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What a way to start an auction! Definitely one of the greatest and most significant goalie mask to ever be offered for public sale, this stirring, thought-provoking Jacques Plante-made and Jacques Plante game worn piece of hockey history is the face protector hockey's genial innovator wore while guarding the New York Rangers' net following th trade in June of 1963 that sent Plante, Donnie Marshall and Phil Goyette from Montreal to the Big Apple in exchange for Gump Worsley, Dave Balon, Leon Rochefort and one Len Ronson. We have found a superb photo match for the museum piece. Indeed, the mask was on loan to the Hockey Hall of Fame along with other Plante masks for many years and bears a "152" black inventory number on the outer edge near the right eye. The interior has but three pieces of felt "padding". Somewhat crude but at the same time a masterpiece in our eyes, the fiberglass pretzel-style creation no longer has its straps. It remains in rock solid condition despite a number of hairline cracks throughout. This would have been the third mask that Jacques Plante wore in NHL action following his initial historic mask, donned for the first time on November 1st, 1959, ironically at Madison Square Garden, after a blast from the Rangers Andy Bathgate opened a gash necessitating seven stitches and prompting Jacques to insist on wearing the mask he had been practicing with, if he were to return to action. Canadiens coach Toe Blake, who thought a mask would hinder his star goalie's sight, reluctantly agreed and Plante went on to backstop the Habs to a 3-1 victory. Plante kept insisting to wear a mask, winning his case by going the next ten games without a loss! The rest, as they say, is history. His initial pretzel mask with the Canadiens followed and then this beauty. Obtained from Jacques Plante's widow in Switzerland where the legend spent his final years, the spine-tingling relic will be accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by Caroline Plante.
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