Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/8/2017
The story has it that Ken Dryden refused these two masks made by renowned goalie mask maker Ernie Higgins. As per information from our consignor, Higgins custom-molded these fiberglass masks for Dryden, who asked him to modify them and cut out the area under the chin because that was what he was used to wearing. Higgins, whose shop was located in Norwood, Mass., refused to do that and Dryden turned down the masks without ever wearing them in either practices or games. These vintage 1970s masks were cast from molds to Dryden’s face, Higgins said, according to the consignor. Included is a full size Higgins mask that would be used for practices along with a 3/4 size mask with a backplate to be worn in games. Our consignor, who grew up in the Boston area, bought the masks from Higgins for the cost of the materials and played with them.
As per our consignor: “Growing up in the Boston area we were extremely lucky to have easy access to the premier mask maker of the time, Ernie Higgins. Ernie’s shop was located a few towns away from us in Norwood, Mass.
“My brother never had Ernie make him a mask when he was younger because he wore glasses. But later on he started wearing contact lenses and on one visit Ernie had a deal for him. He had made two masks, a full size practice mask and a 3/4 size game mask for an NHL goalie, but the goalie wanted Ernie to modify them and cut out the area under the chin as that is what he was used to.
“Ernie refused to do it and the goalie, Ken Dryden, refused the masks.
“Ernie said my brother had a similar sized head and offered to fit one of the masks to him and sell it to him for the cost of materials, $25.00. He jumped at it and eventually bought the second one as well for the same price.
“We do know that they were molded and fitted to Dryden, per Ernie, but don’t believe he ever used them in a practice.”
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