Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Jacques Plante

 

Hockey history was changed forever, and for the best, when goaltending legend Jacques Plante introduced the world to a strange new piece of goaltending equipment.  The MASK!  

Plante revolutionized the art of goaltending during his 18-year NHL career.  He won six Vezina Trophies while playing for the Montreal Canadiens, including five straight from 1956 to 1960. He is credited with being the first "active" goaltender, emerging from his crease to stop the puck for his defensemen or to pass it up the rink to his forwards. 

It was just a regular season game on November 1, 1959 against the fledgling New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.  However, it became a historical moment in NHL and hockey history when Plante made the decision to wear the face guard he had only previously wore in practice.  Despite his coach, Toe Blake's, objection to the use of the mask, it was necessary at this point as Plante took an Andy Bathgate backhander in the face.  Bathgate was known to have one of the hardest shots in the league and the puck split Plante wide open, from his mouth to his nose, leaving a trail of blood from the goal crease to the bench as he was helped off the ice. After about 20 minutes and a ton of stitches, Plante returned, donning his mask, and helped the Habs to a 3-1 victory. He wore the mask from that point forward and helped pave the way to others following suit.

After retiring in 1965, Plante returned to the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and won his record seventh Vezina Trophy in 1969. Plante later played for the Leafs and then the Bruins, finally retiring for good at the young age of 46.