Goalie masks can be high art — particularly when they include Yoda. Goaltenders have been ever more creatively expressing themselves on this canvas of fiberglass and epoxy resin. The results can be gorgeous, hideous, and anywhere in between . . . but they’re almost always fascinating.
Sports Illustrated has posted a photo gallery of 36 current players’ masks, and it makes for an entertaining browse. And yes, Olie Kolzig is in there with his big ‘zilla mask.
This talk of masks leads me to wonder: what will Olie’s new mask look like this year? The new colors would seem to imply new headgear for the big netminder.
Perhaps he can return to Brampton, Ontario, native Greg Harrison, designer of the original Godzilla mask. Check out this in-depth Hockey’s Digest article about Harrison, a long-time designer of classics like Ed Belfour’s eagle, Felix Potvin’s cat, and even Gilles Gratton’s famous lion mask.
Regardless of where Olie goes for his new mask, I for one am curious to see if it will be a RW&B version of the same Godzilla motif, or something entirely new. In the meantime, enjoy the photo gallery!
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Here’s an article from earlier in the week about the Athletes Against Autism golf tourney…with a picture of an Olie mask auctioned off… this is what the author/new owner of the mask wrote: “He had it made just for the occasion. It featured his trademark “Godzilla” design, along with the Capitals’ new red, white and blue color scheme and the Athletes Against Autism, Autism Speaks (the blue puzzle piece), and autism awareness ribbon logos.”
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=326806
Is this a sneak preview of what the new mask will look like?
Thanks for the link to the SI pics, not sure I would have seen the pics without the link.
As much as I hate to give it up to a Frenchy, and one on the friggin’ Ducks no less, there is nothing cooler than Eddie:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0707/gallery.nhl.goalie.masks/content.16.html
Interesting photos.
Kind of fun to do a comparison. Most have their name. Some have the team name or logo. Many have hockey players. Some have strong symbolism related to their team or nickname. A few pay tribute to someone or something specific. Several have cartoonish characters. Many have skulls or monsters. One has a bikini-clad woman. A few are very simple in design. Some are way too complex to take in. Some blend with the uniform. Some clash completely.
Which all lead to: some I like, some I don’t. And I’m surprised by some of which ones are on which side.
One could say that thanks to the advancement of technology, we can now condense what once mapped entire 70s conversion vans onto the confines of a goalie mask. I’m not going to say thanks, but I suppose “one” could.
And yes, I realize these airbrush-ologists need to find a way to put food on the table. Or do they…..
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