BEHIND THE MASKS - Some Toronto Goodness

Believe it or not, I actually picked up some cards not in the Ultimate Memorabilia 11 product this past weekend at the Toronto Expo.

For real.

And while the quantity isn't as great, there's still some quality mask goodness here in this post.

I said some.

2010/11 In The Game Decades
Memorable Masks
#MM-04 Tom Barrasso

I'm almost done with this insert set (just three more to go). I'll admit, it's cards like this one that creates a lack of effort on my part when searching.

Quite simply, this mask is not memorable at all. In fact, I remember Tom with the good ol' helmet and cage...


Oh yes, that brings back memories.

While I appreciate the effort of ITG to put together a quality mask insert set, it just comes up a tad short the more I see some of the photos.

A little grainy and a little ho-hum with some of the player selection.

2010/11 In The Game Decades
Memorable Masks
#MM-03 Mike Liut

Now this was one of my favorite masks growing up. The solid white, the long beak staring down at you. I also think the fact that I rarely saw it made me appreciate it more. Today's masks just don't have that same impact.

Again, the photo is on the grainy side, but I can forgive this one a bit more.

2010/11 In The Game Decades
Memorable Masks
#MM-05 Bunny Larocque

First of all, I think it's pretty cool that Michel's nickname adorns the front of the card (to me.....he's Bunny).

Second, this mask is killer. just simple blue and white, but I'm sold - instantly.

Great sharp photo on this one. I guess they tracked down a good high res shot. Just look at those eyes piercing out from behind the fibreglass.

And you can see the hidden Playboy bunny logo on the cheek. Nice.

2009/10 In The Game 1972 The Year In Hockey
Masked Men
#MM-01 Doug Favell

Finally! A set killer.

This was another slow build. Not because I didn't like the cards, but because I wanted to do this set more 'on the cheap'.

I picked this final piece of cardboard for a buck. And it'll go down as one of my favorites in the set.

Doug's starburst mask wasn't the first painted lid he had. Anyone remember the fully painted orange mask?


Doug became the first goalie to wear a fully-painted mask in NHL history.....and it was done as a practical joke. Here's the story.


Great stuff. It's too bad though that the 'pumpkin' no longer exists.

2010/11 In The Game Between The Pipes
Inspired Masks
#IM-06 Jaroslav Halak

This was a nice find at the Expo. I'm slowly building up this set and am looking forward to the day where I can display them all as a complete set.

Notice in Halak's mask the picture of Patrick Roy raising that Stanley Cup. This iconic pose is what the Inspired Masks theme is all about.

2010/11 In The Game Between The Pipes
Inspired Masks
#IM-03 James Reimer

Lastly, this card was not a show pickup, but rather a mailbox gift upon my return.

Still some Toronto goodness though.

Reimer was the buzz of the league before his whiplash......er concussion-like symptoms......er upper body injury.....um, let me ask his mom. Whatever it is, it's keeping him out of the game - for a while. Never good to see.

And with the way Ben Scrivens is playing, he might be out of a starting job before he really had a chance to solidify it.

And that's not Colonel Sanders on his mask, it's supposed to be Don Cherry. Sometimes it's tough to draw a picture, of a drawn picture, on a mask....on a mask.

Better than I can do.