MMDC I Entries

 Below are the official entries for the first-ever Medieval Mask Design Contest
Click the name to download the official entry design!

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ENTRY #20 – STEVE IZZO
December 31st

“The Samurai”

I thought it would be cool to incorporate an ancient medieval samurai into the design of the mask. The bottom of the mask incorporates the traditional warrior armor that the samurai’s wore, as well as the mask on the top front area of the mask.

The Medieval Samurai on the horse on the sides of the mask is a statue of a medieval warrior in japan. Other then that, I thought it would be a fresh approach to the challenge, and to be honest it would be great to win a great mask from the guys at Masked Marvel. I’ve never owned a custom mask, so why not give it a shot.

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ENTRY #19 – JOEL EHRHARDT
December 31st

“I Defend This Castle”

Medieval times, a knight was a defender of the crown, the city, the fortress. To me, a goalie is like that as well. The last line of defense. We stand our ground, give nothing to the shooter, and we give everything we have to defend our castle behind us.

For this design I always loved a mask that was split on each side, each depicting something different. So for this mask, I chose to put a knight on one side. In the knight, I wanted to be sure something special is on his shield, which the knight used to deflect blows to the body, and depicted something special to them or a countries emblem. To this affect, I wanted to be sure to include the Taylor-Made Graphics eye logo and the Masked Marvel logo as a way to say thank you for sponsoring this amazing opportunity.

On the opposite side of the mask, I wanted to put our noble knight’s most fearsome enemy, the dragon. The big dragon represents not only the knight’s enemy, but our enemy too. We may have a rink that haunts us, or a specific shooter in the league that always seems to beat us. To me the dragon serves as a constant reminder that we have to continue to work hard, to sacrifice and never give up on a game or in a play. It’s a reminder that we have the power to kill off a 5 on 3 man disadvantage, and that we control our own destiny, no one else.

Lastly, I wanted to depict a castle as that is of course symbolism towards the net behind us that we protect. The knights never rode into battle first from the castle, but the foot soldiers (aka our forwards and defenseman). The knights were the specialized troops, more armored than anyone else. We are our last lines of defense, we must protect the net with everything we have. The ominous red sky and dark clouds represent the battle that happens every time we step out onto the ice.

I feel as though I should win the contest due to my struggles. I just started playing only a year and a half ago since my parents were never able to afford equipment for me. I go out and play as often as I can, subbing in as many leagues as possible, to improve myself. My lofty goal is to make my University’s ACHA D1 team, and even though it’s a uphill battle that I fight every day, I try my hardest to further improve myself and get better. I’m a fighter, I never want to give up on a play, and I make sure I outwork everyone on the ice. This mask would be my constant reminder to myself every day when I put it on, to be the best that I can be, and that this mask represents goalies everywhere, so give it everything I have when I wear it.

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ENTRY #18 – MARC-OLIVIER DESCHENES
December 28th

“Les Templiers”

First of all, I wanted to create something unique by mixing both the reality and the fantastic sides of the medieval culture. Since I always preferred detailed backgrounds on my masks, a bit like [Andrew] Raycroft’s mask for Toronto, I put a medieval map to represent the people life in that era. There are different kinds of buildings on the map, like castles, farms and houses to represent the differences between socials classes at this time.

The crest on the chin, the Red Cross, is from “les Templiers”. “Les Templiers” were a French Christian knight organization which was fighting in the crusades. They were fighting for the protection of holy land. Those were some of the best fighters at the time and this is one of the goalie’s duties, to be one of the best players on the ice and to stop enemies.

On the left side of the mask, there is a dark and evil dragon. This fantastic creature is used to represent the beast, the evil side. It is protected by shiny scales. It seems to be attacking the people on the map. It represents the other team, constantly trying to score against the goalie.

On the right side of the mask, there is the hero. Here, the hero is a dwarf knight, using a club to fight against the evil dragon. It protects innocents citizens of the city represented on the map. He is small which contrasts with the enormous and extremely powerful dragon. The hero could be the goalie, standing alone against five players seeking to score goals. He must protect the city which represents the goal, against the dragon.

I think that my design should win the contest because it is unique, based on true facts but it is also covered with mystics figures such as a dragon. It is also using historic facts. It is a blend of artistic and cultural things. I think I deserve to win the contest because I have worked a lot on finding historical and to find a unique design. I would like to thank The Goalie Guild and the sponsors for giving an opportunity for goalies to win a custom painted mask. I learned a lot of things, from Photoshop to cultural facts, while participating in this contest and had fun doing this.

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ENTRY #17 – RICHARD STEFFEN
December 26th

“The Knight of Bavaria”

For my Medieval mask, I wanted to create something different and simple so that the graphics on the mask can be noticed, even from far away.

The logo on the chin of the mask is the logo from my native city of Würzburg. Würzburg was founded in 650 and has a long medieval history as the first German Knight’s tournament was held there in 1127. In 1200, a castle was built.

On the right side of the mask, a wall and a Knight are shown. The Knight is from Assassin’s Creed (Playstation game) and stands in front of the wall. The wall represents the city wall of Würzburg and the Knight is there to protect his city and the castle. Assassin’s Creed takes place in 1127, so the time fits perfectly in the medieval times of Würzburg.

As you can see on the other side of the mask the Knight accomplished his mission and protected Würzburg.

This side of the mask shows the Bavarian flag in the background and a girl from the “Oktoberfest” dressed in the traditional Bavarian “Dirndl” in front of it. Bavaria is one of the different states in Germany and Würzburg is within the state of Bavaria. This side of the mask displays the time we live in. The girl is from the “Oktoberfest” in Munich another big city in the state of Bavaria. The Oktoberfest is a big folk festival held every year in October in Munich where people from all over the world come and celebrate.

So each side of the mask represents a part in the history of Würzburg. The side with the knight represents the medieval times when Würzburg was a big city with Knight tournaments and a castle and the side with the girl and the Bavarian flag represents the actual time we live in with the Oktoberfest and all the nice things Würzburg and Bavaria have.

There is a date shown on both sides of the mask one for the medieval times and one for the actual time. The backplate shows a German flag and the names of the members of my family. I think I should win the mask because I tried hard to create something good with a good and true based story behind it. In addition to that, I did the mask on my own and it was the first time I tried to create a mask. Also the equipment in Germany is very expensive and it is not that easy for a student to pay for all the equipment.

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ENTRY #16 – MATT BRINKMAN
December 25th

“The Quest”

I designed my mask keeping in mind three key words from The Goalie Guild’s Mission Statement: “Historic, Legendary, Honorable.”

Thus I’ve depicted a legendary battle in which a brave knight rides his trusted steed towards a fearsome dragon. The Knight, Steed and Dragon are based on old English history while the Skull, held aloft, comes from Norse mythology in which every night warriors who had died in battle were taken to Valhalla, restored to health, and rewarded by getting to drink strong ale from the skull of their worst enemy..

On this mask I tried to keep the design crisp using solid bright colors, so it may be appreciated from afar, yet still intrigue the viewer to take a closer look. The high contrast ensures that the one-of-a-kind design boldly stands out on the rink. The design is visually balanced by the steed and dragon flanking the sides of the helmet, while the Iron clad Knight, holding the skull, dominates the image. It is a clear warning to whoever might try to foil his mission. Like the knights of old who sought the legendary Holy Grail, the back plate features the Holy Grail for today’s goaltender.

The designs on this mask are completely hand drawn from scratch using only a mouse and Photoshop. There are no images which were cut and pasted. The yellow/gold featured on the mask would be metallic gold paint, and the grey would be shades of metallic silver. The cage may also look good in gold or chrome.

I’d like to thank The Goalie Guild, Masked Marvel masks, and Taylor-Made Graphics, for allowing an incredible contest like this to be possible. Best of luck to all the other contestants who have entered a mask. I truly had an amazing time designing this mask and I hope others enjoy it as much as I do.

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ENTRY #15 – MATHEW ABRAHAM
December 23rd

“Guardian of Hell”

I have always been a fan of simple and bold mask designs, something that can be viewed from 20+ feet away and still retain it’s overall stylistic value. I chose to use that principle when designing my entry for this contest.

My design simply has a knight, proudly flying his colors on a flag above him, standing confidently with his armor and shield — similar to the modern goaltender, armor head to toe, defending his team’s goal. The flag flows on the top of the helmet allowing the mask to represent my team with a hefty dose of solid color. The crest on the knight’s shield represents “a guardian knight of hell”. This is also represented on the back, where the knight appears without his helmet… revealing a demonic face and evil grin.

Thank you to the Goalie Guild and Masked Marvel Helmets for holding such an awesome contest—it’s always a blast to see the brimming talent and creativity in our goalie community!!

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ENTRY #14 – JOE LUSI
December 23rd

“Face the Dragon”

To me a goalie mask is very similar to the helmet of a knight as it is first and foremost a protective shield but it often serves as a measure of intimidation and personal style. Just as some medieval knights wore helmets with a coat of arms and intimidating aspects (such as points or horns on more ceremonial helmets) I wanted my mask design to be intimidating but also contain a coat of arms that reflected the contest’s sponsors. The next step was to determine what would be most intimidating medieval theme on a mask and after some searching around I decided to go with the dragon theme. I choose a fire breathing dragon known as “Deathwing the Destroyer”; a demonic looking dragon of immense power that devastates anything and everything its path.

Dragons have always been the most interesting medieval theme to me because of their strength and power and I think as a goalie this is something we can draw upon to look at ourselves as a powerful and unbeatable being. This is why I chose to have knights trying to stop the dragon on the sides of the mask because it further illustrates that power and the hopelessness of those who challenge it – think of the knights as the opposing players (note the smoldering helmets at the bottom right and left). Then we have the castle walls which I think serve a dual purpose in representing the common goaltender cliché “the wall” and also the fortress which the dragon is defending can be thought of as the home team’s goal. I wanted this imagery to not only be reflective of a medieval theme but to represent what it means to be a goalie and what it means to be a member of a guild; to put it all on the line and do whatever it takes to protect your goal against opposing teams for the ultimate victory of your home squad.

I entered this contest because I have always had a fascination with the goaltender position and more specifically the mask. Creating designs and drawing the masks of my idols has been a part of my childhood and this theme has continued for me with the use of Photoshop to create mask designs. Despite my love for the position, as a child I never had the chance to play as a goaltender and was always a player. The desire never died out and two years ago I realized my dream of becoming a goalie through pond hockey with my friends. I took my play to rec league hockey and have since become the starting goaltender on two off my previous teams. It has been a constant challenge, I am always learning and improving my game, and while frustrating at times it is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I have yet to own a painted goalie mask but my ultimate goal is to one day own a mask that I have designed.

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ENTRY #13 – SETH CARMITCHEL-EWING
December 23rd

“Untitled”

I had a design completed to enter early in the contest, but shortly after completing it my father passed away. We were very close, and I decided a mask would be a special way to honor him. I designed a mask that would not only look good, but would represent what he meant to my life. I included both my mother and father’s family’s ancestral crests on the mask.

I think my father’s clan’s motto is especially fitting. Translated into english it means, “I grow strong again”. This represents my grief and coping with his passing. There is a celtic knot with three points representing my mother, father, and myself. My father was honorable, brave, honest, and the knight’s helmet reminds me of him.

Also, there is a scroll on the back with, “In the name of the father and the son” in latin. This mask design contest has helped me cope with his passing, and whether or not I win, I’d like to say thanks to the guild for an opportunity to honor him. Good luck to everyone else, there are some amazing entries. Thanks again guys for this chance. Great website, and keep up the amazing work.

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ENTRY #12 – RICHARD CHEN
December 23rd

“The Dragon”

The theme for my “Medieval Mask” is the dragon. The dragon is well documented throughout medieval literature and myth as a symbol for power, grace and fearlessness…a perfect representation for the goalie. The mask is flanked on both sides with my take of what a medieval dragon would look like. Running down the chin of the mask is a charging knight done in the simplistic yet graphic style of the medieval period.

I also tried to acknowledge the sponsors for this contest by blending their logos with my mask theme. The shield at the top contains the “eye” (Taylor graphics), the double M’s below it (masked marvels) and the G (goalies guild) are all done in a fashion that are subtle but also blends in with the theme of the mask. I would also like to note that all the images, graphics and designs seen on the mask were all original hand painted by me in Photoshop, no photos or images that I have not created were used.

Why this mask should win? I know this might sound weird coming from a goalie fanatic, but the truth is…I have never owned a real goalie mask before. Growing up I was always a hockey fan, but the cost of playing goal was just not something my family could afford. No biggie, just because I can’t play ice hockey doesn’t mean I can’t play street hockey, right? I made my own blocker out of cardboard and elastic bands, used a baseball glove for a catcher and foam for pads…but no mask. I played like that for years until I finally got my hands on a road warrior plastic mask and I loved that thing with all my heart.

I would spend countless hours working on designs for it. I did not want to ruin the mask with a sloppy paint job so I started off by colouring the designs on paper then cutting and taping it to the mask. Needless to say it wasn’t very durable. As time went on I became more confident with paints so I experimented with my first paint job on it, it wasn’t pretty in the beginning but I eventually improved. It’s gone through the designs of Potvin, Cujo, Roy, Brodeur, Belfour and it’s still with me to this day. My road warrior has gone through countless paintjobs and imaginary game 7’s with me and I feel it’s about time for it to retire to the display case, and I would be proud and honored to have a custom painted masked marvel sitting right there beside it.

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ENTRY #11 – ALICIA MIKSIC
December 22nd

“Siege Wall”

In Medieval times, if the castle were to fall, that was the end of a kingdom. Knights were charged with guarding the most precious commodity, the castle and its siege walls. These fortress walls were the equivalent of a modern day goaltender, weathering the storm of everything the enemy can throw at them, repelling the attack, and creating an opportunity for counterattack.

This mask clads the goaltender in the armor of a knight and walls of medieval stone. On the left cheek is the crest from a knight’s shield, showing the goalie as the last line of defense (the colors and symbols can and should be customized by the goalie to match equipment, team, personal preference, etc). On the right cheek are arrows preparing to launch a counter-offensive spurred by a momentum changing save or by the goalie’s ability to handle the puck and become a third defenseman. The crest of the helmet shows the battle being repelled by the castle walls; the axe and the sword showering sparks when they strike the unmovable stone.

This mask is both fierce and dynamic, two qualities that make goalies so valuable to their teams. We battle and wear our puck marks proudly as a sign that we’ve repelled all that was shot at our net. The steel and stone of this theme bears the scars of a siege but do not falter. The back plate design is left up to the design of the individual goalie, as this is the interior of the castle behind the siege walls; what the goalie is fighting for. It could be family, friends, loved ones, or anything else that is significant for the goalie.

I approached this design contest as a challenge to my skills both as a goaltender and as a design student. Maybe the odds are stacked against me, maybe they aren’t, but that’s no reason to quit before I even try. I take the same attitude to the rink with me every day, whether it is a pick-up game, or practice, or playoff game. Moving from roller hockey to ice hockey at a competitive level with only a few years experience forced me to show my teammates what I’m made of. There’s no reason to give less than your best effort, especially since goaltending is not a position for the weak of spirit. But just because one has passion for the game, or for designing, doesn’t mean they also can’t have fun while doing either. Thank you for the opportunity to win this contest and display the skills developed by my hard earned tuition.

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ENTRY #10 – ANTON OSTAPTCHOUK
December 22nd

“Medieval Ironman”

As expected, this contest already boasts a number of great entries and I hope my entry can bring a fresh spin on what is already posted.

I wanted to have fun with my entry; The concept behind my design is taking Ironman (the modern comic hero) and changing his look as if he was set in medieval times. As you can see, going back in time forces Ironman to have some obvious “retro” gear. All the high-tech flying gizmos are replaced by a sword and cape.

Like a goalie watching the play in the other end, my mysterious character is alert while resting on his sword which resembles the classic stance by Ken Dryden. I enjoy playing goalie and I have fun doing so. Same can be said for my design and I hope my approach deserves a chance to win this contest.

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ENTRY #09 – ERIC VOGEL
December 15th

“Lionheart”

My helmet focuses on Medieval England and symbols associated with the heraldry and warfare of the period. The symbols on the helmet are a flag, crusader cross on the cage, the map of England, Longbowman, and my family’s crest.

On front of the helmet is the flag of King Richard the Lionhearted. This is the English symbol of the greatness of England and represents courage and kingship. The Crusader cross on the cage was the standard cross that the English Crusaders wore on their shields and armor during the Holy Crusades. It symbolizes bravery and courage (something every goalie needs). The medieval map of England shows the territory of England. Medieval England was a key contributor to the development of the modern age. The Longbowman was the key military unit that fought and won many battles. The longbow changed the warfare tactics of the time. On the back of the helmet I included my family crest dating back to medieval times.
 
Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion. I have such passion for the game of hockey. I sometimes play 2 or 3 times a day, 4-5 times a week, driving back and fourth to different rinks in opposite directions. I have that passion and great love for the game of hockey. Playing hockey is also a tonic for my muscles, I have constant muscle pain and I have discovered that playing hockey is the only way I get some relief.

I deserve to win the helmet because not only do I have such a fiery passion for the game but I also give back to the hockey community. For instance, during one of the games that I was filling in, I noticed this kid’s head just reaching up to the glass staring at me for the entire game. We won the game 3 – 2. The coach of the team I filled in for was so proud of me he wanted me to have the game winning puck. When I was walking to the locker room I heard a kid’s voice “great game goalie.” I quickly turned and walked up to him. I noticed he had no legs and was in a wheelchair. It was the same person who I noticed when I was playing the game, his head just reached to the top of the glass. I took off my glove and shook his mother’s hand and the boy’s hand. She said he used to be a goalie until he lost both of his legs in a car accident. Once she told me this, I felt such great sorrow for him. I then quickly looked down at the puck in my hand. I knew what I had to do; I gave him my game winning puck. He lost the ability to play the game that I love. His mother told me that what I did was so special for her son and that he will always remember and treasure that puck.
 
After games and practices I have often stayed to instruct young kids on how to play goaltending. I’m the person that arrives first to games and practices and always is the last to leave. Hockey truly is my life; I love the sport and cannot imagine ever not being involved in the sport.

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ENTRY #08 - JORDAN CAMPONI
November 11th

“The Mask of Gondor”

This mask is tribute to the medieval-esque world of middle earth. J.R.R. Tolkien’s, Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular and influential works of the 20th century. And so, I’ve created a goaltending replica of a Gondor infantry helmet. I am not actually a massive Lord of the Rings fan, however when I was searching medieval helmets I came across a Gondor replica helmet, and really liked the iron wings concept. These Gondorian guards fought to protect their city. Goalies fight to protect the net. Throughout the film and the books, the Eye of Sauron haunts the main character. I want players to feel that same fear when they look towards the net.

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ENTRY #07 – AARON CAMPONI
November 11th

“Love of Sport”

The medieval knight was the equivalent of the modern tank. He was armed and armored from head to toe, ready to attack or defend. Emblazoned on his armor were crests or a coat of arms, each symbolizing what he firmly believed in and whom he fought for.

The crest I placed on the side of the helmet was created in 1520, by the swordsmiths of Basel. I believe that the crest represents a vow to protect and defend their King and country. But what I liked most about this crest was the inclusion of a hunting knife right above the crown, a direct reference to the “love of sport”.

I love hockey, and have played since I was five. I love the intensity, the skill required, but most of all, I love the competition. Like the knights, I strive to refine, improve, and advance my skills and knowledge of goaltending. Values that are the driving force behind The Goalie Guild.

When I think of medieval times, I am reminded of the Crusaders. Men who fought and died for something they strongly believed in. It is this strength and devotion that can make a goaltender great! And is why I placed a blood stained crusaders cross beneath a gouged helmet. Not just to look awesome, but to show the values beneath the armor.

The knight on the helmet is a modern twist. It is from the “White Knight Chronicles” in which a boy finds a suit of armor that transforms him into a knight with the power to defeat his fiercest enemies (again more symbolism). Skulls surround the crest and knight, showing the remnants of defeated foes.

I love playing goaltender, and would love even more to see this design come into fruition.

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ENTRY #06 – CARL HERRING
November 2nd

“Templar”

“A Templar Knight is truly a fearless knight, and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armour of faith, just as his body is protected by the armour of steel. He is thus doubly armed, and need fear neither demon nor men.” Saint Bernard de Clairvaux

The Templar Knights were the most skilled warriors during the Crusades. Aggressive, fearless, and possessing fortitude unlike any other, these Knights were the tip of the spear and the last defense. Much like the Templars of old, a goaltender must possess these qualities to overcome the challenges they face. This design reflects the aggressive, valiant spirit of those Knights and the modern knights in the crease, fighting off fear, doubt, and their opponents. With a Crusaders helm and chain mail, complete with a custom made crest of the Templar Cross along with the Sword and Goalie Stick Shield, this helm/helmet is a relic of battles old and new, on the sands and on the ice. The mask would be dedicated to my parents, Bill and Grace, who each played a major role in my passion for art, my passion for hockey, and my passion for life.

This mask should win because it represents everything the Goalie Guild stands for. It stands for the man in the crease being more than a man. It stands for that man becoming a knight who fearlessly defends his keep from any opposition and fights to become something more than just a goalie. He fights to become a legendary warrior, impervious to harm, impenetrable, and undefeatable. The best goalies make their own myths and legends, like the Templar Knights of centuries past. That aura is what this mask represents.

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ENTRY #05 - MIKE VARGO
August 20th

“Great Helm”

No journey into medieval themes would be complete without mention of the knight. These armored warriors represent many different things from chivalrous princes to brave and resourceful fighters.

I’ve always been a fan of the suit of armor. As a welder by trade I can really appreciate the intricate metal work. But more than that I love the intimidation factor. What could be more terrifying than facing off against this seemingly invincible adversary? He stands tall, undaunted by the enemy, ready to fight in unspeakably ferocious battle. His cold, expressionless visage is unwavering, emotionless and uncompromising, striking fear into his opponents’ hearts. This is powerful imagery and well suited to the hockey goaltender.

Like a knight on the battlefield, the goalie in the crease must be unrelenting, focused on his task, and quick to react to the situation. I once saw a cool picture of Michel Dion with the Pittsburgh Penguins wearing his famous long chin Lefebvre designed mask. The lighting and angle of the shot was such that you could not see any human eyes behind the fiberglass face covering. It made for a rather eerie but extremely awesome photo that reminded me of the knights of olde.

We tried to capture this intimidation factor in the mask design. I wanted the artwork to mimic the coolest style of helmet known as the “Great Helm”. Although it’s a simpler design than some other helmets, the great helm was always my favorite. My sister Stephanie and I toyed around with making the ends of the gold accent piece resemble Fleur de Lis’s (in honor of Marc-Andre Fleury), but we settled on a sharper more aggressive look. This design would really benefit from some skillful airbrushing, adding shadows around the gold trim plate and all the rivets and giving the whole thing a nice metallic luster. I could imagine how incredible this helmet would look if we win the contest.

Speaking of the contest, have I mentioned how much I’d love to win? After taking a few pucks to the head area (no major injuries) I would really love to be wearing a top-notch helmet. This most important piece of equipment is no place to skimp on quality, but unfortunately that means you can’t skimp on price either. It would be great to wear a high quality mask that I would be otherwise unable to afford.  Thank you on behalf of myself, and of all goalies in the same boat, for this great opportunity.

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ENTRY #04 – STEPHANIE VARGO
July 10th

“The Vargo Dragon”

The dragon is perhaps the quintessential symbol of the medieval. It conjures up images that seem to go hand in hand with hockey. I personally think of epic battles between two powerful adversaries, brave heroes whose sense of selflessness and commitment lead them to triumph, and the many spoils of victory. More specific to the goalie position, dragons are often depicted as guardians, whether of a castle or treasure or even knowledge or magical powers.

My sister Stephanie and I came up with this design together. We play street hockey right now, as it is more accessible. Often our practice is just us two, I play goal and she plays forward, but when we get enough family or friends together to have a team it’s much more fun, even if it’s two on two.

Our first experience with playing hockey (aside from the occasional game when we were children) came just this past winter on the local lake that had frozen over. I kept mentioning how watching hockey was great but that I’d love to try it for real, so one day we bought some cheap wood sticks and a puck and we were off to the pond. Neither of us had skates or the ability to skate, and I remember falling several times. I hit the deck twice on the stairs to the lake (they were more like an icy chute) and twice on the lake.

Anyway, we passed around for a while and it started to snow. It was such great scenery and so much fun that I couldn’t ask for a better introduction to the game. We continued to play for about an hour and a half before retreating home to hot cocoa and chicken soup. Steph and I were both sore for days afterward but we were hooked. We went back to the ice a few times before it thawed and after that we’ve been getting out to play at local tennis courts a few times a week where we settled into out roles as goalie and forward.

For the mask, I had a concept and Steph with her experience as an artist really fleshed it out nicely. We decided to follow the guardian theme for the mask with a dragon clutching a crusader style shield. I wanted to see blocks in the design as if the dragon were sitting on top of a castle complete with an arrow slit on the chin. The mountains in the background and the starry sky were Steph’s idea and add mystique to the design. I think the dragon is a great symbol for myself as a goalie because just like him, I’m protecting my castle, although mine is only four feet by six feet and made of plastic pipe.

I’d love to win this contest because Stephanie and I would both love to see her work recognized and I currently have minimal gear (no mask) and would love the chance to wear a professionally painted, world-class helmet. Thank you!

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ENTRY #03 – DAVID MARESKA
July 4th

“Crest of a Knave”

‘There is no position in sport as noble as goaltending.’ – Vladislav Tretiak
 
An evolved noble Medieval Knight should have a coat of arms.  My mask design pays tribute to the middle-aged sounds and stories of Jethro Tull by presenting the cover art from their ‘Crest of a Knave’ album.  Ice hockey has been a significant part of my life for the last twenty years, Jethro Tull for twenty-four, and science fiction/fantasy for at least thirty.  This design pulls all three together in a personal fashion.
 
The Tull design is an adaptation of Charlie Effinger’s asymmetric mask (Miami University: a native American on one side and a Miami Redhawk on the other).  Using the same approach in my design, I placed the Tull bust of armor on the left side and the raven on the right.  On the chin, a serpent frames a divided shield of blue and white that is emblazoned with an angered black cat.  The forehead of the mask is bare save for a light-colored mottled stone pattern (‘Stone-Cold Poise’ – the mask’s base color).
 
The back plate features eyes in the back of the head: a ghostly visage of The Goalie Guild’s Medieval Knight to acknowledge The Guild.

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ENTRY #02 – DANIEL P. COLE
June 23rd

“Protect the Holy Grail”

 

This simple medieval mask design is easily recognizable from a distance so it does not require a close inspection to understand its concept, while it has much detail in the dragon, castle wall, flames, and Holy Grail, allowing the viewer to appreciate it from any distance.

 The design incorporates some symbolism relating to goaltending. This mask theme exhibits a medieval dragon defending the Holy Grail. This medieval dragon symbolizes the goaltender wearing the mask, who will fight hard to “Defend the Holy Grail”, the net. The dragon will do whatever it takes to keep everything away from the Holy Grail, just as the goaltender will do whatever it takes to keep the puck out of the net. The dragon is a formidable opponent, striking fear in all who face him, just as the goaltender wearing the mask strikes fear in the opposing forwards.

This mask should win because of its simple, yet intricate design that is bold and aggressive, and it can be related to the incredible and difficult position of a hockey goaltender.

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ENTRY #01 – BRYAN TANNER
June 20th

“Knights of the Round Table”