Jacques Plante: The Man in the Fiberglass Mask – Hockey Writer – Canadiens History

November may be the most important month for NHL goaltenders today, but most may not even know why. It was during that month in 1959 that the position changed forever thanks to the emergence of a 6-foot, 175-pound man from Quebec.

Progress in goalkeeper equipment has been slow

It has been nearly 42 years since the NHL was founded, and the progress of player equipment has been slow, especially the goalkeeper position that seems to be the most prehistoric. One can only imagine how difficult it was to be a goaltender in the early days of hockey, with little to no protection and just using your body as a shield in front of the net.

Over time, equipment becomes part of a goalkeeper’s repertoire. Protection begins by applying equipment from the waist down. In 1896, Winnipeg Victoria’s George Merritt strapped a pair of cricket pads to his legs to protect his kneecaps during a Stanley Cup challenge, and later added shin guards. After the turn of the century, players began wearing leather or canvas gloves to cover their hands—even goalies. There were numerous modifications to the equipment over the years to reduce the risk of injury, but it wasn’t until November 1, 1959 that the goalie mask was introduced to the NHL – or was that really the case?

Although Jacques Plante revolutionized the NHL goaltender position on this day by popularizing face protection gear, he wasn’t actually the first goaltender in the NHL to wear a mask — despite what we’d like to believe.

No, that honor belongs to a player named Clint Benedict. On February 20, 1930, the Montreal Maroons goaltender became the first player in the NHL to wear a face mask after breaking his nose on a shot from Howie Morenz. The leather face mask proved impractical for Benedict, and he ditched it after just two games and reverted to his mask-less look.

Well, Plant isn’t the first. However, he is a trendsetter. There’s a reason he’s the father of the goalie mask, and it’s not just about his style of play, but also his persistence.

Plante, a native of Quebec, started playing hockey at age four — using a tennis ball as a puck, no skates and a goalie hockey stick his father carved from a tree root. As he grew up, Plant excelled at the goalkeeper position, and at 18 he joined a youth team called the Citadels of Quebec, and from that point on, it was clear that he would innovate the game in one form or another. Plant began playing the puck outside the crease, a technique he refined after noticing his team’s poor defensive performance. Fans found this new style exciting, but Plant’s only idea of ​​doing it was that as long as he controlled the puck, his opponents wouldn’t be able to shoot at him.

Montreal Canadiens draft Jacques Plante

Nearly six years later, Plant was called up to play for the Montreal Canadiens, and just a few months later his and the rest of the Canadiens’ names were immortalized on the Stanley Cup, despite being goaltender Gerry McNeil’s second choice. But six years later, Plant has become more than just immortal, he’s become a legend.

In 1959-60, the Canadiens won five consecutive Stanley Cups and built the greatest dynasty in the history of the sport. But one night on Nov. 1, things didn’t look good for the Canadiens and their goaltender. Plant was injured just three minutes into the game against the New York Rangers when a puck off Andy Bathgate’s stick hit him in the face and broke his nose. He was escorted to the locker room for stitches, but returned soon after wearing a homemade goalie mask – which he refused to return without. Plant had worn a mask in practice since missing 13 games with sinusitis in 1956, but was not allowed to wear it during games.

Canadiens head coach Troy Black was unhappy with the mask, but since the team had no choice in goaltending, he allowed Plant to return as long as he promised to discard the mask after his face healed. Montreal defeated the Rangers 3-1 and the mask was born.

Call it superstition or simple stubbornness, but Plant continued to wear a mask — even after his face healed — and the Canadiens continued to win. As the wins piled up, Black remained silent about discarding the gear, but after the team’s 18-game unbeaten run ended, Plant complied with Black’s request and wore nothing on his face. That night, Montreal lost 3-0 to Detroit, and after that, the mask was back — this time for good.

When I first put on the mask, boys told me I would scare women. They won’t come to games anymore. Let me tell you something, if I keep this up, soon my face will look worse than the mask.

Jacques Plante’s bravery questioned

When Plant introduced the mask to other members of the NHL, some questioned his dedication and courage, but he simply compared it to skydiving without a parachute. He was often mocked and made fun of, although it wasn’t long before other goaltenders around the league followed his lead. Within just a few seasons, almost every goalie was wearing them. The masks started out mostly made of fiberglass – just like Plant made his masks – but the masks quickly evolved as their popularity grew.

In the 1970s, helmet and cage combinations became popular. Within a few years, this style became the league’s standard because it was made entirely of fiberglass and added adequate facial protection—unlike earlier masks with holes. The last goaltender to play without protection was Andy Brown of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who played his final game in 1974.

RELATED: The 10 Coolest Vintage NHL Goalie Masks

It marks the end of an era.

Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes Jacques Plante

Jacques Plante retired from hockey in 1975 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame just three years later. After his career ended, he was able to watch the evolution of his boldly popular gear until his life was suddenly cut short in 1986 at the age of 57. He had never seen how advanced goalie masks had become, and how it had become not only a fashion statement in the NHL, but how the style had trickled down to the catcher position in Major League Baseball.

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There’s no doubt that Plant’s illustrious career has been overshadowed by what he did on that November night at Madison Square Garden, and over the years many have forgotten the way he paved the way for players like Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur with his innovative ball-handling skills and ability to cut angles. While these are important contributions, the mask will forever symbolize how important Plant was to the sport. We can only imagine he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.