Jacques Plante’s (1924-1986) “pretzel” fiberglass goalie mask, designed by Plante and custom-made by Bill Burchwood of Fibreglass Canada Ltd and his brother-in-law Earl Thomas Patrick Greenland, was one of the first ever used in professional hockey. This is Plante’s third mask, worn while playing for the New York Rangers from 1963 to 1965. The first time Plante wore a mask in a National Hockey League game was on November 1, 1959, while playing for the Montréal Canadiens against the New York Rangers. Plante had worn a mask in practice since 1955, but coach Toe Blake did not let him wear it in games. That night Plante was struck by a puck. His face had to be sewn from nose to lip, adding to the 200 facial stitches from previous puck shots. Plante insisted he would only return to the game if allowed to wear his mask. The team won that game by a score of 4 to 1. Plante continued to wear the mask even though he was supposed to stop when his face healed, leading the team in an eleven-game winning streak and finally winning the Stanley Cup. Plante designed several models of masks, improving the strength, lightness and visibility. Other goalies followed his lead and the hockey mask is now standard goalie equipment, literally changing the face of hockey. More confident wearing a mask, he was one of the first players to exit the crease of the goal and play the puck behind the net. Today, helmets, visors, and other protective head-gear are not only worn by the goaltenders, but by all NHL players.

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