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Shannon Szabados aims to complete the hat trick of Olympic gold medals, after Team Canada's defeat during the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyongChang. Szabados, one of the most recognizable goaltenders in world, aims to get her third gold when Team Canada goes back to the 2022 Olympics. Until then, she will continue to play for the NWHL's Buffalo beauts. During the NWHL's 4th All Star Game, Szabados was named one of the team captains along with Lee Stecklein. The future is bright for the NWHL with Szabados in net.
Favorite Player Growing Up: "Angela James, and Patrick Roy."
Favorite Memory:"My first Olympic Gold, standing up on the podium."
Interesting Mask Fact: "I have 'FLM' on my mask to remind to 'Fight Like Matt', a sledge hockey player I know."

Last updated 3 mins ago

Being called up to be a backup for the first time is always a nerve racking experience, but never moreso when the goalie you're backing up is the legendary Patrick Roy. This is exactly what happened to David Aebischer in 2000 when the Avalanche traded Marc Denis to the Blue Jackets. Aebischer enjoyed a good career, even starting in the 2004 playoffs for Colorado, before being traded to montreal for Joe Theodore. He would eventually bounce around between Montreal, Phoenix, and Winnipeg, before going to play overseasHC Thurgau..
Favorite Player Growing Up: "Probably Hextall (Laughs)."
Favorite Memory:"Getting drafted 161st overall by the Avs."
Interesting Mask Fact: "I always have maple leafs on my mask, to remind me where I'm from."

Last updated 1 day ago

Marty Turco was the guy in net for the Dallas Stars for a number of years. After Modano, when you thought of Dallas hockey, you thought Turco. After taking over the net in 2001 when Ed Belfour decided to sign in Toronto, Turco's GAA of 1.72 set a modern day record, and even had 3 shutouts in 7 playoff games, unfortunately losing the series after his teammates couldn't produce enough goal scoring opportunities. After leaving Dallas, Turco signed with Chicago to take over for the departing Antii Niemi, and later signed as second backup with the Bruins.
Favorite Player Growing Up: "Hasek, Dominator for sure."
Favorite Memory:"Winning the Stanley Cup."
Interesting Mask Fact: "I love the gargoyles on my mask.

Last updated 2 days ago

Carey Price is waiting for his first Stanley Cup. He doesn't know when or where it'll come from, but he hopes it's in Montreal. "y'know, I've just signed a long term contract with the habs to be here a while, and I'd love to bring a Cup to Montreal and the boys here, everyday I see them working so hard." Carey Price has been hailed as the next Patrick Roy ever since being drafted fifth overall in 2005, and expectations have never been higher now that Price is seen as a grizzled vet and not a fresh faced rookie.
Favorite Player Growing Up: "Roy, of course, but also Andy Moog."
Favorite Memory:"Winning gold at the Olympics"
Interesting Mask Fact: "I usually try to add some cowboy elements to my mask, but it's pretty heavily Canadiens stuff."

Last updated 1 week ago

One of the more interesting things you might notice with the infamous Detroit-Colorado rivalries of the 90s/00s was the unique goalie mask that both Osgood and Hasek wore. Or maybe when Tim Thomas was winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 you may have seen him take a puck of his player helmet with a non-cat's eye goalie cage. Well, after exhaustive study and researcg, which totally wasn't just calling up each player and asking about it, we've found that these goalies use them not because they feel any safer wearing them, but because of comfort. Osgood finds they feel more comfortable than the traditional goalie mask, while Hasek and Thomas say they've been using the same mask style since they were kids, and they just prefer them.

Last updated last month

Can you imagine a world where Tuukka Rask is wearing Maple Leaf blue? Well, it almost happened, when Rask was drafted by Toronto 21st overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft. His rights were traded to Boston in exchange for Andrew Raycroft. Since then, Rask has backstopped the Bruins to two Stanley Cup appearances, whiel Raycroft has, uh, not. In 2019, Rask passed Tiny Thompson's franchise record of games started by a goalie in Bruin's history with his 469th game. Internationally, the Finnish Rask helped Team Finland to two Bronze medals.
Favorite Player Growing Up: "Kiprusoff, for sure. Toskala also."
Favorite Memory:"Celebrating and lifting the Stanley Cup."
Interesting Mask Fact: "I've had pretty much the same Bruin on my mask since I was signed. His name's Barry."

Last updated last month

Being drafted first overall will always bring high expectations.It's safe to say Fleury has lived up to all of them, leading the Penguins to four Stanley Cup appearances, including three wins, and another appearance with the Vegas Golden Knights. Fleury was integral to leading the Pens to a consistantly good record, staying atop the Metropolitan division, and being a constant threat in the playoffs. During the 2017 expansion draft, Fleury was sent to the desert and hasn't slowed down since, leading the surprising Knights into the playoffs, and all the way to the Finals. He currently sits fifth all time for NHL wins by a goalie.
Favorite Player Growing Up: "Martin Brodeur, and Real Cloutier."
Favorite Memory:"The birth of my son. Or the First Stanley Cup."
Interesting Mask Fact: "I have '57' on my mask to honor the victims of the Mandalay Bay shootings."

Last updated 2 months ago

The question is simple, but the answers weren't: Why do goalies get whay they do painted on their masks? Basically, after talking to several net minders, the answers were incredibly varied. The majority of them are personal, putting family on the sides, or their beliefs. It's not uncommon to see scripture that spoke to them referenced on the mask. However, the higher in professional leagues you get, the more say the team has, often times nixing what the goalie wants. For example, Montreal has often told Carey Price he can't have more cowboy references on his masks, making them more "team-centric". Same for the late Ray Emery, who had the infamous Mike Tyson on his mask for a short while, before the Flyers asked him to take it off. Typically, the masks at the NHL level are almost entirely at least approved before even being painted, though how much teams care can vary from team to team. Roberto Luongo had an incredibly complicated and detailed mask during his time in Vancouver, however when he went back to Florida, he was allowed to go a lot more simple, reigning in the design to show off a basic panther symbol and gold stripes.

Last updated 2 months ago