Link: The Mask

Incredible article posted on UniWatch a while back. If you haven t read it yet, do it now.

Two Words: Awesome Ness

Sorry for three straight posts mentioning Carey Price, but this is just so amazing.
Habs Inside/Out has an article and several pictures of the Montreal goalie wearing some Jacques Plante era equipment, including a replica mask.

"But the mask … now this is something truly special.

Price cradles the replica of the fibreglass mask Canadiens legend Jacques Plante wore into a game for the first time on Nov. 1, 1959, forever changing the face of goaltending. He rolls it around in his hands, studying every bump and scratch, then wrestles it on, adjusting the elastic straps before rapping his knuckles against his cheek and wincing at the impact of just that."

The full article can be found here, and the full gallery of photos is here.

2009 All-Star Game

Goalies at the All-Star Game get me mad. Perhaps it started when Khabibulin didn't recieve the MVP award a couple of years ago. But the real reason is how stupid they look. When you take your teams pads and masks, then mix in the all star jersey, the finished product usually looks like this.
This year seemed to be better then usual. Backstrom's pads had a little green in them, but for the most part, the colors were red. Tim Thomas looked the most out of place, and JS Gigure followed his lead, while Roberto Luongo was on the fence.
The "Best Dressed" has got to be either the hometown boy, Carey Price, or the Rangers Henrik Lundqvist. This is what an All-Star goalie looks like
My question is, why can't goalies have an all-star mask? If Mike Smith has a Saw mask, I don't see the problem in having one commemerating something more important.

The Coverboy

I got home a couple of weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised at the latest ESPN the mag in the mailbox. Carey Price in all of his glory. Hockey is rare enough on sports magazine covers, but hockey goalies are even rarer.
Anywho, ESPN had a video of the photo shoot (below), and included this beauty in the article.

Pittsburgh Steelguins

In honor of the impending Super Bowl Sunday, I give you Marc-Andre Fleury:


Yeah, yellow doesn't really go with baby blue. Cool, nonetheless.

Interview with "Saving Face" Author

Victoria Star has posted a really nice interview with the author of the book all about hockey masks, Gary Smith. Here's a small excerpt

""I started making (goalie) masks in grade nine and I was always attracted to masks. Of course growing up in Canada I played hockey and I was attracted to the position of goal because of the masks," he said. "In grade nine I started making them and have been ever since.""

Sounds like my childhood, besides the actually playing goalie, of course.
The whole interview can be found here.
And the Amazon.com listing for the book is here.

Winter Classic 2009

Not a whole lot of mask news during this years Winter Classic. For the first time, no goalie wore a beanie on his mask like Jose Theodore and Ryan Miller did in previous years. The one lone exception was Cristobal Huet who honored the even very well by having the famous Wrigley Field sign on the front of the mask. Ty Conklin, who has been in every Classic donned his normal octopus mask. Personally, I was hoping he would go for a retro looking mask to go with the jerseys.

Gifts of Glory

Its that time of year. The time where goalie mask lovers hope to get a mask related gift but never do. I'm here for you. Even if the gift is for yourself.
So without further ado, I give you the top six Mask Gifts for the Christmas Season.

6. Team Mini Mask
Plain? Yes, but these masks are perfect for autographs and to put on display.
You can find team selection here.

5. Evolution of the Mask
I cam across these gems on the NHL Store. You can get them framed or unframed

4. Upper Deck Mini Mask
In 2002 the card company Upper Deck inserted Miniature Replica masks into certain boxes of hockey cards. Now, you can find them on eBay.

3. McFarlanes Figure
I've talked about these before, and nothing has changed since. Find out more here.

2. Saving Face
This is number one on my list, and if I don't get it, I'll be getting it myself. If you haven't heard about it, Saving Face is a book about goalie masks. Must Read.

1. Replica Mask from Masks From the Past
Wow! It might not fit everyone's price range, but I can dream can't I? The best gift ever can be found right here.

10 Best Masks of the Year: 3

3. Mathieu Garon

Ah fire and ice, blue and red. Even though it's technically orange oil, you get the idea. Who would have thought to put ice on a Oilers mask? Come to think of it, why name a team that plays on ice Oilers in the first place? Anywho, awesome mask. The one downside: the RBK logo. But, what can ya do?

10 Best Masks of 07-08
10: Hannu Toivonen
9: Jocelyn Thibault
8. Marc Denis
7. Alex Auld
6. Jose Theodore
5. Marty Turco
4. Vesa Toskala

Mike Smith Likes the New Mask Smell

Tampa goalie Mike Smith must have a thing for donning a new mask. After his "Saw" mask, he has made comments about having a new mask every month. Overall, it seems to gimmicky.

From Tampa Bay.com:

MASKED MAN: G Mike Smith has his third new mask of the season, and said he might wear a new one every month. He said he wore a Christmas mask last year and likely will do so again.

"I think it's a great idea for goalies around the league," he said. "The artists are willing to do it and goaltenders have fun with different masks."

The current mask commemorates Veterans' Day and Canada's Remembrance Day. Both are celebrated Tuesday. The United States flag and army boots are on one side. The Canadian flag is on the other. All 30 NHL logos adorn the brow.

Smith said he is unsure if he will give the mask to charity as he did the Saw V mask he wore the past few weeks.

Cam Ward...Again

Cam Ward wore a new mask again, this time mimicking the move "Cape Fear". I've never seen this movie, I have to imagine that stare is important.
It seems that the days of a goalie being known for one mask are slowing fading. Brodeurs, and Belfours are now not too common.

Pics of the new mask are here, here, and here.

10 Best Masks of the Year: 4

4. Vesa Toskala

Yes, I know it isn't all that original, and it has nothing to do with Maple Leafs. However, it is very Vesa (if that makes sense). The story goes that he saw the skull in a tattoo shop in Finland. He has worn the same basic design since '99, both in Sweeden and in San Jose. The only difference is the color.
Another reason this mask is number4 is that it just looks awesome when paired with the jersey. Look at this. I have no clue why, but it just looks amazing.

10 Best Masks of 07-08
10: Hannu Toivonen
9: Jocelyn Thibault
8. Marc Denis
7. Alex Auld
6. Jose Theodore
5. Marty Turco

Quick Note: 10 Best Masks of 07-08

I've gotten about 2 comments on where masks 4-1 of last years best masks list are. Well, I never posted them. Yeah, every now and then I'll take a few weeks off until I enjoy posting again. And since 2 readers is probably half of my readership. I will not disappoint. Expect number 4 to be posted later today, and the rest of the top ten later in the week. Reminder: This is last years top ten, not this years.

On Election Tuesday...

I bring to you via Puck Daddy, the Sarah Palin hockey mask.

SI Link

Awesome 51 page long Gallery on SI.com on masks. Check it out now!

Link: Hockey in Art

Plenty of sites are now blurring the line between sports and art. See Uni Watch, Icethetics, and even here. Well we can add another site up: Hockey in Art. It's simply drawn, painted, and sketched hockey pictures. Look at the detail in Ryan Millers mask on the left! Really good site to just waste a couple minutes looking around.

Scarier Than a Puck at 98 mph

This is probably old news to most of you, but in case you haven't heard, Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith have been promoting SAW V on their masks. You can see Smith's here, and Kolzig's here. Personally I like Kolzig's better, simply because I know what's on it. However, promoting a movie on a mask; not a good idea. I better not see a Beverly Hills Chihuahua mask anytime soon.


Icethetics Link
Awful Announcing Link

Nice Season Mask Preview

From the genius behind Icethetics (formerly NHL Tournament of Logos), comes his mask preview for the season. Take a look here.

The Newest Blank Canvas to Create On...

Masks are now old news*. The newest goaltender equipment/art statement is the stick. Two NHL goalies have seen using sticks with some sort of design on it. Chris Mason went with his number (50) and his teams logo, while Patrick Lalime of the Sens took it another route with Marvin the Martian, the same lovable alien that is on his mask. What they might be using is a product called Blade Tape (official site)
I think this a great way to extend the art on the mask, to the stick, as long as it doesn't get carried away, like putting stuff on the pads.

Notes:
Tobias Stephan seems to prefer Marty Turco's white mask, since he himself has one.
Jose Theodore switched teams, but hasn't gotten around to changing his mask.
Mathieu Garon has a incredible mask to go along with the Oilers new 3rd Jersey/throwback, I believe it is modeled after Grant Fuhr's

News From the Garden State

Big mask news from Jersey today. In case you haven't heard already, Martin Brodeur has a new mask. No earth shattering changes, just switches up his old "J" for his personal logo "MB30". However, it is the first change to his mask since 1993 (Short sideshow, displaying all 3 masks), making it one of the more recognizable masks in the league.

As you can see, the sides are basically the same, and the head logo still has the devilish tail. I haven't seen the back of the new design but I assume that they kept all of his mementos.

There's a nice article explaining all that went into it, and another picshow on the redesign.



UPDATE: Here is how it looks in a game