Goaltender mask
A goaltender mask, commonly referred to as a goalie mask, is a
. This article deals chiefly with the goal masks used in ice hockey.In ice hockey it is sometimes simply referred to as a hockey mask. In some cases the facemask must meet safety specifications designed for use in a specific sport such as ringette. Some recent changes have also occurred in bandy though not without controversy. This article deals chiefly with masks designed for ice hockey goaltenders.
Jacques Plante was the first ice hockey goaltender to create and use a practical mask in 1959.[1] Plante's mask was a piece of fiberglass that was contoured to his face. This mask later evolved into a helmet-cage combination, and single piece full fiberglass mask. Today, the full fiberglass mask with the birdcage facial protector (known as a "combo mask") is the more popular option, because it is safer and offers better visibility.
Since the invention of the fiberglass ice hockey mask, professional goaltenders no longer play without a mask, considering it is now a mandatory piece of equipment. The last goaltender to play without a mask was Andy Brown, who played his last NHL game in 1974. He later moved to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association and played without a mask until his retirement in 1977.[2]
History
The first recorded case of an ice hockey goaltender using a mask was in February 1927 where a metal fencing mask was donned by Queen's University netminder Elizabeth Graham, mainly to protect her teeth.[3]
In 1930, the first crude leather model of the mask (actually an American football "nose-guard") was worn by Clint Benedict to protect his broken nose.[4] After recovering from the injury, he abandoned the mask, never wearing one again in his career.
At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Japanese ice hockey goaltender Teiji Honma wore a crude mask, similar to the one worn by baseball catchers. The mask was made of leather, and had a wire cage that protected the face, as well as Honma's large circular glasses.
Jacques Plante
It was not until 1959 that a goaltender wore a mask full-time. On November 1, 1959, in the first period of a game between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) at Madison Square Garden, Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante was struck in the face by a shot from Andy Bathgate.[5] Plante had previously worn his mask in practice, but head coach Toe Blake refused to allow him to wear it in a game, fearing it would inhibit his vision.[6] After being stitched up, Plante gave Blake an ultimatum, refusing to go back out onto the ice without the mask, to which Blake obliged, not wanting to forfeit the game, since NHL teams did not have back-up goaltenders at the time. Montreal won the game 3–1 and continued on an 18-game unbeaten streak, which went through November.[7]
In preparation for the playoffs, Plante was asked by Blake to remove it for a game on March 8, a 3–0 loss.
Types
Face-hugging
The face-hugging fiberglass, the type which was worn first by Jacques Plante, is a longtime symbol of ice hockey as typified by the famous painting At the Crease, by Ken Danby. The goaltender mask evolved further from the original face-hugging fiberglass mask designed by Plante. Although this mask does not seem very protective now, at the time it was, based on the style of game that was played.[citation needed]
Gerry Cheevers's use of the face-hugging mask for the Boston Bruins was among the first to be "decorated" in a custom manner; as prompted by then-Bruins trainer John "Frosty" Forristall as a joke, painting a fake stitch on the mask where Cheevers had been struck by an errant puck.[10] Cheevers adopted the "stitch mask" as his own,[11] and went on to set an NHL record (which still stands) of 32-straight wins during the Bruins' 1971–72 season.[12][13]
While this style of mask is no longer used by hockey leagues, it has remained famous because of its use in
Helmet-cage ("bird cage") combination
In the 1970s, a helmet-cage combination was popularized by
Fiberglass/cage combination (Combo mask)
In the late 1970s, a second type of goaltender mask consisting of a fiberglass mask with a wire cage covering a cut-out area in the middle of it was developed by
Cats-eye bars
Brian Heaton, designer of the Cooper Canada HM30 cage and HM40 for forward players, inspired the basis for all cats-eye bars, (a.k.a. "cateye" cages) in use by goaltenders today.[19]
Cats-eye bars are banned in all minor hockey governed by Hockey Canada, unless they feature additional bars to reduce the size of the openings.[18]
Tactical play
The advent of the goaltender mask changed the way goaltenders play, allowing them to make more saves on their knees without fear of serious head or facial injuries. Before the advent of the mask, most goaltenders stayed standing as much as possible. In the modern era, a goaltender is likely to suffer temporary discomfort instead of serious concussions and lacerations; however, a mask does not eliminate all potential risk of injury, and goaltenders have been concussed by a shot hitting the head. Some goaltenders, such as Dominik Hašek and Henrik Lundqvist, have used their heads intentionally to stop shots. Lundqvist said that his reason for this is to not obstruct his vision by placing his catching glove in front of his mask to stop the shot.
Mask decoration
With available surface area provided by fiberglass masks, goaltenders find it fashionable to give their mask distinctive decorations. This tradition started with the earliest masks, notably by the aforementioned, now-retired Boston Bruins goaltender Gerry Cheevers, who was known for drawing stitches on his mask whenever it got hit.
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Modern decorated mask from Michael Tobler, Lausanne Season 2009–10, made by Airxess
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Henrik Lundqvist's mask featuring the Statue of Liberty
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Brent Johnson's mask featuring Led Zeppelin graphics and lyrics
Other uses
Other sports
In recent years,
Goaltender masks are commonly seen being worn by box lacrosse, ringette, rinkball, floorball and field hockey goaltenders at both youth and professional levels.
See also
- Hockey helmet
- Goalie pads
- Ringette
References
- ^ a b "Masks for goalies gain acceptance". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 23, 1969. p. 7, sports.
- ^ "Andrew Conrad (Andy) Brown". Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Forget Jacques Plante". Retrieved 2008-12-13.[dead link]
- ^ "History of Masks". Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Plante hurt, finishes up with mask". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. November 2, 1959. p. 21.
- ^ "Jacques Plante to wear mask against Rangers tonight". Montreal Gazette. November 5, 1959. p. 26.
- ^ "Leafs beat Habs 1-0, end streak". Montreal Gazette. Canadian Press. December 3, 1959. p. 25.
- ^ "Plante removes mask, Canadiens lose to Red Wings 3-0". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. March 9, 1960. p. 25.
- ^ "Habs whip Leafs 9-4". Montreal Gazette. Canadian Press. March 10, 1960. p. 27.
- ^ "Cheevers with the "stitch mask" on, in a Bruins game". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
- ^ O'Reilly, Terry (5 January 2017). "The Crazy World of Trademarks". Under the Influence. CBC Radio. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ McLaren, Ian (March 19, 2014). "This Day in Hockey History". The Score. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ "Bruins Keep Rolling". The New York Times. February 14, 1983. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Jason Voorhees figurehead". Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ Devenish, Colin (August 19, 2004). "Body Count Guitarist Dead". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
- ^ "The Goalie Mask". NHL.com. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "Panthers' Tim Thomas shows off a pair of odd helmets in game vs. Boston". SI.com. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ a b "A MUST READ FOR ALL GOALIES". omha.net. Ontario Minor Hockey Association. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Brian Heaton History Thread". thegoalnet.com.
- ^ "Gerry Cheevers". Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Gerry Cheevers Biography". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "About Charlie O'Brien". charlieoproducts.com. Retrieved 16 March 2017.