Flyers Goalie Masks: The Top 10 All-time list
One thing that I’ve always loved about the NHL is the custom helmets a goalie gets to design. They can put whatever they want on it and make it as ridiculous as possible! No other sport allows you to do that, so I figured now would be a fun time to look at the ten best goalie masks in Flyers history!
#10: @Goaliecustomizr
It me, Goalie. #Gritty #Flyers #Philadelphia #NHL #Hockey #Mascot #Concept #Design pic.twitter.com/9VjN7lsP4d
— goaliecustomizr (@GoalieCustomizr) September 10, 2019
Tell me right now that if someone were to wear this full set in a game, it wouldn’t be the best and funniest thing ever! The mask gives me strong Curtis Joseph vibes, except replace the vicious dog with Gritty. I think the glove and blocker could get a little more creative, but other than that, Carter Hart needs to wear this to distract opponents.
#9: Gritty Designs: Calvin Pickard, Alex Lyon, and Antony Stolarz
What do all three of these goalies have in common? They used Gritty on their masks. Yes, I know, there won’t be another Gritty mask on the list, I promise.
#8: Ninja Turtles: Brian Elliott
Casey Jones from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a brick wall as the backdrop? Kowabunga dude, this mask is awesome! Elliott has used the Ninja Turtles character on a few if his masks over the years.
I’ve always been a fan of what Elliot does with his masks, and I’m hoping we can see one more great one before his time in Philly is over.
#7: Philadelphia Skyline: Ron Hextall
While Hextall might be the general manager of our cross town rivals, that doesn’t mean he never had a really cool mask! Hextall had Philly landmarks and the city skyline on his mask. It’s simple, but it worked well!
Maybe he’ll design one with Gritty beating up a penguin for the next legends outdoor game.
#6: Tribute to Emery: Carter Hart
After the tragic passing of former Flyers goalie Ray Emery, Hart paid tribute by featuring Emery on his new mask. My favorite part of the mask is the section where Emery is fighting Braden Holtby. What Flyers fan doesn’t remember that epic beatdown?!
#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.