ESPN's Linda Cohn tried out to be the Panthers' backup practice goalie

The Florida Panthers' contest to give one lucky fan the opportunity to practice at goalie with the team generated plenty of interest. According to the Sun

The Florida Panthers' contest to give one lucky fan the opportunity to practice at goalie with the team generated plenty of interest. According to the Sun Sentinel, the team received over 1,500 applications. Only 60 were chosen, including SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn.

We welcome @lindacohn here today as she tries out for the @flapanthers #GoalOfALifetime contest! pic.twitter.com/eDJdGb5v87

— Amerant Bank Arena (@AmerantArena) March 16, 2015

First one to arrive! @FlaPanthers @sportscenter #goalofalifetime #icetimewithlco pic.twitter.com/wTKH0tm2HG

— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) March 16, 2015

Cohn, 55, played goalie for her high school's boys' team and for the women's team at SUNY Oswego. 

Hey look, it's @lindacohn! #GoalOfALifetime #FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/11S5WxbPcT

— Drew Goldfarb (@DrewGoldfarb) March 16, 2015

.@lindacohn will be facing the shots of these former #FlaPanthers alumni for today's #GoalOfALifetime tryouts! pic.twitter.com/LmBP90sDqR

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 16, 2015

“This has been an amazing experience,” Cohn said, according to the team's website. “Playing goal all my life, I hadn't played in a long, long time but when I saw this opportunity of the Florida Panthers turning a negative into a positive, I had to do it. I thought it would be a great idea.”

Part of the reason Cohn hadn't played in so long was because she was hurt the last time she tried to play with a professional team. She was supposed to suit up with a minor league team in upstate New York last March, but she was hit by a falling arcade machine and had to get 25 stitches. She sued the rink. 

Cohn was safe and sound after Monday's appearance, but she wasn't one of the two finalists. The finalists will face off in a shootout challenge during the Panthers' game on Tuesday for the right to suit up in practice with the team. 

- Dan Gartland