A goalie mask is a mask worn by an ice or field hockey goaltender to protect the head from injury.

The first mask was a crude leather model worn by Clint Benedict in the 1920s to protect his broken nose. Upon recovery from the injury, he never used it again. Jacques Plante was the first to wear a mask full-time after being struck in the face with a puck during a game in 1959. Although he faced some derision, Plante's fiberglass mask soon became the standard and a symbol of the game. This style of mask is no longer used by hockey leagues; it is now mostly famous for its continued use by horror icon Jason Voorhees.

Two kinds of goalie masks are currently in use. The first one is a simple helmet/cage combination, but it is not generally popular as it does not provide ample protection to the sides of the head, plus there is doubt as to whether this type of mask can fully absorb high-speed slapshots (despite criticisms, it is currently used by goalies such as Dominik Hasek , Dan Cloutier , and Chris Osgood). The second one is a fibreglass mask with a cage attached in the middle. This type of mask is the most popular one among goalies today. In addition to providing good protection to all sides of the head, goalies found it fashionable to give their mask distinctive decorations. In fact, nowadays goalies become instantly recognizable with their trademark decorations on their masks.

The advent of the goalie mask changed the way goaltenders play, allowing them to make more saves on their knees without fear of serious head or facial injuries. Prior to goalie masks, most goaltenders stayed standing as much as possible. In the modern era, an overwhelming majority of saves are made when the goaltender has one or both knees on the ice.

In recent years, baseball catchers have begun to wear very similar masks. The first such mask made its debut in 1996 by Charlie O'Brien who was playing with the Toronto Blue Jays at the time.

The goalie mask has entered poular culture as the mask worn by fictional mass murderer Jason Voorhees.

External links

• A Brief History of the Goalie Mask

Ice hockey equipment | Canadian inventions | Protective gear