I Love Goalies!

New Carey Price Mask Added

2012-02-21T17:14:00.001-06:00

Carey Price debuted a new mask on February 19, 2012 (similar to his previous rodeo mask.)

See it here.

New Mask for Jhonas Enroth

2012-02-09T18:40:00.001-06:00

David Gunnarsson unveiled a new mask for Jhonas Enroth on February 8, 2012.

You can find it here.

Top 10 NHL Saves of the Week 2/3/12

2012-02-06T22:33:00.003-06:00

Top Ten Saves of the Week, 2/3/12

New Corey Crawford Mask Added

2012-02-04T20:11:00.000-06:00

Corey Crawford unveiled a new mask to wear with their home jerseys. You'll find it here.

Goalie Photos from the 2012 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft

2012-01-27T12:27:00.000-06:00

January 26, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario

Henrik Lundqvist of the NY Rangers and Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues (Team Alfredsson)

Henrik Lundqvist of the NY Rangers and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings (Team Alfredsson)

Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings and Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins (Team Chara)

Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Team Chara)

Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins (Team Chara)

Brian Elliott 2012 NHL All-Star Game Mask

2012-01-24T16:34:00.001-06:00

Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues, had a special All-Star Mask created in honor of his selection.
Article found at InGoal Magazine:

The St. Louis stopper celebrated his nod in the mid-season classic by taking the rare — it may even be a first — step of having an special All Star Game mask created just for the game by Head Strong Grafx. The one-off “memento” mask still features the Casey Jones character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on one side, while the other features the Blues logo and the famed Gateway Arch.

Elliott, whose future in the NHL was so uncertain last summer he had to settle for a two-way contract from the Blues, won’t have the Moose head and “Mr. Moose” license plate on the backplate this time. Instead Elliott had artist Jason Livery paint a faded All Star Game logo on the backplate, one he plans to get autographed by fellow NHL All Stars as a keepsake.

Here is the entry for his regular season mask.

Why I Love Goalies

2012-01-07T13:34:00.000-06:00

Flyers' Parent Shines in Brief Return to the Ice

2012-01-01T12:59:00.000-06:00

From NHL.com (video included at the site)

Saturday, 12.31.2011 / 9:00 PM / 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Rangers v. Flyers
By Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

When the rosters for the Molson Canadian 2012 NHL Winter Classic were announced, Bernie Parent was scheduled to be a non-playing ambassador.

A fan outpouring, however, convinced the 66-year-old Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender to break out the old pads and strap on the gear one more time.

He played just 5:32, but it was a 332 seconds Parent likely never will forget.

Parent received arguably the loudest ovations of any of the players, and the chants of "Bernie! Bernie!" never really stopped from the minute he came out to start the game until he took one final spin on the ice after his five-minute stint ended.

Even when he came out to watch the game in the third period, he received one more ovation.

"The best way I can describe the feeling you get when people chant your name is like this," said Parent. "Money cannot buy … any amount of money cannot buy that."

Seeing Parent in his No. 1 jersey, old-school brown pads and iconic white mask again evoked images of his prime, when he backstopped the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974-75. He hadn't played in a competitive game since suffering a career-ending eye injury in 1979, and had shoulder-replacement surgery earlier this year.

"You always have reservations when you have age," Bob Kelly, a teammate from the Cup days, told NHL.com. "He had a shoulder replacement not long ago. But he's been in good shape."

"It was a lot of pressure," said Parent. "I felt the pressure, and once you get on the ice you want to perform, you want to do well in front of your fans."

He certainly did that, stopping all six shots he faced. Minutes into the game he made a strong save, and moments later he stopped Ron Duguay on a breakaway.

And while Duguay may not have pulled out his A-plus moves -- "I wasn't going to pick the corner on him," Duguay said after the game -- Parent still did his job.

"He was moving pretty good the other day in practice, too," said Kelly. "There's a lot of respect for Bernie form the other team. No one wanted to embarrass each other out there. Duguay is quite a classy guy. That was nice and Bernie got the kick, made the save and everyone was happy."

It wasn't just the fans who enjoyed seeing Parent in action one last time.

"I've been fortunate to know Bernie for a long time," Neil Little, who played the final period in net for the Flyers, told NHL.com. "This meant a lot to him. To see him put on a good show, that was extra special. I was just happy. I was just like everyone else -- a fan."

"It was wonderful to see Bernie," said Eric Lindros. "I think that was fantastic. He's getting out there and I think he was out there for what, six, seven minutes? That's a great feeling. That's real special for me. Nice to see that."

And like the star he is, Parent knew not to stay in the spotlight for too long.

"That was his call," said Keith Primeau, serving as the team coach. "He made sure we knew before we started that he was coming out five minutes in."

Alumni Game Prior to the NHL's 2012 Winter Classic Game

2012-01-01T12:37:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon alumni from the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers met in the Alumni Game as part of the festivities leading up to the 2012 Winter Classic Game.

The goalies in the Alumni Game were Bernie Parent, Mark LaForest and Neil Little for the Flyers and John Vanbiesbrouck and Dan Blackburn for the Rangers.

"Parent was scheduled to be a non-playing ambassador, but a fan outpouring convinced the 66-year-old Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender to break out the old pads and strap on the gear one more time.

He played just 5:32, but it was a 332 seconds Parent likely never will forget.

Parent received arguably the loudest ovations of any of the players, and the chants of "Bernie! Bernie!" never really stopped from the minute he came out to start the game until he took one final spin on the ice after his five-minute stint ended."

Here are photos from the game. I'm not even going to post the score, because I honestly forget what it was. I don't feel that's the important part. The important thing is that these guys got the chance to play in front of fans again and have a lot of fun.

I'm posting the photos that I was able to find. If it seems there are more of one team or another, it's just because there were more out there for that team/player.

Bernie Parent's Equipment

Neil Little's Mask

Mark LaForest's Mask

Bernie Parent

Mark LaForest and Bernie Parent

Mark LaForest

Neil Little

John Vanbiesbrouck

Dan Blackburn

And Ron Hextall, 2nd from left, was one of the Flyers' ambassadors. Seen here with Gary Dornhoefer, Don Saleski and Dave Schultz.

Sergei Bobrovsky 2012 Winter Classic Mask

2011-12-31T14:51:00.001-06:00

David Gunnarsson presents Sergei Bobrovsky's Winter Classic Mask

For Bobrovsky's other mask, click here.

Mike Murphy 2011-12 Mask

2011-12-29T11:48:00.000-06:00

Mike Murphy of the Carolina Hurricanes.

I have no close-ups of his mask. This is a game photo from December 9, 2011.

Ilya Bryzgalov's 2012 Winter Classic Mask

2011-12-28T20:23:00.002-06:00

Here is the article about Ilya Bryzgalov's Winter Classic Mask at InGoal Magazine.

Bryzgalov's other masks are here.

Artists: Sean and Franny of Drummond Custom Airbrush

"The mask is a tribute to Philadelphia sports in general, the Spectrum and Veterans Stadium. Citizens Bank Park, the venue for this year’s Winter Classic, was built to replace Veterans stadium, and of course the Spectrum, which also was home to the Sixers, was built when the Flyers came into the NHL. The players featured are Reggie White (Eagles) Julius Erving (Sixers), Mike Schmidt (Phillies), and Bobby Clarke (Flyers) along with the Philly Phanatic. The HK patch is for the late, great Harry Kallus. The saying “Good night and Good Hockey” was a famous phrase used by the great Gene Hart before he passed away."

And here are the pads he had made for the Winter Classic. He didn't play in the game, so he's wearing them now (January), along with the mask.

Graphic from The Goalie Guild

Carey Price 2011-12 Mask

2011-12-23T13:16:00.002-06:00

Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens (born Aug. 16, 1987 in Anahim Lake, BC.)

On February 19, 2012, Price wore a mask in the game vs. New Jersey that article David Arrigo called a "concept mask." Here's what he had to say about it:

"When I met with Carey this year we threw around some concepts for a new mask and I agreed to create a concept mask incorporating these ideas (and not thinking it would be worn). The objective was to work on some new techniques and patterns which would be evolved for his full-time replacement mask.

To my surprise, on Sunday’s game vs. the Devils of New Jersey, the mask that I spent less than two days on (including clear coating) was being worn in the Bell Centre. Needless to say there are some rough edges to this mask that would not be there if I had known this mask would have made an appearance in Prime Time.

This mask continues with the cowboy theme and integrates Native Indian elements, paying homage to Price’s ancestry from Anahim Lake."

Artist: David Arrigo

Carey has worn two special masks this season so far. He wore a Breast Cancer Awareness Mask in October that was then auctioned off for charity. Then in November he wore a Rembrance Day Mask that was also auctioned for charity.
Outside of those two months, he seems to be wearing the same rodeo-themed mask as last season (until late February, see above.)

Thanks to the reader who commented with the link to Facebook with what seems to be a new mask Price is breaking in. Still a rodeo-themed mask, but it seems to be slightly different. Check it out.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150450988371811&set=pu.14996086810&type=1&theater

December13, 2011

Graphic courtesy of The Goalie Guild

Chris Mason set to break out fighter Jet pads in Winnipeg

2011-12-19T21:48:00.001-06:00

Chris Mason's new pads from InGoal Magazine.

Graphic courtesy of The Goalie Guild

Henrik Lundqvist's Winter Classic Mask

2011-12-19T21:42:00.003-06:00

Henrik Lundqvist will be wearing this mask during the Winter Classic against the Philadelphia Flyers.

From artist David Gunnarsson:

Henrik had a vision how to make a mask that looks really old...and not just old, it should also look as it has been used, not only used but heavily used for many, many years... A mask that looks so old, that it seems to have been laying at an attic for many, many decades... It is dusty, it is sun bleached, there is even rust around the screws... Heavily used...with lots of scratches and chippings...and puck marks...and marks from the crossbar... This mask has its own history from all the games it has experienced... It was so much fun to create this design.

Here is the entry for Lundqvist's mask for the rest of the season.

Craig Anderson's Heritage Mask

2011-12-17T09:43:00.001-06:00

Craig Anderson's new Heritage themed mask pays tribute to Clint Benedict, a Hockey Hall of Fame netminder who backstopped the original Senators to three Stanley Cups in the 1920s.

Artist: John Pepe of Pepe Custom Paint

Here is the entry for Anderson's other mask this season.

Leland Irving 2011-12 Mask

2011-12-17T09:34:00.003-06:00

Leland Irving of the Calgary Flames (born April 11, 1988 in Barrhead, AB.)

Irving made his NHL debut on December 16, 2011 against the Florida Panthers. Henrik Karlsson has been sidelined with a knee injury, and Miikka Kiprusoff was given a rest. I happened to watch the game, because the Flames were playing the Panthers, and Irving did great! I was proud of him, even if it was against my team. He stopped 39 of 41 shots, and even stopped a shot in the shootout. He was 3rd star of the game.

Artist: David Gunnarsson

"Among the details I also painted a sky on the side with a bomber plane flying, that is a tribute to Leland´s uncle who passed away this summer."

Courtesy of The Goalie Guild

Martin Biron's Winter Classic Mask

2011-12-14T09:38:00.001-06:00

From Ranger Nation, Marty Biron's Winter Classic mask.

Here's the entry for Biron's mask for the rest of the season.
Artist: Steve Nash of Eyecandyair
"For all the people asking out there why did Marty want a “lion” on his mask, well it’s very simple. It’s actually a tiger and a tribute to retired goaltender Gilles Gratton. Gratton played 41 games with the New York Rangers back in 1976-77."

Jonathan Bernier's Retro Mask

2011-12-12T16:05:00.003-06:00

Jonathan Bernier's new mask that he'll wear with their alternate uniforms.

Artist: David Gunnarsson says this is a tribute to the LA Kings goalie legend Rogie Vachon.

Here is the entry for Bernier's other mask this season.

José Theodore Hits a Milestone Thursday Against Boston

2011-12-10T14:39:00.001-06:00

When the Florida Panthers and goalie, José Theodore, faced defending Stanley Cup Champions Thursday night, it was more than just a big game for the Panthers. It was a milestone game for Theodore. The game was his 600th career NHL game. And it ended up being his 32nd career shutout when he stopped all 40 shots he faced. The win put the Panthers even closer to the top of the Eastern Conference, surprising many that remember their dismal seasons of the past 10 years. Dale Tallon's revamping of the team in the off season with trades and free agency pick-ups has brought together a group of guys that really enjoy playing together and work hard each night. (I might be a tiny bit biased, since José is my favorite, and therefore the Panthers are my team this season, but it's really fun to see. I hope it continues.)

Anyway, here's a list of the active goalies who are in the 600+ game club.

And here are José's career stats

I consider these to be great numbers over such a long career. Especially when many of the teams he was on were not powerhouses. Many people don't give him the credit I feel he deserves. They always bring up names like Brodeur or Roy, who were/are great goalies, no doubt about that. But if you compare career numbers, José's are very similar to theirs. And if you ask his current and former teammates, you'll be hard-pressed to find a bad word spoken about him. He is one of the most well-liked players/teammates in the league. That counts a lot in my book. I feel teammates need to know their goalie appreciates them and supports them and doesn't criticize them whenever they have a defensive breakdown or do something that leads to a goal.

And that's my José admiration post for the season. Back to regularly scheduled posts. ;o)

Matt Hackett 2011-12 Mask

2011-12-07T12:51:00.002-06:00

Matt Hackett of the Minnesota Wild (born March 7, 1990 in London, ON.)

Matt played in his first NHL game against the San Jose Sharks in relief of injured Josh Harding on December 6, 2011. He earned the win and stopped all 34 shots he faced. He is the nephew of former NHL goalie, Jeff Hackett (the Sharks' first goalie.)

He will spend most of his season with the Houston Aeros, though, so that's what his mask focuses on.

I Love Goalies!

New Carey Price Mask Added

New Mask for Jhonas Enroth

Top 10 NHL Saves of the Week 2/3/12

New Corey Crawford Mask Added

Goalie Photos from the 2012 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft

Brian Elliott 2012 NHL All-Star Game Mask

Why I Love Goalies

Flyers' Parent Shines in Brief Return to the Ice

Alumni Game Prior to the NHL's 2012 Winter Classic Game

Sergei Bobrovsky 2012 Winter Classic Mask

Mike Murphy 2011-12 Mask

Ilya Bryzgalov's 2012 Winter Classic Mask

Carey Price 2011-12 Mask

Chris Mason set to break out fighter Jet pads in Winnipeg

Henrik Lundqvist's Winter Classic Mask

Craig Anderson's Heritage Mask

Leland Irving 2011-12 Mask

Martin Biron's Winter Classic Mask

Jonathan Bernier's Retro Mask

José Theodore Hits a Milestone Thursday Against Boston

Matt Hackett 2011-12 Mask

My First Piece at Too Many Men on the Site

Goalies Photos from Around the NHL, December 3, 2011 Edition

Jonas Hiller 2011-12 Mask

Goalie Photos from around the NHL, November 25, 2011 Edition

"Emergency" Goalie Signed for Tonight's Minnesota Game

Andrew Raycroft 2011-12 Mask

Anders Nilsson 2011-12 Mask

Braden Holtby 2011-12 Mask

Peter Mannino 2011-12 Mask

Experience, adaptation spell success for older goalies

Carey Price 2011 Remembrance Day Mask

Tim Thomas 2011 Movember Mask

Goalie Photos from around the NHL, November 4, 2011 edition

Goalie Photos from around the NHL, November 3, 2011 edition

Top Ten NHL Saves for the week ending October 27, 2011

Sports Illustrated's Scary Goalie Masks

Sports Illustrated's Goalie Masks Honoring Goalies

Catching Up with NHL's Saves of the Week

Goalie Photos from around the NHL, October 29, 2011 Edition

Ray Emery 2011-12 Mask

Jonas Hiller's Movember Mask

Goalie Photos from around the NHL, 10/21/11 Edition

Goalie Photos from Around the NHL, October 20, 2011 Edition

Antti Niemi 2011-12 Mask

Goalie Photos from around the NHL, October 18, 2011

Devan Dubnyk 2011-12 Mask

Nikolai Khabibulin 2011-12 Mask

Ty Conklin 2011-12 Mask

Cedrick Desjardins 2011-12 Mask

Richard Bachman 2011-12 Mask

Justin Peters 2011-12 Mask

Cory Schneider 2011-12 Mask

James Reimer 2011-12 Mask

Carey Price Breast Cancer Awareness Mask

Robin Lehner 2011-12 Mask

Carey Price goes with Pink P4s for Hockey Fights Cancer

Jason LaBarbera 2011-12 Mask

The Goalies Archive Website

Roberto Luongo 2011-12 Mask

Sergei Bobrovsky 2011-12 Mask

Rick DiPietro 2011-12 Mask

Henrik Karlsson 2011-12 Mask

Miikka Kiprusoff 2011-12 Mask

Jeff Deslauriers 2011-12 Mask

Ben Bishop 2011-12 Mask

Matt Climie 2011-12 Mask

Eddie Lack 2011-12 Mask

Jonas Gustavsson 2011-12 Mask

Curtis McElhinney 2011-12 Mask

Craig Anderson 2011-12 Mask

Alex Auld 2011-12 Mask

Nathan Lawson 2011-12 Mask

Corey Crawford 2011-12 Mask

Kari Lehtonen 2011-12 Mask

Joey MacDonald 2011-12 Mask

Dan Ellis 2011-12 Mask

Curtis Sanford 2011-12 Mask

Ryan Miller 2011-12 Mask