You can still get some stuff handmade in Canada and it definitely makes a difference in quality. Usually the materials are the same but the workmanship is just so much better on the Canadian stuff. Although I won't lie even the offshore stuff has come WAY up in quality. I have a set of offshore made Brian's gloves and they are VERY well made.

As for water weight haha yeah its a big step up from the days of full grain leather and deer hair pads. Jenpro and that weave material out there now is awesome.

Also to the drums I love that wrap!

Apparently, the cat who bought my stuff get it refreshed by somebody in Canada, maybe even Vaughan. I don't know if Vaughan still works on their own stuff. If I were to buy stuff NOW, it would be DR or B-Star (a.k.a. Brian's).

I had a Grant Fuhr mask. I finally sold it for some HUGE $$$$ a couple years back. I got it for nearly nothing as it was one of his spares!!! I used it for a few years before I sold it.

Yeah- those old Coops were re-stuffed 'cos they smelled SOOOOO bad from the water. Damn!!!

Thanks on complimenting my wrap!!! I love it, as it's a take-off on the Rogers onyx (just white instead of black with the blue).

Gotta put it all back together...

I love the idea of the wrap being a new take on something old.

I'm pretty jealous of the Grant Fuhr mask! that is one of my all time favorites along with Murray Bannerman of the Blackhawks, Michel Dion of the Pens and Tom Barrasso from the Pens as well. There is a site out there that makes full fiberglass replicas of those masks that if you really wanted to go old school you could use them in game. I'll stick with my Lexan one haha

This one would be perfect for you haha http://www.vintagegoaliemasks.com/masksdesc.php?selectedMask=Bunny%20Larocque

The thing I noticed about the old-school fibreglass vs. newer carbon/kevlar masks is how light the newer ones are!!! I had an old Badger (what Cujo wore as a rookie) and the thing weighed almost as much as a motorcycle helmet!!!! The Fuhr mask I had (not one of his more well-known designs) was just as heavy.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few rinks around these parts that won't allow goalies to use the old-school masks. They require a caged mask (or a cage on a helmet) for goalies and a pretty long visor on everyone else, even for stick time. I do know of one rink that doesn't care if you're wearing a Mylec street hockey mask or a Jofa VM helmet!!! Nobody's playing in VM's these days 'cos they are definitely a collector's item.

I may have to get a few masks off of that guy. Thanks for the link!!!

Oh man you think those guys are light you have to pick up a Bauer NME5. Its technically their middle line mask but its incredible. Its made of Lexan and feels like a street hockey mask in weight its unreal, feel likes nothing is there. And trust me it protects I've been dinged a few times haha.

Most places around here aren't too crazy about equipment regulations. I know plenty of people who go visorless haven't seen any old school masks though lol. I'd consider wearing one honestly, against lower level players who won't fire an 80mph slapper at me haha.

I've contemplated buying the Tom Barrasso and Michel Dion masks off of that site before, they are just so cool. The Barrasso one I wouldn't even hesitate to use any given day either.

I wonder what cage he uses on the Cujo since Badger Elite isn't in business any longer? That's what Belfour's early masks were, as well. I also forgot what Barrasso's mask was based on.

Speaking of dangerous, did you ever really take a close look at Billy Smith's cage? The helmet lacked J-hooks (to keep the mask from moving upwards) and a chin cup. One could argue that cage set up he had was WAAAAAY more dangerous than the fibreglass mask it replaced!!! The only thing it did do was reduce the chance of breaking orbital bones in the face by a shot!!!

It's the lack of eye and orbital bone protection that I fear most on the old school masks. But if the mask didn't hug your face in those spots, you were blinded by your mask.

If I lace 'em up again and play goal, I will check out that Bauer mask.

The biggest reason why the rinks around here are nuts about mask and visor regs is insurance.

Billy Smith... yeah it just hung there. I mean if that thing got hit all it was gonna do was shoot the mask and the puck into his face as the same speed as the puck lol.

I'm not sure who he gets his parts off of but I know a few companies still make old school cat-eye cages so they are out there. I'm not sure what Barrasso's mask was back in the day (I was 4 when he wore that mask so that memory is pretty gone haha)

Eye/orbital protection is definitely lacking but if you aren't playing with high level players I don't think anyone is firing em hard enough to really bust your face. I'd be more concerned about a stick but sneaking into the eye than the actual puck impacts honestly.

Insurance regulations ruining every ones fun haha. Naw that stuff is fine its never fun seeing people get hurt especially at a pick up game

We also have to remember that just because something says "iTech" or "Bauer" or "CCM" didn't mean it was made by them. A lot of the old iTech masks were not iTech, for example. So probably nobody but Barrasso (if his marble are intact) remembers who made his mask.

As I recall, it was only in the mid to late '90s when youth players started wearing masks like the pros did. The early "modern" cage/mask used a Cooper HM50 that was modified. I did read somewhere that there is one person who does many of the bespoke wire cages who could probably make a cage for an old Badger Elite.

I have seen orbitals broken when I played Jr. hockey. Yes, the guy was wearing a visor, but his helmet could have easily been knocked off!!! It's no fun seeing a guy get his face broken and wonder if he will lose his eye!!!

Visors are a good first line of protection but like you said they aren't perfect. I've taken a few shots off mine and I'm thankful I had it on, but I was lucky they were rising shots and they somehow didn't sneak under the visor. Could have very easily found myself in the hospital. The fact that some pro's don't wear anything on their face shocks me. I can't imagine being around 80-90 mph shots without something covering at least part of my face. Heck I can't imagine playing with anyone at any level without a visor!

I got hit last week in the knee with a puck goin into the butterfly, it was nothing special not even a slapper. My leg is still yellow, play without a visor when skating up... NO WAY lol