Fashion Inside the Crease
- AJ Koroly
- Nov 6, 2019
- 5 min read
I am not a Canadian, but I really enjoy hockey. The National Hockey League is entertaining, and it hits a new level once the playoffs start. My favorite team is the Nashville Predators and I am constantly hoping they can obtain the Stanley Cup. You are probably wondering; how does hockey pertain to fashion? Well, have you ever seen a goalie’s gear, specifically their mask? Goaltenders around the league think up amazing designs for their gear which reflects their own personality and the team. The craftsmanship of the gear is unbelievable and it is a travesty people are going to be blasting pucks at the gear, potentially damaging it. I consider goalie’s equipment to be a masterpiece of fashion; therefore, I want to list the top-10 goaltender’s gear in the last couple of years. Please feel free to provide any feedback on my rankings. Do you agree with my list? Did I forget any gear? Would you like to see more content like this?
1. Carey Price – Montreal Canadians
Carey Price is a vocal supporter of goalies’ adapting new styles of fashion for the pads. Let me just say, the man backs up his words. Carey has showcased many different styles of gear over the year, but none more stunning than his all red gear. The red of the pads ties well to the Canadians’ red jerseys and blue pants. It just looks right! Carey also has a white shiny helmet which displays the Canadians’ logo on all sides. His gear fits with the theme of the team and makes a bold statement.
2. Mike Smith – Calgary Flames
Mike Smith is known for having elaborate gear. He has been on multiple teams over the years and always impresses. This selection from his time with the Calgary Flames is his most well-known gear. The bold red and black colors fit well with the teams’ color scheme and makes the pads blend into the uniform. The helmet continues the same color scheme, making the whole equipment and uniform combination flow well together. The helmet also prominently displays the stylized “C” logo of the Flames. Mike Smith’s innovation and bold fashion choices provide him the second spot in the rankings.
3. Marc Andre Fleury – Las Vegas Golden Knights
Marc Andre Fleury’s golden gear with Las Vegas earns him the third spot. The pads are beautiful and have a nice glisten to them. It is easy to assume the pads are made of actual gold! Not only do the pads bring attention to the netminder, they fit with the Golden Knights’ colors. Fleury’s use of a gold helmet with black stylization brings the whole look together. This was one of the most notable gears of recent years because everyone from fans to players were talking about it. Marc Andre Fleury certainly brought attention to the fashion world of goalie gear and plays pretty good hockey too.
4. Darcy Kuemper – Arizona Coyotes
We all love throwback uniforms, right? Well, Darcy Kuemper brought out throwback gear to pair with the Coyotes’ throwback uniforms. The netminder designed his gear in the Kachina style to match the Kachina styled uniforms of the Coyotes. The good news? This awesome look will be seen a lot as Arizona brought back the Kachina styled uniforms as their alternate uniform. Kuemper’s gear is fantastic because it incorporates the design of the uniform and fits with the classic look of the team. It is certainly deserving of this fourth spot!
5. Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators
Rinne has incorporated different designs throughout the year, such as adopting navy-blue gear. However, you cannot beat his simple white, yellow, and blue pad design. It is a traditional pad look, but the colors work well with the jersey. Rinne’s mask earns him a spot this high on the list. The mask depicts a gruesome predator with its jaws wide about to strike. The mask provides a fearsome look and would ward off most people coming at him. Rinne displays a simple pad look paired with an elaborately fearsome mask, creating a nice contrast.
6. Henrik Lundqvist – New York Rangers
Henrik Lundqvist had a stunning assortment of gear recently. In honor of his team’s home, the goaltender wore pads showcasing the Statue of Liberty’s head. This paired well with his mask design which also features the Statute of Liberty. Lundqvist is known to try many different designs for his gear. No matter what he tries, he ensures all his gear ties very well to the theme of the Rangers. The red, white, and blue colors along with the Statue of Liberty displayed in this gear gives the veteran goalie a solid rating on the list.
7. Thatcher Demko – Vancouver Canucks
Thatcher Demko knows how to catch attention. His gear choice is fantastic as incorporates the colors and, most importantly, style of the Canucks’ jersey. The vertical green and blue stripes are hypnotic and draw the viewer’s attention in. The design is smooth and is easy on the eyes. The mask in the picture is Demko’s original mask, which is interesting, but not the best I have ever seen. I would like to point out the youngster has a mask depicting the greats of the Vancouver Canucks’ franchise. I love to see the tradition of a franchise be honored in such a way.
8. Corey Crawford – Chicago Blackhawks
Corey Crawford’s all black gear is bold, and I am all here for it. The gear makes a strong statement and ties nicely with the red of Chicago’s jersey. It is not a design you see every day which is fantastic. I appreciate when goaltender’s think outside of the crease a little bit. The mask is also electric as it has some silver designs, features Crawford’s number 50, and Chicago’s logo. Crawford went away from more traditional looks and I appreciate that. Now if only he could stay healthy to showcase the wonderful gear more often.
9. Tuukka Rask – Boston Bruins
Tuukka Rask’s pads are not overly exciting. They are just a simple white, yellow, and black design. The pads look nice, but they are just a typical Boston Bruins’ styled gear. The piece of equipment that secures Tuukka on the list is his mask. It is an elaborately designed mask with the most notable feature being a snarling bear. A cool aspect of the mask is the bear’s claw is holding onto the Boston Bruins logo on the side. Tuukka’s pads may be kind of basic, but his mask provides a strong fashionable connection to his team.
10. Matt Murray – Pittsburgh Penguins
Last on the list is Matt Murray. Murray does not do anything too bold in his designs, yet they are aesthetically appealing. The pads work well with the uniform and so does the mask. The visual balance of everything is a big asset in my opinion. I also enjoy how Murray utilizes the Penguins’ logo on the sides of his mask. There is nothing extraordinary about this gear, but it presents nicely.
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