On Saturday vs. Boston Roberto Luongo debuted his new all-white Olympic Pads which he had been using in practice in preparation for the games. Our photo editor Scott Slingsby was there and captured these photos. For more check out his original piece on the game.
Roberto Luongo's All-White Olympic Pads Photo by Scott Slingsby
Roberto Luongo's All-White Olympic Pads Photo by Scott Slingsby
Mike is sharing his second column with us today. He would love to answer some questions from readers in his next column – if you have anything you’d like to ask whether it is based on what he has already written, or just on goaltending in general – fire them our way in the comments or to david@inGoalMag.com and I’ll pass them on.
Like this one? Check out Mike’s First Article How do the NHL, AHL and ECHL Differ – a Goalie’s Perspective
If you’re a goaltender, chances are you’ve been asked this question; “Why on earth would you want to be a goalie!?!” Although there are many different routes to take when answering, the main idea almost always gravitates towards a common theme: equipment. If you’re anything like me, you found yourself instantly drawn to the guy standing awkwardly in front of the red cage, decked out from head to toe in goofy-looking equipment and wearing the coolest looking mask you had ever seen.
As a child, I was lucky. My dad, Terry, is an off-ice official for the NHL in St. Louis (as was my Grandpa), a part-time gig with a major bonus: two tickets to Blues home games. And since off-ice officials have to arrive well in advance of the opening faceoff, it afforded me a golden opportunity: watching the opposing teams’ warm up. I developed a habit of studying their goaltenders’ every move and taking note of the gear they wore. Before long – and mainly due to an intense fascination with equipment – goaltending was my passion.
I’m even luckier today. New gear arrives every few months, not as a ritual of professional extravagance or elitism, but rather a necessity. After several months of constant use against the hardest shooters in the world, foams contained within goalie gear starts to break down rapidly. Because of this, I usually receive a new blocker, glove, and pad set 2-3 times a year, depending on playoffs. It’s generally accepted – although not mandated – that AHL goalies will receive at least two sets of gear per season, while those in lower leagues might receive only one. Once you reach the NHL, however, things change. If you need or want something – especially if you’re the starter – a new piece of gear is only a phone call away. Goalies routinely rotate 2-3 sets of gloves at one time, and some even have home and away helmets. Regardless of the level you are playing, professional teams are responsible for the cost of all equipment.
Although I have the option of wearing any equipment company that has paid league fees (NHL, AHL, ECHL, etc all have this requirement), I’ve worn primarily Bauer since I was 15 years old. When I made it to NCAA Divison-I hockey with St. Lawrence University, I had the chance to visit Bauer’s goaltending headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario for a custom fitting. That day I met Todd Brown, director of Bauer’s goalie products. Ever since, we have maintained a strong working relationship: if I need something, Todd is the first person (aside from our equipment manager) that I call. He has all my specs on file and can quickly make changes or recommend a slight alteration for my next set of gear.
One myth associated with pro hockey is that equipment companies always pay goaltenders to endorse their product. While some NHL (and a select few AHL) goalies do receive incentive packages to promote a certain manufacturer, not everyone is so lucky, especially in the current economic climate. The reality is that some goalies choose a company based purely on customer service. Just like any other business, personal relationships can be very powerful. I use Bauer not only because I like their product, but because they have been very good to me throughout my career. I’m a firm believer that loyalty pays off in the long run.
I’m sure plenty of people reading this would like an in-depth analysis of my gear setup. Like most goaltenders, my equipment has evolved over time. I’ll do my best to describe all the modifications. Keep in mind that all of my equipment is sent to Kay Whitmore at the NHL for inspection and approval, just like every other goaltender playing in the NHL or AHL. If you look close enough, you can find his signature somewhere on every piece of gear I wear. Please forgive me if I leave anything out, and feel free to ask questions. Hopefully I can answer them all in another column.
Spec: Bauer Supreme One95
Size: 10 D/E
Hollow: 1/4” – 3/8” depending on ice conditions
Mods: I use a size 9 TUUK cowling instead of a 10 because I like a shorter ‘wheelbase.’
Pairs/season: One pair of skates, 3-4 sets of cowlings.
Spec: Bauer Supreme One100
Size: 34”+4”
Mods: Stiff knee breaks, incorporated toe bridge, no straps above knee, all outside straps below knee, extra stiff knee lifts
Comments: I like my pads as stiff as possible, while retaining a mild “S” shape to them. I don’t want my pads to flex at the knee. Straps above the knee aren’t necessary because of this. My knee lifts are the maximum length and as stiff as possible: I make a lot of saves with them when down and I need as much on-ice coverage as possible. In college, my pads were 37”+1” and they fit properly because the boot used to break down so much. Today’s pads keep their height because of the stiffness of the boot. I’ve gradually moved to 34”+4” over time because of this…and because of my short shins!
Tip: If you want your pads to retain their original height, DO NOT turn them upside down to dry. It makes the pad flex to a 90 degree angle and causes them to break down prematurely.
Pairs/season: 2-3, but could easily use 5-6 if given the resources.
Spec: Bauer Reactor6/Vapor/custom
Size: XL
Pairs/season: One.
Comments: My pants are basically the old Reactor 6 with some slight cosmetic changes. Pants are one thing I don’t like to change very often. One pair a year is enough.
Tip: If you wear a belt, make sure NOT to over-tighten it…many young goalies lose coverage this way.
Spec: Bauer Supreme One95
Size: XL
Mods: 1” extra length and double padding on the arms.
Number/season: One…but would use at least 2 given the resources.
Comments: I wear my arm & chest as high as possible in order to protect the clavicle area and tuck it into my pants for improved mobility/comfort. You’d be amazed how torn up this piece of equipment is after a year of usage. There’s no mercy on goalies these days and we take a beating up high in practice.
Spec: Bauer Supreme One100
Mods: Single T-trap instead of double T.
Number/season: 2-3, could use up to 5-6
Comments: I like the solid feel of the single T-trap. No need to change something that has worked for years.
Spec: Bauer Supreme One100
Mods: Palm size is 10% bigger than stock.
Number/season: 2-3, could use 4-5
MaskSpec: Warwick Custom
Model: Miller
Bars: Titanium
Artist: David Gunnarsson aka DaveArt
Number/season: One
Comments: I’ve used Warwick masks since I was 15. They’re the lightest on the market and always fit perfect. Gary takes pride in his work and it shows. I started going to Dave last year when I was with Norfolk. I’d seen several of his helmets and checked out his website (http://www.daveart.com). He’s the best mask painter out there; I have yet to see a style he can’t do. I’m a huge IndyCar/F1 fan and as such, my preference is a helmet that looks good up close, but even better from a distance.
Spec: Sher-Wood
Model: S.O.P 9950
Number/season: 4 dozen +
Comments: My stick is a modified Grant Fuhr pattern that I got when I was 13 or 14 years old. It’s a slightly open heel curve and a pretty high lie…about a 16 or 17. It hasn’t changed much since I scored a goal as a 17-year old in the NAHL.
Editor’s note: I got the first question in becuse I just had to clarify this one – you probably read it correctly – 3 cups! Mike replied, “Almost every pro goalie uses a regular cup or jock underneath a goalie cup. It’s not worth taking the chance with how hard these guys shoot.”
Like this one? Check out Mike’s First Article How do the NHL, AHL and ECHL Differ – a Goalie’s Perspective
Thrashers Goalie Ondrej Pavelec went old school and stopped a shot without his mask.
Any goalie worth his salt probably has a more than a few stories about getting hit in the head by the puck, or better yet the evening of scores with the proverbial head-hunting psycho (yes, there’s one in every garage league) who tries to bean the goalie on purpose. Thankfully, while there aren’t many of these latter types (hopefully most of them will have been hung up by their jockstraps on the dressing room coat hooks for a king-size wedgie), it goes without saying that getting hit in the head is part of the game. After that, however, the only rule about head injury is that there are no rules. While trolling around on any of the umpteen goalie specialty sites and blogs reveals no shortage of opinions, there is precious little hard information about exactly why concussions happen to some and not to others and whether one brand of mask can verifiably protect the head better than another. Some goalies have never been hurt. Some are still wearing their antique Jofa helmet and cage a la Arturs Irbe. Other goalies aren’t goalies anymore due to head trauma. Go figure.
One interesting observation I made during this week’s World Junior Final (in between much hand-wringing, sweating and eventual sobbing as the home team lost) was that in international hockey there is apparently a rule whereby the referee immediately stops play should the goalie be struck in the head. I wasn’t aware of it until exactly this situation happened with Canadian netminder Jake Allen. He took a shot near the chin (yes, the annoying dangler did its job) and instantly the referee called the play to check if he was OK. I was amazed that such a rule exists.
The next night I was on the ice coaching two Atom CC goalies, one of whom is apparently puck shy and has a tendency to pull up on shots or turn his head, classic signs of the fear that grips us all from time to time. After watching 10 minutes of practice it was easy to see why this was the case. The kid only measured about 4 feet 4 inches; just the perfect height to put his head at the level of the crossbar. As I watched, I saw that many of the shots were quite strong (CC is the 2nd highest level for Atom in Quebec) and a fair number were aimed right at the goalie’s head. I suppose you can’t blame kids for trying to score up top; when the goalie is only 4 feet tall it makes sense. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if minor hockey applied the same rule. That poor kid gets beaned constantly and no one seems to see that as unusual. After the practice I talked to the whole team, giving my little sermon about how you can’t expect your goalie to be confident when you spend the practice or warmup whistling the puck past his ears…
Contrast that with the garage league I play in, where if there are hard shots consistently at head level, half the guys on the ice start yelling at the offender to keep the *F’N* puck down. I’ve had my dangler ripped off, my helmet cracked and the wires on my cage bent inwards by the force of shots more than once. If a goalie does get hit hard in the mask, everyone generally stops to see if he is OK. Totally different attitude. In minor hockey, however, I have watched dozens of games where the goalie takes a hard shot in the head and unless he is pretty much splayed out on the ice, plays continues as normal.
Maybe minor hockey needs to rethink this issue. If the world juniors use a automatic stoppage rule, why wouldn’t we do the same for kids? It could be left up to the discretion of the referee, but at least if there were something in the rulebook that stipulates or encourages such an intervention then young goalies might feel safer. An overview of the Hockey Canada and NHL rulebooks reveals nothing relating specifically to play stoppage in the event of a goalie being hit in the head. Maybe there should be some debate on this issue…
Ever notice that a lot of goalies who wear a lexan throat protector, NHL’ers included, tend to tie the side strings through the cage itself rather than through the ear holes? The throat protector was made to pivot up and down, but attaching it this way causes it to balloon out in front of the goalie’s face during play action, effectively blocking one’s view (especially the newer coloured or opaque ones). By the way, ever notice that when you buy one of these things, there are no instructions given as to how to attach it? I coach some kids whose dads have it tied on in so loosely that it is more of a sternum protector than anything else. Really lives up to its French language namesake: “bavette” or bib (i.e. like the Fisher Price plastic bib I used to put on my kids when they were babies, with the big scoop at the bottom for all the guck that missed their mouths or got spit up…)
Tying the side strings through the ear holes draws the protector closer to the chin so that it stays out of the way. Moreover, drilling a hole in the BOTTOM of the protector and passing the middle string INSIDE the mask, between the mask and the chin cup, ensures that the throat protector cannot ever come up in front of one’s field of vision, even when the goalie’s head is facing down (as is the case whenever the puck is close to the goal). Compare photo 1 to photo 2 and decide for yourself.
here's the dangler tied on through the ear holes and with the string in the bottom of the chin
here's what happens when it is tied on through the ear holes and through the hole in the top of the chin (at your nose)
simply drilling a hole and passing the string inside the mask keeps the dangler from coming up too far
Personally, it drives me nuts to see so many young goalies (and old ones too) whose vision must be blocked about 50% of the time. When the puck is close to your body, down on the ice it is often impossible to see because of the way the dangler is attached!
Look at the accompanying picture of Marc Andre Fleury (photo by Jonathan Newton, Washington Post). While the red shading is by no means exact science, it is pretty easy to imagine how the area close to his body (where the puck happens to be) is obstructed by the throat protector swinging out.
don't get me wrong; Fleury is still my son's hero- and one of mine too...
"Johnny Bower you're my hero!" (photo by Dick Shadd, Tampa Bay Times)
The flurry of comments and video highlights of Ondrej Pavelec’s “maskless” save vs. the Senators on Halloween night (and on the 50th anniversary of Jacques Plante’s first donning the mask no less!) caused me to reflect on the whole notion of how or why a goalie loses his or her mask in the first place. For me this query took on a more sombre angle when I watched – and cringed at – the video of Kitchener Rangers’ defenseman Ben Fanelli getting smashed into the boards, losing his helmet and fracturing his skull.
Ever since Plante’s historic night 50 years ago, hockey fans and the goalie community in particular have built a cult around the mask and its symbolism. However, when all is said and done it must be pointed out that the guardians of the net can’t do much guarding if their lid keeps flipping off. When Pavelec lost his mask in that game the big hoopla was about him actually making a rather scary shoulder save on Alex Kovalev before the referee had time to blow the whistle. Whenever a goalie’s mask gets knocked off (just anecdotally I can attest that this happens numerous times every season) it is standard practice to stop the play immediately. This practice, however, apparently isn’t even a rule, and won’t be until the NHL officially updates its rule book in 2012.
Getting back to the mask “malfunction”: most of us can readily attest that the mask, while cool looking (especially with a 500$ paint job of girls in bikinis or loathsome gargoyles), is more of a necessary evil than anything. It is relatively heavy (3 lbs), hot, sweaty and after a season or two, often gives off a villainous odor that has you thinking you are putting your head into a toilet bowl. But we goalies endure the nuisance. The reason why is damned simple: most of us would probably be dead (and not just brain dead as half of us are already) if we didn’t.
That stated, why in God’s name don’t we do up the chin strap?
Here’s a test: go run into the garage and grab your mask. Try to FIND a chin strap in it. Not a chin cup, which is more for fit and comfort. Look for an actual chin strap that buckles under your chin, and when done up effectively stops the mask from being taken off. For example, if you have an Itech mask, especially one of the entry level models (1000, 1200, 2500), you almost certainly have a second set of snaps on either side of the chin where a strap is intended to go. Many of us just loosen this strap or remove it altogether. It makes it way easier to flip up the mask to take a drink, to lambaste the ref or to spit, as all good hockey players do with great frequency and panache. A substantial number of masks, however, have no chin strap whatsoever and are held on strictly by the force of the elastic that squeezes the back plate and the mask itself against your face.
OK, I got it: that means I am trusting my life to a rubber band…
For all the volumes of debate on the web and in dressing rooms about which mask rings the least when hit, which sightlines are clearest and which cage finish looks best, precious little talk is reserved for the humble chin strap, even though it could make a huge difference. While goalies don’t regularly get body-checked (though there are a number amongst us who would contest this statement), the danger of the mask falling off and our heads hitting the goalpost, the ice or an errant skate slicing through space at 25 mph are real. Going back to the tragic incident involving the junior player who is still in critical condition, if one looks at the video, his helmet is already off when he hits the glass, way before his head slams into the ice. Ditto for Andrei Kostitsyn 12 months ago against the Avalanche. Ditto for Islanders Kyle Okposo against Dion Phaneuf this fall. Ditto for Donald Brashear years back in that ugly incident with Marty McSorley. What can anyone conclude if it isn’t the injury being caused or substantially worsened by the bare head hitting the rock-hard ice from 6 feet up?
I am not a football fan in the least, but one thing I admire about the sport is the nuance in its culture. 300 lb. mastodons pile drive each other into the turf, then when the whistle blows they help the other guy back to his feet, not try to rub their stinking gloves in his face. Everybody does their chin strap up the second they step onto the field. Why? Because there is a penalty for not doing so, that’s why. In hockey, for whatever absurd reason, snugging up your chin strap is not cool. Take a look the next time you watch a game on TV. Most of the guys, by my estimation, could slip 3 or 4 fingers under the chin strap it is so loose. I snicker as I imagine an NHL player trying to tell a Hummer-sized NFL lineman that he’s a sissy because he fastens his chin strap tight.
Just for the record, minor hockey does have a rule that goalies must have a chin strap just like any other player (whether it is done up is a different story). Nevertheless, in five years of coaching goalies at that level I have only seen this enforced once (imagine that in an Atom tournament the other team sends over a parent “spy” to watch our goalie from behind our bench. Go figure, minutes later the ref stops the play and after consulting the opposing coach, makes our goalie leave the game because he doesn’t have a chin strap).
I’m not sure if there is any definitive comment to be made about this whole issue. I don’t want to sound like a crusader, since my own goalie mask came from the manufacturer with an unapproved cat eye cage and no provision for a chin strap. Nevertheless, it has saved my life more than a couple of times, yesterday afternoon being the most recent occasion. In that light, it boggles the mind to think of Jacques Plante and his contemporaries playing every night with nothing on their faces but beads of sweat and a gap-toothed grin…
The most recent edition of the Hockey News has published an article Size Does Matter on upcoming changes to the rules to ensure goaltenders’ leg pads will be proportional to the size of the goalie.
In what sounds like a bureaucratic exercise that only a government official could like, Kay Whitmore, former NHL goalie and current guru of equipment size has come up with a complex formula to calculate permitted size of goalies’ leg pads next season. The NHL hopes that by keeping gear proportional to the size of the individual, they will make the game fairer and increase scoring chances.
disclaimer: I’m 5’8” and maybe, just maybe, that’s part of the reason I’m writing about goaltending and not earning a living being one. I wear 34” pads that do not come up to my waist, but they are wider than the NHL would approve of because I can’t afford new ones for beer league hockey.
Current 2009-2010 Leg Pad regulations:
Check out a video on Kay Whitmore discussing current regulations.
11.2 Leg Guards – The leg guards worn by goalkeepers shall not exceed eleven inches (11”) in extreme width when on the leg of the player. The maximum length from bottom mid-point to top mid-point of the pad is not to exceed thirty-eight inches (38”). The minimum length of the boot of the pad is to be no less than seven inches (7”). The boot channel of the goal pad must be flat or concave in appearance. No attachments such as plastic puck foils are permitted.
Calf protectors must follow the contour of the calf and ankle and can have a thickness of no greater than one and a half inches (11/2”). No raised ridges will be permitted on the calf protector that would be deemed to act as deflectors of pucks.
The knee strap pad is not to exceed six inches (6”) in length by five and one-half inches (51/2”) in width by one and one-half (11/2″) in thickness. The knee strap pad must be fastened to the inner risers. The total width measurement of the entire inner knee padding (pad risers) including the outer knee strap pad must not exceed two and a half inches (21/2”) in thickness. The inner kneepads are not to exceed seven inches (7″) in length, five and a half inches (51/2”) in width. The length of seven inches (7″) is measured from where the inner padding attaches to the leg pad and back to the end of the inner padding. Medial rolls (raised seam ridges) will not be permitted. All knee protection must be worn under the thigh guard of the pant.
I hate this new plan. Some short guy should take the NHL to human rights court as being given smaller tools to earn his living purely because of his stature. Darren Pang, if he was still playing, would have to buy kids’ road hockey pads to conform to these regulations. Is Martin St. Louis told he can only use a stick of a certain length?
Clearly goalie gear is a tool for stopping the puck. It is not just for protection or it would all be form fitting and the catcher would be replaced with a blocker. Every goalie deserves the same size gear for stopping the puck.
Aside from being discriminatory, this sounds like a significant waste of time and resources – and it is a shot in the dark at best. Even Whitmore himself admits as much when he says:
“This might blow up in our faces because goalies might end up being faster and quicker and maybe they’ll ultimately be better. Maybe I’ll end up getting fired because of this.”
So where exactly is the problem? Currently the NHL does not permit pads longer than 38” in length. Under the new rules apparently, 6’5” Pekka Rinne would be permitted pads that exceed this maximum. OK, so the tall guys see no change or, it’s not clear, they maybe get longer ones. I guess that also means that the guys a bit shorter than Rinne can keep their 38s. Wait, that’s most goalies, isn’t it?
There aren’t many goalies under 6-feet and they aren’t exactly the guys you need to open up for more goals: Theodore, Toskala, Turco, Osgood. OK, Tim Thomas as well. Or put another way –the guys stopping most of the pucks now are the same guys who won’t see a change in pad length.
Nice –the league expects a significant increase in scoring because a couple of short guys are apparently stopping every shot between their legs when in the butterfly unfairly. Right. We have a whole system created that makes life tougher on a few goalies who already have it tough. Sounds more like employment insurance for someone from the NHL home office with a tape measure and a pocket calculator.
Here’s how difficult the system is to try and understand. I haven’t seen it officially, I’m just doing my best to interpret what the Hockey News has written. They are a quality publication and in a well-written story I found it tough to sort out (did I mention I’ve taught calculus and physics).
A. Measure from the floor to the middle of the kneecap. Presumably with a straight leg. Subtract the length of instep.
B. Measure from mid knee-cap to the pelvis. (hmmm, exactly where I don’t know.) The top of the pad can cover 55% of that distance.
C. Add in the distance from the top of the boot to the bottom of the blade to get total length permitted on the pad. I’m guessing they measure along the top of the foot so guys with big feet get bigger pads. Great, I’m a size 8. This last bit can only be on the bottom of the pad – you can’t be a guy with long feet and use that to make the top of your pads taller.
A+B+C gives you the new permitted pad length.
We have then a complicated system that requires significant resources to manage. It will have a minimal effect on a few individuals. Whether you like it or not, it should serve to reinforce the advantage that tall goalies already have in today’s game.
Hey Kay, if you wnted to increase scoring why not just go back to the way it was in 1920? Goalie gets fined for going down, can’t leave the crease and wears no mask. That oughtta make the game more exciting.
Tell me, please, that minor hockey leagues won’t be adopting this.
Welcome back readers!
In my last article I talked about all the gear that you are going to need to get started in goal. In the next series of articles I want to cover each area, and give you insights on not only how to make an informed purchase, but also how to make sure you are getting something that is going to protect you, and also something that fits right. Lets get to it!
If you know nothing about masks, chances are the only thing you are going to get experience with is the stock masks that your local hockey store has. Generally they are a mass produced mask, usually made out of some type of plastic and while they can be protective and safe, you really need to know what level you will be using the mask at, and make a decision based on that.
Let me say one thing before we dig further into the different types of masks that are out there…THIS IS ONE AREA YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE CHEAP WITH! Take what you think you want to spend on a mask, and add another $200-$400 to that total, and then start your search. This is your head we are talking about, and if you find that “killer” deal on a mask, most likely what you are going to get is a “killer” injury. Again I cannot stress this enough, DON’T SKIMP ON YOUR MASK PURCHASE. I have seen a lot of people buy a cheap mask, and a month or so later it is chipped, cracked, or even worse they have gotten a head injury from it failing to protect them. A good quality mask will last you for many years, and is well worth the extra cash you are going to spend to get one.
There are many different companies that make a good quality mask these days, and I am not here to tell you which company to choose from. I would just suggest do your research and you will find a reputable mask maker that is willing to go above and beyond to make your mask purchase an unforgettable experience. Many of these craftsman actually deal with NHL clients, so you know you are getting a great product. In addition to that, many of these mask makers are a lot more reasonably priced than you would expect! A good place to start your research is using our inGoal Magazine mask maker directory.
(Disclaimer: check with your hockey association before looking at masks to make sure you are looking at the right ones. Some associations require that goalies use a HECC or CSA certified mask. NOT ALL MASKS ARE CERTIFIED!)
Ok, with that being said lets move on to the fun side of this article, and that is the masks!
There are several styles of masks on the market today, that are all equally protective (that was not always the case).
I am going to start with the most commonly worn style in today’s goaltending world and that is:
(Below are a few photos which is just scratching the surface to the different looks and styles you can get in a full mask.)
Turco. Thanks to Warwick Masks for the photo.
Cam Ward. Thanks to Sportmask for the photo.
This style of mask is popular for a few different reasons:
If you are considering going custom (getting a mask specifically built and/or fitted for YOU)
If you are looking to buy something used, or off the shelf
Now on to another popular style of masks which is:
Hasek Style Combo mask
This style of mask is popular because: (it is a less used style of mask, but some people still swear by it)
And finally I want to touch on one more style of mask, which is the best of the Full mask and the Combo mask together.
Tim Thomas. Thanks to Sportmask for the photo.
This style of mask is popular because:
Now that you know a little bit more about the styles available for the goaltender today, lets talk about getting a proper fitting mask.
If you are going to be purchasing a used mask, or a stock mask there is a general measurement you will want to take or know.
Measure just above the eyebrow
Get a measuring tape and measure around your head, just above the eyebrow. Then refer to the mask manufacturers sizing charts for the size that will closest fit you (This measurement does not take in to consideration people with wider or narrower, long or shorter faces, this is for general fitting purposes only). Also if you wear fitted hats, your hat size can help you determine what size mask you may need.
If you are going for a custom fitting mask, there are a few things you will need to do, depending on the mask maker.
Some ask you for a face mold, you can refer to How to make a head mold for easy to follow instructions on making a mold of your face. This is so they can ensure the perfect fit for you.
Other mask makers may just need measurements, which they will provide you with which ones to take, again ensuring a proper fitting custom mask.
So, you have made your purchase whether it is a custom mask, stock, or used, you have it in your hands, now it is time to try it on and fit it up properly. You don’t want a loose mask, but you don’t want something that is so tight it will never come off of your head!
Upper and lower adjustment straps
Chin Cup
Here are a few guidelines on getting that proper fit.
First loosen the chin cup (with some masks this can be as simple as adjusting the strap on the cup, with others it is adjusted by pre-cut holes in the chin cup strap that are attached to the mask with screws – varies by mask model). Push your mask tight to your forehead. Start with the top snap of the harness (top/center at the back of the mask). Adjust until back the plate comfortably fits the contour of your head – while holding mask snug to forehead. Adjust the rest of the harness snugly, working down to the bottom of the back plate. Re-tighten chin-cup. Chin-cup should maintain constant contact with the chin whether mouth is open or closed.
As with anything, there is always more to learn about this topic. I have just barely touched the surface on all the information that is out there on goalie masks. Become well informed and use the tools you have available to do some research before you head out to buy a mask. The information you gather will help you out tenfold in the long run. Happy mask shopping!
And as always if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email me at vanniek@ingoalmag.com or comment below!
Special thanks again to Tony Priolo from Sportmask and Gary and Shelley Warwick from Warwick masks for letting me use their photos! All rights reserved.
Trois-Rivières Estacades Goalie Jimmy Appleby, whose team had the best defensive record in the Quebec Midget AAA development league this past season
Here is part 2 of our interview with custom goalie equipment maker Alain Beaudry of Passau Hockey in Chambly, just outside Montreal.
Q: Ingoalmag.com recently posted a story about Hockey Canada’s decision to apply goalie equipment sizing norms to all minor goalies for September 2009. However, these rule changes, as well as the new set of norms for pro goalies that the NHL will begin enforcing, create an obvious challenge for equipment makers. What are these newest rules really about? Has the NHL consulted equipment manufacturers, as they have with goalies such as Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo, to ask their input?
AB: If you go into just about any sports store and ask the sales staff about whether they sell the new “legal” equipment, they will usually say “Sure we do; all our pads are 11″. But the proof that the latest rule changes are far from a concensus is that many equipment manufacturers are currently making their 2009-10 pads without some of the newest specs (Passau included). Many sales people and goalies themselves don’t even know what the latest NHL norms are about. In fact, most of the equipment on the store shelves right now does not even meet the new specs! What will retail stores and parents do with this all this stuff if the latest NHL norms are enforced for minor hockey, as was the case with the 11″ pads and smaller blockers and trappers? Here are just a few examples for pads:
-the wing on the inside of the pad can’t be more than 7″ wide at any point
-the wing can’t have more than one flap or layer and can’t be more than 1.5″ thick, so no more wedges in the calves behind the wing
-the entire side wing must be made in one piece or everything must be fastened or glued together
-the wing must be recessed 0.5″ towards the inside of the pad so it doesn’t stick out at all when seen from a front view. On this point alone almost every pad on the market is “illegal”.
-the lower foot section can’t be more than 7″ long, so goalies can’t shorten the foot section to lengthen the height of the pad at the upper end
-the knee stack must be a maximum of 2.5″ thick and 7″ wide.
This is Passau's latest line, just released for June 2009.
not shown is trapper maximum circumference, which is 45" around the perimeter of the glove
notice that the side cuff cannot be free-floating and must be attached to the glove
On top of these rules, the NHL is also set to begin enforcing new norms for chest protectors and pants, where the size must correspond to the size of the goalie. In that way a 5′8″ 170 lb. goalie would have to wear smaller equipment (pads included) than a 6′1″ 200 lb. goalie. Maybe in one way this will be good for us. It has been years since any of the major companies have sewn a chest protector in Canada, but recently we have received requests to start making custom making them again. The CA (chest-arm unit) is one of the pieces of equipment that is most often modified by the pros and elite players, so this may be to our benefit. Just as with the goalie pads, there is no way that a manufacturer operating in China will make a custom CA. They need to fill a container ship with gear or else it isn’t profitable to them.
Q: On the topic of competition from China, can you comment about how you see your company fitting in with the bigger players in the industry? Are you worried about your future since so many manufacturing jobs have disappeared from Canada and the US?
AB: Where things get manufactured is a question of where it makes sense economically. Mass production makes sense in China, but that isn’t our market. There is already discussion about how gas prices will increase as the current recession ends, not just back to where it was a year ago, but much higher. At some point, if gas costs 2$ a litre or 8$ a gallon, it will simply be more competitive to start manufacturing things here, close to markets. The Bauer skate and helmet plant in St. Jerome was one of the biggest in Canada. It is now closed and even the top-of-the-line Nike-Bauer skates are made in China. Will this ever come back? Nobody knows. As far as custom goalie equipment is concerned, for now our product is so specialized and our customers so particular that we can still justify producing in Canada for the top-end market. The more that transporation costs increase, the better it is for Canadian manufacturers versus those in Asia.
Q: What is in store for the future at Passau Hockey?
AB: We have just finished a new model of pad-trapper-blocker in the last month and we’re quite excited about it. We have continued to seek the input of many different goalies at many levels, not just the professionals who make up less than 1% of the clientele. While we develop the Passau brand we are continuing our work for clients over here and in Europe as well. I am really pleased that they have considered Passau as their designer and manufacturer because there are other bigger and more well known companies. I think maybe it is because I try to keep an open mind about what they want to do. Designers can get stuck in the same pattern, not wanting to change or look for new ideas. This is especially true once you have come up with a design that is really popular. Sometimes you want to stay with it longer than you should.
At Passau Hockey, company president Alain Beaudry is the guy who meets you at the front door, takes the measurements, designs and custom builds the pad...
When I was in second grade and still too young to get three words in a row spelled correctly, I wrangled my older sister into writing a letter for me to Le Club de Hockey Canadien. A month later a glossy 8 x 10 of my heroes decked out in the sacred bleu-blanc-rouge arrived, with my supreme idol Ken Dryden seated at one end of the front row. I can still recall the rapture with which I studied his pads; those imposing pillars of brown leather, the impregnable twin towers that could repel every shot with uncanny speed and style.
Despite my daily supplications, my dad forbade me from playing goal, insisting that I was “too good of a skater” to waste my time in net. I believe now that his refusal was grounded moreso in a legitimate fear of me getting injured. One need only think back to the horrible equipment, circa 1973, to realize that this concern was probably well-founded to say the least. The ban, however, didn’t stop me from trying to make my own goalie pads. I took the leftover leg portions from a pair of cut-off blue jeans and tried to stuff them with plastic garbage bags, then attach them to my legs with rubber bands.
I suspect that Alain Beaudry, president of Passau Hockey, probably tried to make his own goalie pads as a kid too; only he was obviously blessed with a whole lot more talent and imagination than me. After 25 years in the business he is still at his craft, turning out custom-made goalie equipment at his factory in Chambly, Quebec, one set at a time. Coinciding with the release of Passau’s newest pad design (more on this later), we met with Alain for a discussion that included the origins of the current flat-pad craze, his work with goalies ranging from Kim St. Pierre to Vladislav Tretiak and various NHL’ers, the future of manufacturing in Canada and the low-down on the newest NHL spec regulations for equipment.
Q: For a period of several years during Patrick Roy’s heydey in Montreal, you were the guy the team called on to make adjustments and repairs to the team’s goalie equipment. What did this experience teach you about goalie pad design and construction?
AB: I was able to see what problems or weaknesses were common to the goalie pads at the time. For example, the stitching in many of the high-wear areas kept breaking down. The pads were poorly reinforced and the stuffing (deer hair and kapok- a fibre from a tropical tree native to South America and Asia) would shift all over the place, accumulating especially in the foot sections of the pads (editor’s note: Canadiens’ backup Brian Hayward was one goalie accused of having pads that were even wider than 12″, perhaps due to the stuffing sliding down). I used to get “emergency” phone calls to rush down to the (Montreal) Forum before game time, where I had to start ripping open and repairing a pad that was to be used that night.
Another thing I began realizing was that goalie pads had some design elements that really had no function. The knee rolls and side rolls might have served a purpose at one point, but as the equipment and particularly the style evolved, they didn’t seem to have much use anymore. For example, we once did a survey of NHL goalies, asking them what they thought was the function of the rolls on a pad. Nobody seemed to be sure. So we ended up decreasing their size and hardly anyone noticed. I have never met a goalie who asked me to make pads with thick rolls on the outside of the leg.
Q: With only a few exceptions (notably Martin Brodeur), the flat-pad is pretty much the standard for all goalie pads now. However, this design is by no means new. Can you tell us a bit of its history and how you played a role in that regard?
AB: There were a number of people who began thinking of the goalie pad in a completely new way back in the 80’s (there was the Aeroflex pad, worn by Reggie Lemelin, Darren Puppa and Tom Barasso. DR made a flat-faced pad that Marty Brodeur wore in junior. There were also the designs of Pete Smith. I was only one of them so I don’t claim to be the “inventor” of the flat pad. However, what I learned repairing other companies’ pads led me to design a cleaner looking, flat faced pad that bore the Bayard (and later Ferland) name (former Chicago Blackhawks goalie and current tv analyst Darren Pang wore Bayard pads for part of his NHL career). Unfortunately, we had the hardest time convincing the stores and distributors to sell them for us. The mentality in the equipment industry was so slow and difficult to change. I finally had to go back and start making “old” style pads with knee and shin rolls to get my line into stores! For years Vladislav Tretiak used our equipment in his hockey schools, even though he found our flat-faced pads so light that they threw his balance off! When we first began to outfit Patrick Lalime, he came into the factory raving about these amazing “Bayard” flat pads that he had grown up with. He never even knew that I was the one who had made them years before…
Q: On that note, is there a reason why up until now you’ve never put your own name on the equipment you made? For example, Michel Lefebvre puts his name beside the RBK label, and JRZ (another Quebec manufacturer) is behind the designs of Itech goalie gear.
AB: Over the last 20 years we have worked for many different companies, both as a designer and as a manufacturer of their in-house designs. For that reason, we chose not to publicize our name, seeing as we did not have an exclusive agreement with only one company. Currently we’ve decided to start our own line. Since Passau belongs to us, we have complete control over all of the design elements and the entire manufacturing process.
Q: Where does the Passau name come from? Who is wearing your equipment now and what clientele are you trying to target?
AB: Passau is the name of a town in Germany that, during the middle ages, was a famous center for arms manufacturing. The weapons made there were of such high quality that some warriors said they held mystical powers. People began believing that anyone going into battle with armour bearing the mark of the running wolf (the town’s symbol) couldn’t be defeated. We think the legend of “invincible armour” fits for what a goalie does out on the ice.
Our clientele is pretty specialized: elite goalies in the age bracket of 12-17 years who play at a high level like Midget Espoir, college, prep school and sports-études programs. A growing number of girls too, because girls’ hockey is just exploding now. We have Midget AAA in Quebec goalies wearing Passau this year, but unfortunately for us, when they move up to Major Junior (the LHJMQ) next year they may be obliged to wear the equipment from the company that sponsors the league.
The kids that buy our gear are on the ice every day, sometimes twice a day. Usually they have tried other lower-end equipment, and through their own experience or based on suggestions from hockey school or coaching staff, realize that they need something that won’t break down so fast. The parents are the ones footing the bill for the equipment. It is a serious investment and in my opinion only makes sense for the serious goalie, not the guy who plays pick-up hockey once a week. Passau makes everything here in Chambly, custom fitted, by order only. Our goalies come in and it takes 20 minutes to size them, then 2 hours for them to decide on the colours and where to put them on the pad. It isn’t cheap, but neither is the top-of-the-line gear from the other companies. We don’t have an entry level product and don’t make junior sized equipment (30″ pads are the smallest size) because the foams and construction we use are too stiff for an 80 pound Atom goalie to bend. People still bring me repairs to do on all brands of equipment. It is time consuming and I don’t want Passau equipment coming back needlessly because the stitching is pulling out or the pads are sagging after half a season. While we do have a website (www.passauhockey.com), our money goes mostly into the product, not into expensive advertising or huge volume sales in retail stores.
Thanks to our friends at BladeTape we have the first shots of the new BladeTape designs that the Canadian Goalies will be using at this year’s World Championships. It’s a real sign of how fast you can customize your look that these can be delivered for a team put together on short notice.
Chris Mason
Josh Harding
Dwayne Roloson
We’ll be receiving the first game shots as soon as they are available so you can see the new design in action.
Thanks to BladeTape for the shots.
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Header image by Scott Slingsby
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