Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/28/2023
Pitting the Montreal Canadiens against the Calgary Flames, the two Canadian based combatants took their game outdoors on February 20th, 2011 for the second edition of the NHL's Heritage Classic contest with 41,022 jamming themselves into McMahon Stadium in Calgary. With weather conditions during the contest a major storyline for the game as the as the wind chill made the temperature feel like -25 °C (-13 °F) on the ice, offered here is this photo-matched mask worn by Montreal Canadiens goaltender, Carey Price, throughout the frigid affair. A Bauer made offering with intact strapping and interior padding, the original cage is still affixed over the front though it is worth mentioning that the sweatband that would have been affixed to the interior at the forehead is no longer present. Decorated with a design that pays homage to the man responsible for bringing head gear for goaltenders into the modern era of the National Hockey League, the head of Canadiens legend, Jacques Plante, is depicted over the entirety of the piece with a mouth, eyes, ears and hair all able to be made out from being the depicting of his original 1959 mask that graces most of the head/face. Having been painted by noted mask artist, Dave Arrigo, and signed by him with his initials in two (2) places over the top of the mask, the backplate features the Canadiens and Heritage Classic logos as well as the URL for the Carson Kolzig Foundation and both a cross and cancer ribbon at the very top. Worn for just a single contest, the mask shows expected use via a small number of light scuffs and scratches and a pair of small chips at the very top of the head while the padding on the interior shows some light soiling and darkening as well.
Regarding the aforementioned photo-matches, the mask is matched with Getty Image #109316419 (February 20th, 2011 vs Calgary - 2011 NHL Heritage Classic) to the three (3) bumps in the paint along the edge of the mask in the corner below the ear, the bump in the paint the is seen at the top right of the ear just below the ventilation hole, the loose thread off the end of the strapping harness above the ear and to the marks that are present on the harness strap that is affixed below Price's left cheek. A top-notch piece worn in a significant contest by the winningest goalie in the history of the famed Montreal Canadiens, don't miss out on this dandy of a relic for your all-important collection!
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