The History of the Goalie Helmet

Before 1959, it was not in vogue for a goalie to wear a goalie mask or goalie helmet in the NHL or the international game. It was worn on three rare occasions but never on a consistent basis. This archaic view held by the NHL and the international game was dramatically changed forever on November 1, 1959.

  1. First Goalie Mask Worn

    • Elizabeth Graham wore a fiberglass-fencing mask for Queenstown University in February 1927. She wore the mask to protect her teeth one time.

    First Goalie Mask Worn in an NHL Game

    • In 1930, goalie Clint Benedict wore a crude leather mask that covered his nose and cheekbones in an NHL hockey game. He wore this mask once in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

    First Goalie mask worn in The Olympics

    • In the 1936 Olympics, Japan's goaltender Teiji Honma wore a goalie mask twice. It was made of leather and had a wired birdcage to protect his face. The goalie mask looked just like a baseball catchers mask. This was worn to protect Honma's face because he wore glasses.

    Invention of The Goalie Mask

    • In 1959, Montreal Canadian goal tender Jacques Plante invented, designed, and created the first full goalie mask. He wore this goalie mask against the New York Rangers on November 1, 1959.
      Plante was the first goaltender to wear the goalie mask on a regular basis. Plante created the goalie mask to protect his broken skull, cheekbones, nose, and jaw.

    Fabric of The Goalie Mask

    • Plante's goalie mask was made of Fiberglass. The mask covered the entire face. The mask was designed to fit the contours of the face.

    First Caged Goalie Helmet

    • The combination helmet/cage hockey mask was worn by Russian goalie Vladislav Tretiak in the 1972 summit hockey series.

    The Modern Goalie Helmet

    • All NHL goalie helmets are based upon the original design developed by Jacques Plante in 1959.
      The NHL now requires all goalies to wear a goalie helmet/cage. The goalie helmet is made of fiberglass with a cage attached to it. The goalie helmet can also be made of a carbon filter or a combination fiberglass and Kevlar.