The history of great goalie masks in hockey is a rich and soulful tapestry, with an entire industry of custom mask designers dedicated to bringing your favourite NHL netminder’s most creative ideas to life.
As a result, we’ve seen everything from self-portraits to niche references to just sheer absurdities, and along the way, some seriously iconic masks.
Elvis Merzlikins and Petr Mrazek are trying to step things up with their new masks, partnering with Activision's Crash Bandicoot 4 on a matching set of Good and Evil Masks. Designed by the artist DaveArt, Merzlikins is in the Good Mask while Mrazek is in the Evil, and the two go head-to-head in a few at-home challenges in their new gear. Crash Bandicoot 4 is currently available at retailers and online.
You don’t often see goalies pair up on a set of concept masks, but honestly, it’s an idea with so much potential. Just think of the tie-ins that goalie tandems could have, or even friendly rivals across opposing teams!
Merzlikins and Mrazek’s masks have us thinking about some of the coolest masks of all-time that did a little something different, something to keep the innovative spirit of goalie mask design alive and pushing forward.
Curtis Joseph’s Cujo mask
Inspired by the Stephen King novel, Curtis Joseph’s mask had to be one of the most intimidating in league history. Aside from the fact that he was basically the cream of the crop as far as goaltenders go, Cujo leaned full tilt into the concept of a horror mask, and we’re so much better off for it.
Gerry Cheevers' stitches mask
Obviously, we had to show some love to the OG. Gerry Cheevers had the first 'custom' goalie mask in history, drawing stitches in marker on his otherwise plain mask. As the story goes, Cheevers got the idea after getting struck in the mask by a puck during practice, and that was the first step towards all of the great custom masks that populate the game today.
Steve Shields’ Gerry Cheevers mask
That’s right. Cheevers’ original mask is so iconic that Steve Shields even made a mask of that mask to pay homage. This goalie mask is meta!
Cam Talbot’s Ghostbusters masks
Cam Talbot would switch it up from year-to-year, but each of his new masks clung to a consistent theme: His love for the movie Ghostbusters. Of course, that movie is a classic, but sticking to the bit for so long is also something that we value in Talbot’s masks.
Gilles Gratton’s tiger mask
Sort of like an early predecessor to the Cujo mask, with a much more lifelike depiction of a tiger’s face over his mask. Before the introduction of cages to goalie masks, these face-hugging helmets offered much more surface area for mask designs, and we love what some of the goalies from back in the day chose to do with their masks.
Ed Belfour’s eagle mask
Wherever Ed Belfour went, so did the eagle. This was committing to a theme and sticking with it — his mask even inspired his “Eddie the Eagle” nickname, instead of the other way around. No matter which team he played for in his career, his mask design remained mostly the same, just with minor touch-ups.
John Gibson’s Pac-man mask
Sort of like Talbot’s Ghostbusters masks, John Gibson’s masks follow his love for arcade games from year to year, and we especially love this Pac-man mask because it literally is just the entire game level plastered across his helmet. John Gibson’s out here making scenes.
