How a Goalie Mask is Made

Hockey is a fast, exciting game in which the puck moves around the ice with precision and grace. All of the players on the ice wear protective clothing and equipment. But it is the goalie who is really in the line of fire. Things can get rough in the crease, but it is the shots that can really cause damage. With this in mind the modern goalie mask has become a durable work of art.

  1. Materials Used in Making a Goalie Mask

    • Goaltenders can face pucks coming at them at more than 100 miles an hour. A goalie will use his catching glove, blocker, stick, pads and even his head to stop pucks, so a mask has to be made of materials that can withstand 100 mph impacts without breaking or causing injury. The basic material is fiberglass, though as of 2010, things like carbon fiber, Kevlar, and capon nylon resins are added. Today's masks are so strong that some goaltenders actually try to stop shots with their head.

    How the Mask Is Manufactured

    • if you are not a professional goalie, you will probably buy an off-the-shelf mask from your local sports store. These masks are made by pouring liquid fiberglass reinforced with carbon fibers and/or Kevlar into a mold. Once the mixture is dry, the mask is taken from the mold and the openings for the nose, mouth and eyes are cut. Next the cage is attached to the mask using stainless steel fasteners. The last step is to place the padding inside the helmet; this is done using a combination of glue and fasteners.

    Masks for Pros

    • If your are a professional goalie, you'll likely get a custom-made mask. The basic difference between a custom-made mask and a store-bought one is that for the custom mask the manufacturer will actually take a plaster of Paris bust of your head so that the mask fits perfectly. The padding is also custom-fit to accommodate your facial features and ears.

    History of the Goalie Mask

    • Hockey as a formalized sport in North America began in Canada in the 1870s.The players did not wear helmets and goalies did not wear masks. The first mask in an NHL game was worn in 1930 by Montreal's Clint Benedict, who used a modified leather mask for two games to cover a broken nose and cheekbone. Four years later, Roy Mosgrove wore a simple wire cage to protect his eyeglasses and see the puck. But Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens was the first NHL goalie to wear a mask regularly--he did so after being hit in the face by a shot in a game in November 1959. By the early 1970s, all goalies wore masks, though they've improved and changed since Plante revolutionized hockey with his basic fiberglass model. Today's masks are lighter and stronger, and come equipped with wire cages for better visibility.

    The Art of the Goalie Mask

    • Gerry Cheevers a goalie for the Boston Bruins in the 1960s and 70s, was the person to decorate his mask--he had stitches painted on his to commemorate the stitches the mask saved him from having to endure. by the mid-1970s, goalies began to have artists paint their masks, many with spectacular designs. By the early part of the 21st century, most masks were airbrushed or painted with an artistic design or team colors--rare is the professional or top-level amateur goaltender whose mask is all white or a single solid color.