50 Years Behind The Mask

icehog3 · 10-30-2009, 05:59 PM

Sunday, November 1st is a historic day for NHL hockey. On that night Jacques Plante became the first goaltender to wear a full facemask in an NHL game, and first to begin wearing a facemask on a regular basis. One golltender, Clint Benedict of the Montreal Maroons, wore a partial leather mask for a few games in 1929 to protect a broken nose, but it was neither full sized, nor did he wear it after his nose healed.

Quote:

During the 1959–60 NHL season, Plante introduced the goaltender mask into a regular game. While Plante had previously used his mask in practice to avoid getting injured, starting in 1956, after missing 13 games due to sinusitis, his team's head coach, Toe Blake, did not permit him to wear it during regulation play. However, on November 1, 1959, Plante's nose was broken when he was hit by a shot fired by Andy Bathgate, three minutes into the game against the New York Rangers, and he was taken to go to the dressing room for stitches. When he returned, he was wearing the crude home-made goaltender mask that he had been using in practices. Blake was livid, but he had no other goaltender to call upon and Plante refused to return to the goal unless he wore the mask. Blake agreed on the condition that Plante discard the mask when the cut healed.[30] The Canadiens won the game 3–1. In the ensuing days Plante refused to discard the mask, and as the Canadiens continued to win, Blake was less vocal about it. The unbeaten streak stretched to 18 games. Plante did not wear the mask, at Blake's request, against Detroit on March 8, 1960; the Canadiens lost 3–0, and the mask returned for good the next night. That year the Canadiens won their fifth straight Stanley Cup, which proved to be Plante's last.

With the advent of the curved stick first used by Stan Miklta in the early 60's, athletes becoming bigger and stronger, and breakthroughs in materials used to make hockey sticks....can you imagine a modern-era NHL goalie playing without a mask?

For anyone who gets the NHL Network, they have an hour long special on the subject airing Sunday at 6PM CST.

Steve · 10-30-2009, 06:06 PM

Wow...now those guys were MEN back then!

King James · 10-30-2009, 06:11 PM

cool, Tom...will have to record it

longknocker · 10-30-2009, 06:12 PM

Thanks, Admiral!

DPD6030 · 10-30-2009, 06:33 PM

I don't get the NHL network

Tio Gato · 10-31-2009, 01:30 PM

I remember Gump Worsley was the second to last goalie to wear a mask.
My brother and I loved to watch him play just waiting for a wicked slap shot to the face. He's alleged to have said "my face is my mask".
I think my little brother still has the white mask with magic marker stitches on it just like Gerry Cheevers.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. The old days of the NHL were my favorite.

10-31-2009, 01:46 PM

Was his nickname Jason?

Gotta love the old time stuff.

yourchoice · 10-31-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

....can you imagine a modern-era NHL goalie playing without a mask?

No I cannot. Unreal that they did it back then.

bobarian · 10-31-2009, 02:55 PM

I am pretty sure Peter was at that game, he should be able to give us a first hand account!

icehog3 · 10-31-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobarian

I am pretty sure Peter was at that game, he should be able to give us a first hand account!

I think it was when he was about 47 years old.

icehog3 · 11-01-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

For anyone who gets the NHL Network, they have an hour long special on the subject airing Sunday at 6PM CST

Just a reminder for anyone interested.

E.J. · 11-01-2009, 11:18 AM

HOLY SMOKES....look at that C/A protection.... Is that just a sweater filled with old mattress stuffing?

That is just nuts.... Thanks for the info. Icehog, will TiVo for sure....

10-30-2009, 06:06 PM	#2
Steve Dad Jokester Supreme Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Steve Location: 17 R 435648 3354895 Posts: 7,715 Trading: (6)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask Wow...now those guys were MEN back then! __________________ ...So don't sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied, Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance that tide

10-30-2009, 06:11 PM	#3
King James Regard Me! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jim Location: Dark Side Of The Moon Posts: 2,565 Trading: (2)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask cool, Tom...will have to record it __________________ Mob Herfin' Since 2006

10-30-2009, 06:12 PM	#4
longknocker Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 11,116 Trading: (82)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask Thanks, Admiral!

10-30-2009, 06:33 PM	#5
DPD6030 Shepard of the sheeple Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The Mitten Posts: 7,166 Trading: (151)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask I don't get the NHL network

10-31-2009, 01:30 PM	#6
Tio Gato Uncle Kitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Casa Grande, AZ Posts: 2,075 Trading: (11)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask I remember Gump Worsley was the second to last goalie to wear a mask. My brother and I loved to watch him play just waiting for a wicked slap shot to the face. He's alleged to have said "my face is my mask". I think my little brother still has the white mask with magic marker stitches on it just like Gerry Cheevers. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. The old days of the NHL were my favorite. __________________ "You stink like cigars Uncle Kitty!" Said my Boo age 3. "Kid, take care of your family and the hell with anyone else" My Grandpa Bubba.

10-31-2009, 01:46 PM	#7
Resipsa Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask Was his nickname Jason? Gotta love the old time stuff.

10-31-2009, 02:55 PM	#9
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask I am pretty sure Peter was at that game, he should be able to give us a first hand account!

11-01-2009, 11:18 AM	#12
E.J. I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,218 Trading: (21)	Re: 50 Years Behind The Mask HOLY SMOKES....look at that C/A protection.... Is that just a sweater filled with old mattress stuffing? That is just nuts.... Thanks for the info. Icehog, will TiVo for sure....