One of the great and distinctive things about the NHL is the artwork that goaltenders are allowed to adorn themselves with. Not only can the goaltenders dress themselves up in an array of fancy colors, but they are allowed to express their personality with artwork on their helmets. While other leagues, especially the NFL (No Fun League), refrain from any uniform discrepancies that would detract from the norm, the NHL has always allowed the goaltenders to express themselves, and most of them take advantage of the artistic freedom.Chris Osgood, on the other hand, prefers his plain old boring unpainted cage. Zzzzzzz ...
"It's tough to paint -- I don't think it would ever stay on," Osgood said. "I've had it painted but it just chipped off all the time. I wear that style because I can see better out of it than I can out of the new ones - I tried wearing those a couple of times and I just couldn't get used to them just because I feel I can't see down."
"I could paint it," Osgood said. "But I like it the way it is now. I used to get guys bringing me masks all the time with (Wizard of Oz) kind of stuff on them but I just like the way it is, just plain and simple."
If a goalie's mask is a portal to his personality, Osgood must be a pretty boring, low-key kinda guy.
In any event, we're pleased to bring you a new gallery highlighting some of the league's best goalie mask designs. From Ed Belfour's classic hawk design, to Mike Smith's tribute to Garth Brooks, goaltender masks run the whole gamut of personal tributes to team loyalty to flights of fancy. Let's be thankful that Gary Bettman hasn't killed that aspect of our favorite sport.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. hey man, chris osgood is a funny guy! but he might be refraining from painting his mask because of how ugly hasek made his. but really, it doesn't get much better than some of those masks in the 70s and 80s- like gerry cheevers' in 1975, or gary bromley's in 1980. awesome.
Posted at 11:59PM on Dec 6th 2007 by scheisskopf
2. I'm partial to Kari Lehtonen's Kill Bill mask and the Ned Flanders design of the back of Budaj's helmet.
Posted at 1:28PM on Dec 7th 2007 by natureshellsticks
3. Does it really matter if goalies paint their masks? Especially in Osgood's case considering the bird cage style he sports, which is individual enough. And honestly, I can't see him wearing anything else.
Posted at 3:14PM on Dec 7th 2007 by C3091