Happy 50th, Goalie Mask

November 1 /09 marks the 50th anniversary of Jacques Plante donning a goalie mask after Andy Bathgate's shot him in the face. After getting stitched up (20 of 'em), Plante comes out wearing a mask. Habs coach Toe Blake was not amused.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/719089--plante-legend-still-growing



And to all the Cliff Clavins, yes, we all know about Clint Benedict. He's a footnote, that's all.

It's too bad that Plante is known mostly for being the first goalie to wear a mask full time. He revolutionized the position in several ways, including stopping the shoot-around behind his net and coming out to play the puck. No goalie did that prior to Jacques.

He also knitted on road trips.

Despite being a hardcore Leafs fan, Plante was my hero as a kid.

Bathgate still admits that he did it on purpose.

 

Thanks for posting the great read, JR.

Here's one of my favorite mask-wearers ... who I believe was RELEASED by Montreal in the late 1960s:

 

EF does a great piece tonight on HNIC's Inside Hockey (don't know whether you can access this in the US or not)

Love the segment on Carey Price commissioning a special mask for Remembrance Day

http://tinyurl.com/yzyv746

 

Some places in the US can see it live on HNIC.

 

Jason Voorhees could not be reached for comment because he's dead. Again.

 

You can also usually catch Inside Hockey on the HNIC website once they get archived.

 

I still have the ones I wore.

I was pretty much insane.

 

I say the scariest one is the old school one with all the stitches on it--Gary Cheever?-- Not being a huge hockey fan I'm not totally sure) But that one is badass and I'm suprised they didn't have Jason wear it for the Nightmare on Elm St movies.

 

Gerry Cheevers.



Best ever goalie mask belongs to Gilles Gratton

 

The one Denis Lemieux wore in "Slap Shot" is pretty cool, too.



And you can have a replica, autographed by actor Yvon Barrette, for $395.

http://www.frozenpond.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=3911&cat=341&page=1

 

But even creepier is this actual NHL mask, worn circa 1980 by Gary Bromley of the Vancouver Canucks.



And here's some graphic evidence of why Jacques Plante chose to protect his face - a photo taken after that game on Nov. 1, 1959.

 

Here you go, JR - Plante in the blue and white.



And Beef, this one's for you.



Jacques and the Oil were rocking the red unis back in '74-'75.