The origin of the giant goalie mask at the Saddledome

[tvp2003]

Stumbled across an interesting fact/photo about the giant mask that is mounted on the side of the Saddledome (and why it exists). From the Instagram page of Greg Harrrison, who made masks for many NHL goalies over the years:

In 1988 an Advertising agency contacted me to photograph 25 of my Masks & five others for a display in the Calgary Saddledome for the 1988 Winter Olympics. These were to be displayed as large photographs in the lobby of the arena. In addition to this, they wanted to produce a 10 foot replica of my Yves Belanger Atlanta Flames mask. They actually used my Phil Myre mask as a model for the large mask. It was made using a horizontal & vertical grid plotting system, as 3-D scanners or printers did not exist at that time. The paint job on the mask was based on my last changes to Bélanger’s mask. His mask had gone through a number of subtle changes since he wore it. It had been shortened a half an inch on the bottom while he wore it. When I got it back I lengthened it to its original state & then altered the flames slightly to be more frontal around the eyes at the request of Mediacom for an ad for backlit bus shelters based on the theme Stopping Power. They used it in a publication but said they did not ever produce a full size print for the bus shelters. But I did see a full size print in a scene from Youngblood where Patrick Swayze is about to remove the stitches from Rob Lowe‘s eyebrow. Also in the movie at their request, one of the Masks I made has a Bélanger style paint job but simply in red and white. Photo1. Me inside the eye of the 10ft mask holding Phil Myre‘s mask...

More photos can be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAEx6yRAEjA/

It always bothered (?) me why they featured an Atlanta Flames mask when the team was in Calgary. Turns out it wasn’t commissioned by the team at alll...

[looooob]

I have a mounted poster version of the 25 masks somewhere..I need to dig that out and put it up in the rec room!


edit- phew glad this thread existed- found the poster, as we are putting some stuff up right now


of the 30 masks, the most recent was a then current Mike Vernon mask. the 5 non Harrison were Plante, Cheevers, Dan Bouchard and 2 Palmateers (although this did include Harrison making a Sawchuk replica)


not my poster- but just like this one:
http://myhockeycardobsession.blogspo...y-olympic.html

[tvp2003]

I remember that poster and wondered (as a kid) why Vernon never used that mask. I guess he preferred his old CCM/Cooper cage combo until he finally switched over circa 1993.

[Reggie Dunlop]

That's pretty cool information. Clears up a few things vis-a-vis Phil Myre and Yves Belanger. Originally I thought it was based on the former from news accounts of the time.

However, later photographic evidence (with the advent of the internet making it easier) pointed to Belanger.

The art instalment, in fact, was a hybrid of both.

Thanks tvp2003!

[craigwd]

A good reminder that the Olympic Games isn't just about athletes and sport. The Olympic Art Festival (of which the Mask display was a part) supported so much culture and artists and lead to my appreciation of the fine arts.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

The first time I went to the dome was at night, I think I was four or five years old. I found those masks slightly terrifying. It was reminiscent of when homer made Bart the clown bed.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Dunc Wilson's mask hasn't aged well...

[foofighter15]

Always loved that mask, I hope they keep it when they move to the new building

[Bourque's Twin]

As I said in a previous thread, it should be a shoulder patch.