Ice Hockey Goalie Mask History

These became less popular in the year 1969 in north america when a series of severe and career ending injuries struck down many nhl goaltenders using molded masks and prompted the canadian standards association to outlaw.

Ice hockey goalie mask history. Gerry cheevers had his trainer paint stitches on his fiberglass mask whenever a puck or stick struck him in the face. Jeff reese 1995 96. This mask later evolved into a helmet cage combination and single piece full fiberglass mask. Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice usually in a rink in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent s net to score goals.

Jacques plante was the first goaltender to create and use a practical mask in 1959. Bauer goalie masks are designed to reduce vibrations with impact absorbing foams and fiberglass shells. Daren puppa 1993 99. He was born in flint michigan and is a graduate of davison high school.

One goaltender and five players who skate the span of the ice trying to control the puck and score. Pat jablonski 1993 94. Early masks were constructed from fiberglass and were molded to the shape of the wearer s face. Olympic hockey team defeated the favored soviet olympic hockey team which was led by greats including boris mikhailov and vladislav tretiak in that game craig stopped 36 of 39 shots from the soviet team.

Montreal maroons clint benedict wore a crude leather mask in 1929 to protect a broken nose. Jean claude bergeron 1995 96. Today the full fiberglass mask with the birdcage. Jacques plante wasn t the first nhl goaltender to wear a face mask.

The mask became one of the most recognizable symbols of the era and now hangs on the wall of his grandson s bedroom. He is considered the pioneer of goalie mask art and design. The sport is known to be fast paced and physical with teams usually fielding six players at a time. Here is a look at each one and the years they were worn.

Born april 15 1974 is an american former professional ice hockey goaltender who mainly played in the national hockey league nhl most notably with the boston bruins. Shop bauer profile and nme masks today. Craig played a key role in one of the landmark moments in united states sports history as the goalie for the united states in the miracle on ice when the 1980 u s. Protecting the head should be the highest priority of any goaltender.

A goaltender mask commonly referred to as a hockey mask or a goalie mask is a mask worn by ice hockey inline hockey field hockey bandy and floorball goaltenders to protect the head from injury. It is still perhaps the most recognizable goalie mask in hockey history. Montreal maroon s goaltender clint benedict 1930. Derek wilkinson 1995 96.