Jacques Plante, 1929 - 1986
This article was originally written and submitted as part of a Canada 150 Project, the Innovation Storybook, to crowdsource stories of Canadian innovation with partners across Canada. The content has since been migrated to Ingenium’s Channel, a digital hub featuring curated content related to science, technology and innovation.
Montreal Canadiens Jacques Plante showing off his goalie mask, the Louch Shield, during practice. Library and Archives Canada/Montreal Star fonds/e011161492
In November 1959, top Canadian goaltender, Jacques Plante, forever changed the game of hockey when he started wearing a face mask during National Hockey League games. Until then, goaltenders used little padding and no protective masks during regulation play. Plante, who played for the Montreal Canadiens, had been experimenting with different masks during practices and exhibition games to protect himself from pucks and sticks since the mid-1950s. But it wasn’t until November 1, 1959, during an NHL game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, when Plante suffered a broken nose and multiple cuts to the face, that he returned from the dressing room wearing a mask created by fibreglass specialist, Bill Burchmore. And in 1960, Plante debuted a new lighter mask, also produced by Burchmore, commonly known as the “pretzel mask”, which consisted of 540 woven ends of fiberglass yarn. With undeniable safety benefits, it wasn’t long before other goalies followed suit and the mask became a standard piece of goaltending equipment.
Jacques Plante lifting his hockey mask. Library and Archives Canada/Jacques et Caroline Raymonde Plante fonds/e010933903
Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens goaltender, in action against the Boston Bruins, 17 January 1960. Library and Archives Canada/Montreal Star fonds/e011161488
Jacques Plante inspired several generations of young goaltenders. Library and Archives Canada/Jacques et Caroline Raymonde Plante fonds/a164700
Library and Archives Canada
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