When the National Hockey League finally hit the ice earlier this month Canadian fans were extra excited by the prospect of an all-Canadian Division, and so far the action has not disappointed.
Yet, as the teams hit the ice some of the loudest buzz created was not the play, but rather the startlingly different artwork on the mask of Montreal goaltender Carey Price.
Price is always the center of attention when it comes to the Canadiens, but the new mask, a skull infused with cybernetic circuitry connecting Price to the team鈥檚 storied past, had TV cameras zooming in for close-ups in early season games.
While goaltender masks have drawn interest since Boston鈥檚 Gerry Cheevers added stitches to his mask nearly a half century ago, Price鈥檚 latest mask certainly pushes the art form in new directions.
Of course while it is Price under the bright lights wearing the unique work, the art comes from airbrush artist Jordon Bourgeualt.
Bourgeualt, who runs an airbrush company in Calgary, said it was Price who contacted him.
鈥淗e (Price) contacted me on Instagram. He said he liked my work and was hoping to get something done,鈥� explained the artist in a recent telephone interview.
Now that the mask is done and on TV for 54 games this season, Bourgeualt said he has come to understand just how big a deal it is in terms of recognition and publicity.
鈥淚 had realized the opportunity, and really hoped to do my best work,鈥� he said, adding he 鈥渁lways try鈥� to create interesting pieces, but in this case Price really allowed him to just go wild creatively. 鈥�... He kind of just let me go to town.鈥�
In fact, at times Bourgeualt said he had almost wished for more guidance. He鈥檇 suggest something to Price and the response was always 鈥渄o whatever you think.鈥�
And now the response has still exceeded Bourgeualt鈥檚 expectation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really big stage, I thought it would be a big deal ... but,鈥� he said.
Like many, Bourgeualt was watching the first game for Montreal, but he was not tuned in for hockey -- 鈥淚鈥檓 not really a huge hockey guy,鈥� he said 鈥渂ut because he wanted to see his work on Price鈥檚 head. 鈥淚 just wanted to see him in action.鈥�
There was even a segment specially on the mask.
鈥淚 was aware that was going to happen,鈥� he said, adding people associated with the broadcast had called for information for the segment.
While Bourgeualt didn鈥檛 play hockey as a youth, and is not an avid fan, he said he knew who Price was when he contacted him.
鈥淭here鈥檚 names you know even if you鈥檙e not hugely into it (hockey),鈥� he said, adding Price was certainly one of those players.
So with the door wide open creatively Bourgeualt said he tried to make the mask not just about Price, but about the tradition that is the Montreal Canadiens.
Incorporated into the intricate details of the masks are the former Cup winning years of the team, and homages to former goaltending greats George Vezina, Jacques Plante, Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden.
Bourgeualt said while he had final say, there were friends he bounced ideas off, building a story within the details.
Small details, like 鈥楳ade in Canada鈥� on the back of the helmet using a Canadiens logo circa 1906, add to the story.
鈥淚t (the design), sort of grew organically,鈥� said Bourgeualt, adding the basic story is that Price; 鈥�... He鈥檚 a robot, part machine, made up of the past goaltenders, sort of a 鈥榬obocop鈥� of a goalie.鈥�
Even the colours have meaning. When it comes to blood coursing through plastic lines, it鈥檚 Canadiens red.
The wires are red and blue, again matching Montreal team colours.
Bourgeualt said overall he wanted the detail to matter, yet the basic idea of the skinless skull to be easily seen the point 小蓝视频 that the mask should intimidate.
There was some concern whether the NHL would approve the design, and Bourgeualt鈥檚 mother did suggest softening one more horror-inspired aspect, but in the end it was given the green light by the league.
In terms of goaltender masks Bourgeualt has done others, but the Price mask might be his masterpiece to-date, taking about 250-hours to complete.
鈥淚鈥檝e never put that much time into another mask ... maybe huge murals or a motorcycle, but not a mask,鈥� he said.
So does Bourgeualt expect the notoriety afforded by the Price mask will lead to more hockey commissions?
Maybe, he said, but added the work he put into the Price mask means the cost was high.
鈥淧eople have no real idea of the cost involved when you have detail like that,鈥� he said.
As an artist though he craves the unusual.
鈥淚 like helmets and masks as a medium. I like working on them ... They fit my attention span ... (But), I really only want those crazy jobs,鈥� he said, although he added 鈥淚 probably couldn鈥檛 turn down any NHL goalie ... But I鈥檇 want them to let me do my own things ...
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to find the right client.鈥�
