#5: Boxing/Rocky Tribute: Ray Emery
Emery had some good looking masks during his time with the Flyers. My favorite is the one that honors the Tuskegee Airmen, who were a group of African-American pilots who fought in the second World War.
Emery also had a boxing style mask with a picture from Rocky, as well as several other famous (and real) boxers on it.
#4: Flyers Zombies: Steve Mason
Mason’s zombie masks are my favorite of the modern era. They honor the team by putting players in zombie mode. He even had legends like Bernie Parent, Bobby Clarke and the rest of the Broad Street Bullies on it. The “Mase” font on the bottom with the ripped up jersey feel is an awesome touch.
#3: Flyers Glasses: Wayne Stephenson
Wayne Stepheson’s bright orange mask with the two winged P’s interlocking at the eyes to form a glasses type of look earns him the third spot on the list. This type of thing is impossible now, but it stood out even more in the 1970s when tigers and stitches were big designs. It’s not as iconic as our first two, but it definitely deserves its spot with the all-time greats.
Stephenson’s mask was included in a lookback done by Bill Meltzer of NHL.com last December.
#2: Imitating the Hero: Pelle Lindbergh
Lindbergh’s goalie mask was very similar to that of Bernie Parent, his hero. That’s what I love the most about Lindbergh’s mask, he tried to be like his great predecessor.
Lindbergh’s mask was almost identical to Parent’s iconic mask, and early on Lindbergh even had the Flyers logos in the same spots. It was also featured in Meltzer’s lookback.
#1: The Classic: Bernie Parent
Was it ever really a debate? Parent’s mask is a classic. When I was a kid playing street hockey, I had a mask that vaguely resembled the shape of Parent’s. I threw three stickers with the iconic winged P logo in the same places Parent had his, just like Lindbergh did. Over 40 years after Parent led the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cups, he still had kids recreating his look.