How to Repair a Goalie Mask

The advent of the goalie mask in the late 1950s allowed pioneering Montreal goalie Jacques Plante to play without fear of serious facial injury. Since then, the mask has become a mandatory piece of equipment for hockey goalies playing at all levels of the game. As with all pieces of goalie gear, the mask takes some damage; once the mask doesn't fit properly, the cage is loose or the paint job looks a bit worn, your mask may be in need of some TLC.

Things You'll Need

  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Replacement clips
  • Replacement buckles
  • Screwdriver
  • Industrial strength adhesive
  • Small C clamps
  • Model paint
  • Small paint brush (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sand away any rust spots that have formed on the metal components of the mask (i.e. the metal face cage) with fine grit sandpaper. Wipe away any debris resulting from the sanding. Make touch ups to the rusted spots using model paint, either brushing or spraying it on.

    • 2

      Peel away any loose padding. Sand the spots on the shell’s interior where the padding was placed to remove old glue patches. Apply generous amounts of adhesive to the same spots and replace the padding (or use new padding). Apply small C clamps to the padding to hold them in place while the adhesive dries.

    • 3

      Unscrew the holding screws that attach the cage to the mask (they're the screws in the centers of three three to seven metal clips on the sides of the cage). Take care not to lose the screw nuts on the mask’s interior, then remove and discard any broken metal cage clips that hold the mask to the shell. Snap on new clips and re-screw the mask into place.

    • 4

      Pry old or damaged plastic buckles from the loosened harness that holds the mask’s back-plate to the head. Thread the fabric of the harness through the new buckles and snap the plastic buckles onto the holding pins that are drilled into the mask's surface.