PCP Sports

by Kevin Collins

As I promised in my last post about the coolest goalies’ masks, here is the follow up entry: The Worst. I feel like I first have to say why I think certain masks are cool and others aren’t. I use pretty much three criteria to make my judgments. One: Does the mast properly represent the player’s team? Two: Is there anything on the mask that just doesn’t belong or is incredibly out of place? And three: Basically, does it look cool? Most of these masks failed in every category. Some of them will truly make you wonder just what in the hell some of these people were thinking when they submitted their ideas to their designers. So here we go: the ugliest goalie masks in the NHL… (In no particular order)

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Dany Sabourin: Pittsburgh Penguins

Who in their right mind designed this P.O.S.? Look at that Penguin! What the hell is he doing? And I don’t even want to get into that kid on the side. It’s flat out scary.

Evgeni Nabokov: San Jose Sharks

I am well aware the Sharks really don’t have a lot to work with. They’re color scheme is atrocious and there aren’t really any creative things you can do with a Shark – so apparently Evengi just went with some random snow monster. Good job. Go San Jose Scary-Looking-Snowmen! And get your stupid nick-name off the mask.

Kari Lehtonen: Atlanta Thrashers

I’ll start with the random Kill Bill movie characters – because when I think of the Atlanta Thrasher, I think Quentin Tarantino flicks…God knows I don’t know anything else about them. And can someone inform Kari that the Kings logo is the crown – not Atlanta’s.

Rick Dipierto: New York Islanders

You’re American…we get it.

Marc-Andre Fluery: Pittsburgh Penguins

Yet another Penguin on the list; Fluery’s mask is just boring with that brick pattern. It also doesn’t help that the Penguin looks like a constipated Daffy Duck either.

Martin Biron: Philadelphia Flyers

Marty, what are you doing dude? Lumberjacks in Philly? You’re old helmet was so cool! It represented the city so well! Plus it looks like that lumberjack is about to fight Pop-Eye.

Martin Broduer: New Jersey Devils

You see what happens when you change to a new mask after the classic one you rocked for all those years? Karma’s a bitch, Marty.

Mike Smith: Tampa Bay Lighting

Huh?

Nikolai Khabibulin: Chicago Blackhawks

Despite having the coolest name in hockey, “Habby” has one of the down-right ugliest and most conceited masks in the NHL. How many nicknames can we squeeze on there? The Bulin Wall…really? And those birds suck too.

Those are my least favorite masks in the NHL. However, I have seen one that tops them all. It is by far the worst mask I have ever seen. It’s dull, dense, and inexperienced in a particular game. Hopefully we never have to see it again.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!