Why So Serious?

With the Academy Awards coming up, there's alot of buzz surrounding the late Heath Ledger's portrayal as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Many believe that he should be nominated and win for Best Supporting Actor. And it looks like you can count Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen amongst those who think Ledger should win the Oscar.

That's because in practice Lehtonen has been showing off a brand new mask with a picture of Ledger as The Joker on the side, as seen above.

This isn't the first time that Lehtonen has put something pop culture related/nerdy on his mask. Previous themes included Transformers, Final Fantasy X, and Kill Bill.

I'm sure this will definitely sway Academy voters to vote for Ledger. Here's how I imagine that discussion might go.

Voter #1: I'm really not too sure about voting for Heath Ledger as The Joker. I think there are some other pretty good performances that are deserving too.
Voter #2: Yeah but Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers thinks he should win.
Voter #1: Well then! Give that man the Oscar!
Voter #2: Give it to his family or whomever is accepting it for him you mean.
Voter #1: Oh yeah...
*Awkward, sad silence*

[Source]

Brodeur Debuts New Mask

With a new season comes a new look, as when Martin Brodeur of the Devils takes the ice on Friday to start the regular season he will be sporting a brand new mask.

The four-time Vezina winner unveiled his new mask design at Devils practice on Wednesday, and is expected to wear it for the Devils' 2008-09 regular season opener on Friday.

The new MB30 logo combines Brodeur's initials with the number he has worn since his first full season in New Jersey, and incorporates the horns and curled tail that are familiar to any Devils fan.

This marks just the third different mask that Brodeur has worn in a Devils uniform since being called up from the minors during the 1991-92 season. That year, the last in which the Devils wore red and green, Brodeur made four appearances for a 2-1-0 record, donning a simple red mask with a white stripe on the side.

When Brodeur returned to New Jersey for the 1993-94 season, he brought with him the Michel Lefebvre design that has become such an identifying part of his goaltending legacy. Emblazoned with a Devils-inspired "J" on the forehead and red flames on either side, the signature look had been with Brodeur through 536 wins and 96 shutouts, as well as Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

Brodeur believes it's a modest revision that some observers might not even pick up on right away.

"It's going to be hard to notice, I think," Brodeur said. "It's the same color scheme. For people facing me, there really won't be a difference. It's really more for TV or even for people looking up from top. I don't think it should be a big difference for people."

You think? When I saw the picture of the new mask I thought the Devils website made a mistake and posted the old one. I took me a few minutes to notice the difference! I even tried to think of any excuse in the book to make myself feel better for not noticing. Like, hey you just woke up. Nope I've been awake for hours. Or, oh you're just not wearing your glasses. I don't even wear glasses! Way to trick me Martin Brodeur, you win this round!



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May The Force Be With You

You can count Martin Gerber of the Ottawa Senators among the list of goalies who will be sporting a new mask this season.

Gerber is apparently looking to capitalize off his nickname Darth Gerber as his new mask's design is of Darth Vader from Star Wars.

Does anybody else smell a lawsuit from George Lucas coming?

I would critique this mask or say something bad, but I'm worried Gerber might use the force against me and perhaps choke me doing that Darth Vader trick where he pinches his fingers together. Or he could at the very least challenge me to a lightsaber fight and then tell me he's my father.

Sanford's New Mask Designed By Fan

Vancouver Canucks back up goalie Curtis Sanford is sporting a new mask this year.

Normally a mask change for a back up goalie wouldn't be much of a story but this time it is because Sanford's new mask was designed by a fan as part of a contest the Canucks held this summer.

The designer of the winning mask gets an autographed Sanford Jersey, a meet and greet with Curtis himself, and of course, the adulation of Canucks fans and mask and uniform obsessed bloggers like me! Congratulations!

If I were at all talented at art instead of being a gifted writer and ridiculously good looking, I would have designed a mask which would feature a classic scene from the Sanford and Son with Red Foxx as Sanford calling his son a dummy. I really shouldn't have brought up that show. Now I'm going to have the theme song stuck in my head forever. It's so damn catchy.