

#Back of goalie mask plain clip art professional
The Gumper eschewed a mask until nearly a quarter-century after beginning what would become a Hall of Fame professional career.

Lorne (Gump) Worsley was one of the last holdouts. Photo by Denis Brodeur / NHLI via Getty Images Gump Worsley, the NHL’s final big-name maskless goalie, is shown with the Minnesota North Stars in the early 1970s. Therein, author Bruce McDougall referred to Sawchuk’s mask as “a bedpan with eyeholes.”īut it was better than nothing - although there was evidence of nothingness in the NHL until the spring of 1974, and in professional hockey for a subsequent 2 1/2 years. The sixth and deciding game of the 1967 Cup final, between Toronto and Montreal, was the subject of a book - The Last Hockey Game. Sawchuk wore the Wilson mask for the remaining eight seasons of an illustrious career, which included a 1967 Stanley Cup-winning effort on behalf of the Toronto Maple Leafs. 11, 1962 while wearing a mask that had been manufactured by Red Wings trainer Ross (Lefty) Wilson, who doubled as the team’s practice goalie and was even in line for emergency duty. Despite some initial reluctance, he tended goal for Detroit on Oct. The next goaltender of note to unveil a mask was the legendary Terry Sawchuk. That was a prelude to the league’s first all-mask game - a matchup between Montreal (Plante) and Boston (Simmons) - on Jan. One by one, the generally grizzled goalies gave in and, with few exceptions, emulated Plante.ĭon Simmons of the Boston Bruins was the first NHL goalie, post-Plante, to opt for a face shield. Photo by David Bier Studios/Montreal Gazette files Terry Sawchuk, shown facing the Montreal Canadiens’ Jean Beliveau as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1966, was the second prominent NHL goalie to wear a mask for an extended period. The Canadiens’ head coach, Toe Blake, was not at all amenable to the notion. Since the mid-1950s, Plante had been using a mask during practices - as did many other goaltenders back in the day - and had given consideration to donning facial protection in a game. The teams and spectators could only await his return, because backup goaltenders were still a few years away from becoming a thing. Plante was helped off the ice and toward the dressing room, where stitches were applied. 1, 1959, when Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens was beaned in the beak by a backhand emanating from the wooden blade of the New York Rangers’ Andy Bathgate.Ī pool of blood quickly formed in the crease at Madison Square Garden. Goaltenders almost always eschewed masks until the game-changing evening of Nov. 1, 1959, when they met the host New York Rangers in a game that changed the face of goaltending. Article contentĪ bloodied Jacques Plante dons a mask for the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt.The Canucks were left without a captain when Markus Naslund signed a free-agent contract with the New York Rangers in the off-season. Gillis sought clarification of the rule from NHL executives before naming Luongo captain. Luongo is not allowed to discuss calls with officials or participate in pre-game face-offs. More than half a century later, the NHL remains concerned that allowing a goaltender to perform traditional captain's duties will give a team unscheduled timeouts. It prohibits a goaltender from acting as a captain or alternate captain on the ice and wearing a C on his jersey. The Canucks broke tradition Tuesday by naming Luongo as their new captain, the first goaltender to receive the honour since Bill Durnan held the post for the Montreal Canadiens in 1947-48 61 seasons ago.ĭurnan's penchant for leaving his crease to talk to officials prompted the league to create a rule that is still in effect today.

It is clearly separate from the mask's painted design and resembles the plain letter that a captain usually wears on a jersey. The dark blue C is located on the bottom of Luongo's mask in the area that protects his throat. "It can stand for whatever he wants it to stand for," said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis, when asked whether the C stood for Canucks or captain. Roberto Luongo found a way to stay within NHL rules but also let the world know he is the new captain of the Vancouver Canucks.įorbidden by the NHL from sporting the captain's "C" on his jersey because he is a goaltender, Luongo had the letter put on his mask for Sunday night's pre-season game against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.
