Halloween and Goalie Masks

Hockey and Halloween are two things that go together about as well as cotton and a walrus, there just isn't any real connection...unless of course you consider Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th movies and want to make the leap.

The iconic goalie mask actually has an interesting story behind it, and how it ended up in the film.

From Wikipedia:

The script for Part 3 called for Jason to wear a mask; what no one knew at the time, was the mask chosen would become a trademark for the character, and one instantly recognizable in popular culture in the years to come. Steve Miner called for a lighting check, but none of the effects crew wanted to apply any make-up for the light check, so they decided to just throw a mask on him. Martin Jay Sadoff kept a bag with him full of hockey gear, as he was a hockey fan, and he pulled out a [1950's] Detroit Red Wings goalie mask for the test.

How it is that Jason found this mask and why he started wearing it doesn't seem to ever be explained. But, one does know where the original mask idea came from and how it revolutionized the sport of hockey. (If we don't consider the leather masks of the 20's and 30's.) Jacques Plante started it, exactly 48 years ago tomorrow (Nov 1st 1959), after getting a puck in the face he brought out a mask he'd made himself, and hitherto has been wearing in practices, against the Rangers. And, like Jason, it became his legacy. Asked by a fan if wearing the mask proved that he was scared Plante replied:

"If you jumped out of an airplane without a parachute would that prove that you were brave?"
The Offical Illustrated NHL History

With the slapshot coming more and more into play, and the likes of *Bobby Hull coming into the league, the mask would become a standard. Andy Brown, then on the Penguins, would be the last NHL goalie to stand between the pipes without one in 1974. (That year Plante permanently retired from the sport after a year with the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA.)

Since then the mask has undergone dramatic changes and become a more advanced piece of equipment since the hard fiberglass shields of the 70's and 80's. Current kevlar models go for upwards and exceeding $1000 (and that doesn't include the custom paint job).

For more images and more information check out the following sites:

Legends of Hockey Mask Collection - great images spanning four decades

Painted Warriors Mask Galleries - hundreds of images of masks past and present

Masks From the Past Catalog - replicas of some of the most recognized masks in hockey history

In the Crease, the Locker Room Images - lots of images of masks from the NHL and around the world

* Bobby Hull perfected a shot which he called "the waster" which was aimed for a goalie's head with the purpose of intimidation and getting them to move out of the way of the next shot he took. He passed this little trick onto his son Brett...

Happy Halloween!