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goalie mask
DCHP-2 (Apr 2016)
Spelling variants:goaltender mask
n. — Hockey
a protective mask worn by hockey goaltenders.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — One of the first references to hockey goaltenders' wearing a protective mask comes from 1922, when equipment from other sports, such as a catcher's mask was used (see the 1922 quotation). Jacques Plante, the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, who had been injured earlier, wore a mask in an official game in 1959 (Plante & Dunton 2001: 82). Plante's mask covered his entire face and was made of fiberglass (see Image 1).
At that time, many hockey players were against following Plante's lead. It was believed that the mask would reduce goaltender's vision or impair their breathing (see the 1959 quotation). Others thought that "a real man wouldn't hide his face from the opponents" (Plante & Dunton 2001: 83). As the game got faster and shots harder, the goalie mask became standard. The term goalie mask could not be found in other dictionaries, although there were instances of goaltender only, the full version of goalie.
See also COD-2, s.v. "goaltender", and OED-3, s.v. "goal-tender", which is marked "N Amer."
At that time, many hockey players were against following Plante's lead. It was believed that the mask would reduce goaltender's vision or impair their breathing (see the 1959 quotation). Others thought that "a real man wouldn't hide his face from the opponents" (Plante & Dunton 2001: 83). As the game got faster and shots harder, the goalie mask became standard. The term goalie mask could not be found in other dictionaries, although there were instances of goaltender only, the full version of goalie.
See also COD-2, s.v. "goaltender", and OED-3, s.v. "goal-tender", which is marked "N Amer."
See: hockey
Quotations
1922
[Last season it was permissible for goalkeepers to wear a baseball catcher's mask, or other similar contrivance. This was intended as a concession to the goalkeeper, and a measure for his protection, some serious accidents having happened when the "goalies" were hit on the head by fast shots from close range.]
1959
[Goalkeepers have been opposed to masks because they suspected their vision would be reduced, their breathing impaired and their shouting range diminished. Plante, the great emancipator, has proved that those fears are silly.]
1960
RECEIVE GOALIE MASK: Mr. Tat Alda, an enthusiastic promoter of minor hockey in Stouffville, has donated a new plastic goaltender's face guard to the management of the Association. The mask, first of its kind to be acquired by the local league, will be used by the younger members in the group.
1974
"In fact," he added, "there is nothing in international play that stops a player from playing with a mask. When Peterborough Petes played in a recent junior tourney in Russia, one of their players received a bad cut on the eye and Petes were allowed to let him use a goalie mask the last two games."
1981
The Jets came out skating and built 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the first period. When they made the score 4-1 early in the second, Crozier yanked Tremblay in favour of Crha.
Leading the Jet attack was Doug Smail, who only a year ago was in the middle of a 44-goal season with the University of South Dakota. Smail, playing with a cutdown goalie mask to protect the jaw he broke earlier this season, scored two of the Jets' first three goals and set up the first two goals of Rick Bowness's NHL career.
1991
[Michel Lefebvre] is the Riopelle of the rink, the most famous Quebec hockey artist. His metier is the goalie mask, which, not coincidentally, he manufactures himself. In a Goaltenders 'R' Us workshop in his Terrebonne home, Lefebvre makes goalie pads and forges the birdcage helmets that are now the fashion among all well- dressed netminders. He has hand-made masks and pads for Roy, Brian Hayward, Jean-Claude Bergeron, Stephane Beauregard and Daniel Berthiaume.
2003
More than 300 items from the Hockey Hall of Fame will be exhibited in the travelling museum. Among these items will be a pair of Brett Hull's skates from Dallas, Pat Quinn's 2002 Olympic medal and Jacques Plante's prototype goalie mask. Fourteen display cases will capture themes such as The Original Six, Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada and today's NHL stars.
2015
"Besides my family, hockey is my life," Armstrong said. "The game gets better and better all the time, and when I watch the games today, I say 'Wow, they're doing things we could never do in our day.' I mean, if you didn't wear a goalie mask today, they'd have to come and dig the puck out of you. The guys all shoot so hard, the only guy who could shoot like that in our day was Bobby Hull."
References
- Plante & Dunton (2001)
- COD-2
- OED-3 • "goal-tender"
Images
Image 1: Jacques Plante's goalie mask. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: M. Pick
