Six custom goalie mask designs unveiled for 4 Nations Face-Off
On Friday, hockey fans got an early look at the masks that will be worn by six of the goalies in the best-on-best showcase starting on Feb. 12 in Montreal.
As the excitement grows for next week’s 4 Nations Face-Off, some of the tournament’s netminders are letting their creativity show with the custom artwork on their masks.
On Friday, hockey fans got an early look at the masks that will be worn by six of the goalies in the best-on-best showcase starting on Feb. 12 in Montreal.
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4 Nations Face-Off
With the inaugural edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off fast approaching, be sure to catch up on all the latest news about the highly-anticipated best-on-best event. Puck drops on Feb. 12, 2025, on Sportsnet.
The Athletic‘s Jesse Granger shared the masks for U.S. goalie Jake Oettinger, Sweden’s Linus Ullmark and Finland’s Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen. All four masks were painted by David Gunnarsson — an artist renowned for his work with some of the NHL’s top stars between the pipes.
The United States’ other two goalies also had their new looks unveiled on Friday. Connor Hellebuyck’s mask was revealed by Steve Nash of EYECANDYAIR, and the Boston Bruins posted a video with Jeremy Swayman breaking down the elements of his mask.
Oettinger’s mask might be the highlight of the bunch, taking inspiration from his “Otter” nickname by featuring an otter dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
Hellebuyck’s, meanwhile, draws inspiration from his love of fishing.
His red, white and blue mask includes pictures of both the Winnipeg Jets netminder and a bald eagle catching fish, along with USA branding and Hellebuyck’s No. 37.
Gunnarson also painted Swayman’s mask after helping design his helmet for Boston’s centennial season in 2023-24.
The latest mask has six fighter jets on the top, Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton, Jr. from the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, tributes to 4 Nations host cities, Boston and Montreal on the back, and U.S. Marines at Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
“We came up with some things that represent USA the best,” Swayman said in the Bruins’ video.
Swayman’s ex-Bruins teammate, Ullmark, had his children help come up with the design for his Swedish mask.
It features elements from Norse mythology, including Oden’s horse, Sleipnir, on one side and the sea serpent, Jörmungandr, on the other. Sweden’s Tre Kronor are also on the top.
Rounding things out with the Finnish duo of Lankinen and Saros, both included lions on their respective masks.
Saros has a lion looking over the Helsinki skyline on the top and the Suomi logo on the sides.
Lankinen drew inspiration from his Vancouver Canucks setup to pair with a Suomi lion and flowers throughout the design.
Fans waiting for a closer look at what Canada’s netminders will be rocking will have to settle for the practice footage of Adin Hill and Jordan Binnington breaking in their new gear from the past couple of weeks.
The 4 Nations Face-Off officially gets underway Wednesday in Montreal when Canada takes on Sweden at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
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