
I have just loved this story. I love perseverance. I love an underdog winning. I love a team player. It’s an amazing story.
But it also reminds me of some Gospel truths.
God is calling each of us to be just another member of the team.
To spread hope and joy where there is none.
To share the good news with those who are lost and filled with broken hearts.
You never know the difference you can make when you decide to be ‘just another guy on the team.’
And never forget—God’s not done writing your story yet.
Never give up—because it’s not over til it’s over.
Join us this Sunday for worship at 10 am.
We’ll be continuing our sermon series on Soul Food with the message, “The Master’s Banquet.”
Saving a seat for you!
Rev. Katie
