Goaltenders Skate in Style with New Winter Classic Swag

ST. LOUIS, MO – I used to think it was me, a group of one, giddy over goaltending equipment. At 47 years of age, the thought if Eddie Lack switching teams conjures up the excitement of just what design he will choose. He has had some good ones over the years. I learned recently that there are others whose neck hairs bristle with this subject. We don’t ask for much, just a little uniqueness among this fraternity of fearless puckstoppers.

We are always anxious at the start of each season with what each netminder is going to wear, what brands they switched to, color combinations, special graphics, etc. Oh, and heaven forbid a goalie has two sets, one for away games and one for home games. Thanks for that, Corey Crawford and Roberto Luongo.

The Winter Classic adds a new dimension to the anticipation of goaltending equipment as each of the four goalies gets new stuff for this high-profile event.

For Chicago, Corey Crawford and Scott Darling are going with vintage brown. Not quite as vintage as the equipment Mike Palmateer wore for the Centennial Classic Alumni Game, but you get the picture. As this is Chicago’s fifth outdoor game, it is possible, not likely, however, that it gets a little tricky to get original. So why not go old school brown?

Crawford wears CCM, while Darling wears Brian’s. As for masks, more new stuff as Crawford goes for the old Mike Veisor-style mask (remember, him?).

Scott Darling is paying homage to the recently crowned World Series Champions, the Cubs. THe action photo does not show the mask he will be wearing at the Winter Classic, but the additional image below does.

For the home team, the St. Louis Blues chose bright and loud. Allen is sporting a color combination and busy zone design while wearing his Vaughn kit.

Photo By: Brianna O’Mara

The gloves match the design of the leg pads, a nice complement as long as they stop pucks from going in.

Photo By: Brianna O’Mara

Carter Hutton chose bright yellow. He chuckled when I asked him what voltage his pads required. Interestingly, Hutton wanted blue, but CCM could not deliver the color to match the uniform. They came as close as royal blue which you can still see on his calf roll on the inside of his leg pads.

Photo By: Brianna O’Mara

As for masks, new school for the Note’s backstoppers. Jake Allen chose a modern Gateway Arch and event-specific logo on the mask.

Carter Hutton chose a baseball theme with ball stitchings and seams along with honoring Hall of Fame Cardinals players.

Photo By: Brianna O’Mara

Great stuff in the era of hockey equipoment.

Photo By: Brianna O’Mara

His mask caught the attention of Stan Musial’s family, who in appreciation for honoring the great hitter gave the Blues goaltender a signed ball from The Man.