In the sports world, many pieces of equipment have stayed virtually the same for years. However, this has not been the case with hockey goalie masks.
Originally, they were nothing more than a fiberglass mold one pressed up against their face, but over the past several decades, they have become exceptionally complex and carefully designed. While modern goalie masks might appear to be state-of-the art, there are companies out there that are constantly working to make them even better.
Warwick Mask, led by Gary Warwick, is among those continuing to make strides in the industry. Warwick has been in the mask-making industry for the past 50 years, and his business focuses on creating custom-made masks that often include elaborate paint jobs from a handful of artists.
Although his masks have vibrant designs, Warwick remains committed to safety — hence why the company also offers mask reconditioning to make sure customers get the best use out of their masks.
“Always our top concern is the goalie’s head. We are not in it to see how much money we can make. We use the best materials to make a top-notch product,” Gary Warwick said. “We like to say we have the safest head protection. Whether you are a pro, a beer leaguer or an amateur, you are all going to get top-of-the-line head protection.”
The company has attracted some high-level clientele. According to the Warwick website, Vezina Trophy winners Eddie Belfour and Dominik Hasek as well as Ryan Miller, Marty Turco, Pascal LeClair, Evengie Nabokov, Mike McKenna, Hunter Miska and Cam Johnson have used Warwick products. Not bad for a company run by a father and his two sons.
On the newer side, Coveted Mask, based out of Ontario, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and is working hard to expand in the custom mask industry as well.
Coveted Mask strives to offer a one-on-one experience to help customers find the right helmet.
Although Coveted does not offer custom paintings, it does offer referrals to many artists who do such work.
Despite not being around long, the company already has created a line of hand-crafted Hockey Equipment Certification Council- and Canadian Standards Association-certified helmets in youth, junior and senior sizes. Recently, Coveted has refined its 905 and 906 Pro models and will be adding junior and senior versions of the 906 model by the end of July.
“This certified version will incorporate those new materials and all our knowledge gained during research over the last several months,” Ron Stefaniuk, founder of Coveted Mask, said. “We are excited to grow and have continued success with our retail partners all the while continuing to produce beautiful, high-performance works of art and maintain our handcrafted Canadian quality.”
