Hockey goaltenders may not be the sanest of individuals, what with their job consisting of standing in front of frozen vulcanized rubber pucks being shot in excess of 100 mph. But at least modern goalies are smart enough to wear masks. In hockey's early days, goaltenders stopped pucks without any protection for their face and head. Even the hint of wearing a mask had fellow players questioning the goaltender's courage.
Clint Benedict
Montreal Maroons goaltender Clint Benedict became the first man to experiment with wearing a mask. On Jan. 7, 1930, Montreal Canadiens star Howie Morenz fired a puck off Benedict's nose and cheekbone. In an attempt to find some type of protection for his injured face, Benedict donned a makeshift padded mask similar to one boxers wore while sparring. The mask lasted only two games before Benedict discarded the padding, claiming it restricted his ability to see the puck.
Jacques Plante
Despite Benedict's brief brush with wearing a mask, legendary Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante is credited as the goalie mask's inventor. On November 1, 1959, New York Rangers forward Andy Bathgate blasted a puck off Plante's face, forcing him to leave the game to receive stitches. When he returned, Plante was wearing a crude fiberglass mask he had made for practices. Montreal coach Toe Blake hated the idea of his goaltender hiding behind a mask, but allowed Plante to wear the protection until his face healed. Plante responded with an impressive winning streak and continued to wear the mask the rest of his career.
Wire Cages
With Plante serving as a trailblazer, other goaltenders soon adopted similar fiberglass masks of their own. These masks rested flush against the face and featured holes for the eyes and small air holes in various patterns. While a step in the right direction, these masks offered only modest protection and left goalie's eyes vulnerable to errant sticks and the occasional shot. Goaltenders continued to test various improvements throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with many goalies choosing to wear a standard hockey helmet with an attached cage to protect the face.
Modern Goalie Masks
During the late 1980s, goaltenders started wearing molded composite masks made of Kevlar that extended beyond the chin and encased the entire head. These masks had a large hole cut out over the nose and eyes to allow excellent visibility and breathing. A specially crafted wire cage anchored to the mask and protected the face. The mask's unique shape also reduced the impact of direct hits to the forehead and chin. This modern style took hold in the 1990s and remains the standard goalie mask.
Creativity
Aside from protection, masks have also provided goaltenders with an opportunity for creative expression. In the 1968-69 season, Boston Bruins goaltender Gerry Cheevers started the trend, decorating his white fiberglass mask with black stitches to commemorate each time a puck hit his face. Since then, goaltenders have continued to personalize their masks, with the designs often featuring their team's logo and city.
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