Some goalies take their style very seriously, while others don’t seem to mind one way or another. While pad setups are certainly important to those that like to look good, there is nothing quite as prized as a goalie’s mask.
The mask is where the goalies can get really creative with the details, illustrations, and colours. They work with goalie mask designers to come up with the perfect look, and fans usually have all sorts of opinions on them.
Braden Holtby decided to go a very unique route with his mask, paying tribute to Indigenous culture by featuring the mythical Thunderbird on his mask.
The Thunderbird is a mythical creature within certain indigenous communities, particularly in Algonquin and Ojibway mythology. It is considered a symbol of power and strength, and a protector of human beings.
As the story goes, the Thunderbird would control the “upper world”, firing lightning bolts down at creatures in the under world, and could create thunder by clapping it’s wings together.
In Ojibway mythology, the Thunderbird was also responsible for punishing humans that had commited immoral deeds. The colourful bird is often depicted in Indigenous art, and can often be seen represented on Totem Poles.
Holtby is making a splash already in his first season with the Canucks, and if all goes well he’ll embody some of the qualities a Thunderbird represents within the culture he’s paying homage to.
(H/T Dave Art, Legends of America)
