No position in hockey has evolved more over the years than goaltending. Equipment is lighter than ever and goalies are more athletic.
Their masks have evolved too.
There’s a lot more protection for the masked men who defend their team’s goal. With players shooting pucks at over 100 miles per hour, you can understand why.
But not everything has changed for the better.
Let’s talk about goalie mask designs. There are some great ones.
Artists get paid big bucks to design all sorts of masks nowadays. But none of them terrify us like masks from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Here’s 13 goalie masks who captured the lost art of terrifying us:
1. Gary Bromley (Vancouver Canucks)
💀 #FridayThe13th pic.twitter.com/tn1Tm1go92
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 13, 2017
As if that jersey was terrifying enough.
2. Gilles Gratton (New York Rangers)
Gilles Gratton had the best mask ever, no discussion should be needed pic.twitter.com/TTO0LUW6ZU
— Colossus of Clout (@Jive_Turkey57) February 7, 2015
AHH!
3. Phil Myre (Atlanta Flames)
In the Halloween spirit, Iconic will be celebrating the goalie mask
Today's Iconic mask belongs to @NHLFlames Phil Myre (1972-77)
Spooky? pic.twitter.com/gPfCM7yDgT
— Iconic Electric (@iconicec) October 23, 2016
Is he on fire or is he breathing fire? Either way, I just pooped my pants.
4. Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens)
Jacques Plante: 1st goalie to win 6 #StanleyCup
First 5 came with a goal mask, a piece of equipment Pioneer Plante made famous to this day. pic.twitter.com/p2CIn1uijt— #ILLINOIS 1818 (@philcoforde) May 30, 2017
Less is more with this goalie mask pioneer.
5. Gerry Cheevers (Boston Bruins)
#DYK Bruins’ Gerry Cheevers added a “stitch” each time puck hit his mask, creating a visual reminder of why it was needed #HockeyExhibit 1/2 pic.twitter.com/4obDehN3XO
— Museum of History (@CanMusHistory) August 3, 2017
Snitches get stitches, and so did Gerry Cheevers’ mask.
6. Terry Sawchuk (Toronto Maple Leafs)
From the HHOF Archives – Stan Mikita of the @NHLBlackhawks makes a move on Terry Sawchuk of the @Leafs. pic.twitter.com/TdYhrtEh5S
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) November 3, 2015
Imagine someone waking you up in your sleep with that mask on.
7. Gary Simmons (California Golden Seals)
Gary Simmons – California Golden Seals #NHL probably around 1975
source: http://t.co/ztvJqejLEm pic.twitter.com/5NaaMO1bfi— Hockey in Pictures (@HockeyInPics) January 24, 2014
Snakes are scary.
8. Murray Bannerman (Chicago Blackhawks)
Man they should get Murray Bannerman out of retirement instead of Crawford! #GiveCrowABreakFolks! #Relax #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/PSzkGot24r
— Big Daddy Blackhawk (@BigDaddyWold) January 3, 2014
Those eyebrows.
9. Pelle Lindbergh (Philadelphia Flyers)
(Another)Fun Fact – Pelle Lindbergh was the first goaltender to play with a water bottle on his net. He often suffered from dehydration. pic.twitter.com/IKcGtioo3n
— Brad Klobe (@PaddingTheStats) April 11, 2017
Is that Jason Voorhees??
10. Mike Liut (St Louis Blues)
On this day in 1980, Mike Liut became the first goaltender in @StLouisBlues history to win 30 games in one season. That mask was đź‘Ś pic.twitter.com/AmJIRcgiuY
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) April 1, 2017
That’s not human.
11. Jim Rutherford (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Who’s that guy in the blue mask? Oh, just Jim Rutherford guarding the #Pens net back in the 70s. pic.twitter.com/gIDqLSJFrw
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 18, 2014
The blue creeps me out, don’t know why.
12. Gerry Desjardins (Buffalo Sabres)
1944: Gerry Desjardins born in Sudbury, ON. Kings, Haws, Islanders, Stags, Blades, Sabres. 1975 SC Final w Buffalo https://t.co/x9ESm4XuAZ pic.twitter.com/E5IHyC1Qf8
— Doug Norris (@GoalieHistory) July 22, 2017
Giant forehead, tiny nose and mouth. Again, not human.
13. Cesare Maniago (Minnesota North Stars)
The Minnesota North Stars chose Cesare Maniago w/ their 1st pick in 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 420 games w/ MNS from 67-76. #NHL100 pic.twitter.com/S4SdSJoV43
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 9, 2017
Sleep with one eye open.