Dec 1, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) after making a save during the third period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
Howlin’ Hockey takes a look closer at every single Arizona Coyotes goaltender mask from 1996 to 2015.
This news propelled Anders Lindback and Louis Domingue to step up their play and battle it out for the starting goaltender position.
With the position always in the spotlight, it only seemed fitting to take a closer look into the creative side of it. National Hockey League goaltenders are able to customize their uniforms in a special way that other players are unable to do.
The goaltender’s mask is a key area that the goaltender is able to personalize and make their own. The mask is used as an artistic canvas for athletes to express their personality and much more.
The graphics and portraits found on these pieces of headgear intrigue all who lay eyes on them. From team logos to cartoon caricatures, fans have seen it all. In respect to the time and effort put in to the designs of these masks, Howlin’ Hockey created an art gallery dedicated to the Arizona Coyotes goaltending history.
Starting in alphabetical order, take a look at all 36 Arizona Coyotes goaltenders and their goaltending masks.
David Aebischer had a very short career with the Arizona Coyotes.
In fact, he only suited up for one game with the team. Aebischer would finish up his National Hockey League career with the Arizona Coyotes before going back to his homeland of Switzerland. David Aebischer is better known for his play with the Colorado Avalanche. He became the first Swiss hockey player to win the Stanley Cup when the Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils in 2001.
The Arizona Coyotes would end up losing the game Aebischer started during the 2007-2008 NHL season. He would go on to stop 33 of the 36 shots he faced. David Aebischer finished the game with a .909 save percentage.
Aebischer’s mask does not have the Arizona Coyote’s flair that most of the one’s in this gallery possess. In fact, it is the same exact style as the one he used during his time in Colorado (pictured above). The mask features a yeti overlooking mountaintops above the goaltender’s eyes. On the chin of the mask are the letters “ABBY” for David’s nickname.
Alex Auld, just like David Aebischer, only played one season for the Arizona Coyotes.
Auld was in between the pipes for the Coyotes for the 2007-2008 NHL season where he played in nine games. His record for the team was a mere 3-6-0, as Auld would be traded that December. Alex had a goals against average of 3.54 and a save percentage .880. Auld did happen to post one shutout with the organization.
Auld’s mask shows some respect to the dry Arizona desert. The color scheme of the mask stays true to Coyote-red with hints of orange throughout. There are two white cactus plants on each side of the mask in a cartoon-style depiction. The chin of Auld’s goaltender mask displays the Arizona Coyotes logo.
What is truly unique about this gaoltending mask is the lettering that runs down toward the chin. The phrase “Virtute et Constantia” is seen towards the bottom of the mask. This is the motto for the National Order of Merit, which is a state order of the Republic of Malta. The phrase stands for “power and consistency.”
Zac Bierk spent the last two seasons of his career with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
Bierk was drafted 212th overall in 1995 by the Tampa Bay Lightning and spent eight seasons in the National Hockey League. With only 47 professional appearances, Zac Bierk managed to make NHL history during his career.
His first career NHL shutout (while with the Coyotes) happened to be a 0-0 tie against the Chicago Blackhawks. This would be Chicago goaltender Michael Leighton’s first career shutout as well. This would be the first time in NHL history that two goaltenders would receive their first shutout in the same game.
With the Arizona Coyotes, Bierk scraped up a 4-10-3 record. In his 20 appearances with the team Zac Bierk saved 579 shots for a final percentage of .924%. His goals against average would be 2.46 (2.17 in 2002-2003 and 3.79 in 2003-2004).
Bierk’s mask did not necessarily scream “Arizona Coyotes.” The base of the mask was a black, space-like color. On the top of the mask was the Coyotes purple moon logo that was seen on the shoulder patch of the Kachina jerseys.
The main art on Bierk’s mask was depicted on the sides. A giant lizard with red, beady eyes graced the mask. The tail of the beast curled up toward the chin, as the tongue stretched out towards the purple moon.
Boucher played during the transition period from the Kachina Coyote logo to the modern-day one we see today. With that being said, he has two masks that reflect both brands of the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
The first mask he used depicts a calm night in the desert. On the side of the mask are Coyotes howling at the purple moon logo. The chin of the mask has the word “coyotes’ etched above the desert sand. The top half of the mask has two life-like coyotes staring at the Kachina head logo.
The second mask features the modern-day Coyotes logo with a brick wall background. The word “coyotes” looks to be sprayed in a graffiti font on Boucher’s chin. The mask also pays tribute to Boucher’s first headgear with the Coyotes team. Through the cracks in the brick wall, the midnight desert is visible.
The personality of Ilya Bryzgalov made him a character on and off the ice for the Arizona Coyotes.
Bryzgalov brought a lot of skill to the Coyotes team between the pipes. In four seasons with the franchise, Ilya Bryzgalov finished with a 130-93-27 record. Bryzgalov currently leads the Arizona Coyotes franchise with his 130 wins. He would also finish with a 2.54 goals against average and .917 save percentage for the team.
Ilya’s masks with the team have a consistent style with previous franchise goaltenders. The modern-day Coyotes logo graces the very top of Bryzgalov’s headgear and his nickname of “Bryz” stretches across his chin. A coyote howling at the moon is displayed on the side of his mask.
The popular choice for goaltenders who play for the Coyotes is the howling coyote on the sides of their mask. Ilya switches it up a bit with artwork done by children in his later years with the team to fill out the sides.
Sean Burke is one of the most prestigious goaltenders to have ever put on a Coyotes uniform.
Burke is the franchise leader for goals against average (2.39) and save percentage (.919%). Burke played 211 games with the Coyotes and left the team with a 97-78-29 record. Burke was a two-time all-star with the Coyotes in 2001 and 2002. Sean Burke spent some time as the Arizona Coyotes goaltending coach after retirement as well.
Sean Burke was a huge fan of motorcycles and guitarists, so naturally his masks would reflect that.
Both his modern-era and Kachina-era masks essentially had the same layout. On the top would be a woman riding a Harley motorcycle and on the bottom would be the corresponding team logo for that year. The sides of the mask would feature numerous guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix.
Matt Climie saw very limited action with the Arizona Coyotes franchise, as he mainly played for their AHL affiliate in San Antonio.
Climie got called up to the NHL when Ilya Bryzgalov went down with a flu-like sickness. When starter Jason Labarbera gave up five goals in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Climie got the nod to step on the ice. Matt Climie only played for 32 minutes with the Arizona Coyotes. In those 32 minutes, he managed to finish with a 1.88 goals against average and a .938 save percentage.
Matt Climie had two masks with the Arizona coyotes organization, even though he only played 32 minutes of professional hockey for this team. His first mask at the top was cast in all black. The top of the mask featured the Grim Reaper with a glowing green tint coming out of it’s eyes.
Climie’s second mask had more of a Coyotes influence.
The Grim Reaper made another appearance but with a reddish glow in the eyes. The paw print logo from the Coyotes alternate black uniforms is positioned in the center of the chin with the jersey’s stripes running across the bottom. The running dog logo from the black alternates is the primary logo on the sides of Climie’s headgear as well.
Patrick DesRochers was a very poor first round choice for the Arizona Coyotes franchise back in 1998.
The team selected him with the 14th overall pick and he only played nine games with the squad. During his time with the Arizona Coyotes, DesRochers held a 1-5-1 record. His 3.73 goals against average and .861 save percentage would be among the worst the franchise would ever see.
Patrick’s mask gave no love to the Arizona Coyotes brand. The entire base of the mask is covered in black. The main logo is a light blue eagle that encompasses the face-mask. The eagle’s claws are visible on the sides of the head gear as well.
Louis Domingue will see more playing time with the Arizona Coyotes since Mike Smith underwent successful surgery this last week.
In his rookie debut, Domingue was able to pull out a victory on the road against the Montreal Canadiens. Domingue has played a total of 16 games for the Coyotes, earning a 6-4-3 record. He also has a 2.47 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.
Louis Domingue has had a few different mask designs since he was drafted back in 2010.
His older mask displayed much color, with strips of yellow and red alternating around the exterior. The older mask had a subtle “37” rested on his chin in white lettering. However, his newer mask for this season has more Arizona Coyotes flair.
The base of the mask is white with the modern-day logo settled on the chin. A red stripe runs above the logo, towards the middle of the face-mask. The lettering “AZ” is visible on both sides of the headgear. The top features the head of the old Kachina logo in black and white.
Devan Dubnyk was signed on to be the Arizona Coyotes new backup goaltender in 2014 but quickly rose up the ranks with Smith’s poor performance.
Dubnyk regained his confidence with the help of goaltending coach Sean Burke. His skills with the Coyotes led him to a 9-5-2 record with the team. Dubnyk held a 2.72 goals against average and a .916 save percentage during his time with the Arizona Coyotes.
Devan Dubnyk had an interesting mask during his brief stint with the Arizona Coyotes.
His Wild West theme was very intriguing, as it featured two giraffes on each side of the mask. The intimidating giraffes both possess shotguns and cowboy hats. A “D” sits neatly on the chin while a giant Arizona Coyotes logo covers the top. A back-splash of cacti round out Dubnyk’s cowboy theme.
Parris Duffus did not have a prosperous career in the National Hockey League.
He was drafted in 1990 but didn’t see any action until the 1996-1997 season. Duffus played one game for the Arizona Coyotes for only 29 minutes. His stats include a 2.07 goals against average and a .875 save percentage.
The Mask:
Oct 26, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Arizona Coyotes right wing Shane Doan (19) celebrates his goal with defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
You can view a hockey playing card of Duffus wearing the mask he wore during his time with Arizona Coyotes by clicking HERE.His mask was a darker style that featured a silver dragon on the very top. The chin depicts lettering that seems to look like his name too.
Robert Esche was drafted 139th overall by the inaugural Coyotes team in 1996.
He spent four seasons with the team before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Brian Boucher. In those four seasons, Esche maintained a 2.97 goals against average and a .897 save percentage for a 18-24-6 record. Esche retired from hockey in 2012.
Robert Esche and Sean Burke essentially had the same idea when it came to goalie masks.
As shown above, Esche’s mask resembles Burke’s in a multitude of ways. The color scheme is exactly the same between the two. Esche has the Phoenix Coyotes moon logo for his chin piece and guitarists featured on the sides of the mask. A grinning skeleton with a cowboy hat graces the top of the headgear too. There’s nice detail in the eyes of the skull, as you can see two coyotes howling at the moon.
Bob Essensa was a popular goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets before they moved to Phoenix.
Essensa signed with the Coyotes back in 1999 in order to extend his lead for franchise games played and wins. Essensa would ultimately play the role of backup to Sean Burke. Essensa would not do too bad with the Arizona Coyotes. His 13-10-3 record, 2.78 goals against, and .898 save percentage helped the Coyotes tremendously in 1999.
Bob Essensa’s mask featured numerous Coyote logos across the entire mask.
The Kachina-Coyote head is the center-point on the chin of the mask while the full body logo is on both of the sides. The striping from the old school jerseys is piped along the bottom of the mask too. The top of Essnsa’s mask displays the shoulder patch logo of the Phoenix Coyotes moon.
Thomas Greiss had a heavy load as backup goaltender for the 2013-2014 NHL season with the Arizona Coyotes.
Greiss finished out the remainder of the season when Mike Smith went down with an injury. Greiss played 25 games that season and finished with a 10-8-5 record. His 2.20 goals against average and .920 save percentage were not good enough to keep the Arizona Coyotes in playoff contention.
Thomas Greiss kept his mask artwork consistent through the years.
He displayed two separate helmets with the Arizona Coyotes. Both masks featured a Yeti/Bigfoot creature covering up the entire right side. The chin of his mask has the name “Greiss” stretched across the bottom as well. The only difference between the two masks would be the color scheme. One is a silver style while the other is more of a sandy color.
Pat Jablonski was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for Steve Cheredaryk on March 18, 1997.
Jablonski saw little action as he played only two games as Khabibulin’s backup. He never won a game in a Coyotes uniform either. In those two games, Pat Jablonski finished his Coyotes career with a 2.03 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.
Pat Jablonski’s mask is about as plain as you can get.
After being dealt from the Canadiens, Pat had little time to add any Coyotes customization to his mask. In fact, if you look closely, you can still see the Montreal Canadiens logo underneath all the white.
Brent Johnson played only one season with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
He was dealt from the St. Louis Blues for Mike Sillinger back on March 4, 2004. Through eight games with the team, Brent Johnson held up a .914 save percentage and a 2.59 goals against average. His record with the Arizona Coyotes was a dismal 1-6-1.
Brent Johnson displayed two sets of headgear during his time in Arizona.
Because he was acquired towards the end of the season, Johnson was still using his St. Louis mask. However, he spiced up his look with a Coyote sticker on his chin.
His other mask had more of a Coyotes theme to the artwork. The Phoenix shoulder patch is located on the chin of the mask, while the red Coyotes moon sits on top. Two Coyote heads face towards the moon with a canyon scenery featured below them on the sides.
Chad Johnson, like many of the other goaltenders seen in this gallery, did not spend a lot of time with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
Johnson played four games in 2013 before hitting the free agent market that summer. Unlike the other goaltenders who spent just one season with the team, Johnson proved that he could contend as a starting goaltender. Johnson finished with a 2-0-2 record, a 1.21 goals against average, a .954 save percentage, and one shutout in his four games.
Chad Johnson’s mask had a very unique Coyotes style to it.
The full right side of the mask was covered by the team name “Coyotes” in the same font the franchise uses. On the entire left side was the primary logo, blown up to cover half of the headgear. The Coyotes’ triple stripe outlined the entire exterior of the mask, as everything sat on a white background.
Curtis Joseph joined the Arizona Coyotes franchise in 2005 from free agency.
Joseph spent two seasons with the Coyotes and headlined the starting position with Brian Boucher and Mikael Tellqvist at backup from 2005 to 2007. While the Coyotes signed him towards the end of his career, Joseph provided solid relief for the team in his short tenure in Glendale.
Most notably Curtis Joseph earned his 400th NHL career win with the Arizona Coyotes. In 115 games, Cujo had a 50-52-5 record with a 3.04 goals against and a .898 save percentage.
Curtis Joseph had a very bright and colorful mask during his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes.
The entire mask pays tribute to a red, cat-like beast with a gaping mouth and giant teeth. The beady yellow eyes and the foamy saliva running from the cat’s tongue provides extra detail to this artwork. Joseph’s nickname “Cujo” is placed on each side of the mask too.
Nikolai Khabibulin was the first goaltender in Coyotes history as he was part of the relocation from Winnipeg to Phoenix.
The Coyotes were fortunate to have Khabibulin in the crease during the prime of his career. The Coyotes made it to three playoffs under Khabibulin but never made it past the first round.
Khabibulin’s best season came in 1998 as he posted a 32-23-7 record with a 2.13 GAA and a .920 SV% to compliment it. He had eight shutouts in that year as well.
Khabibulin was given the nickname of “The Bulin Wall” as it was hard to get pucks past him. Nikolai Khabibulin also represented the Phoenix Coyotes in both the 1998 and 1999 NHL All-Star Games. He finished his time in Arizona with a 92-84-23 record, a 2.58 goals against average, and a .910 save percentage.
Nikolai Khabibulin had two different masks with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
The mask at the very top features a long, yellow crescent moon that stretches along the right side of the mask. A gray coyote is seen on the opposite side with the Coyotes Kachina stripe sitting on the chin.
The other mask has the phrase “coyotes” stretched along the right in the normal cartoon font. The left side has the full-bodied Coyotes logo.
Jason LaBarbera has been a career backup goaltender and provided mediocre relief for the Arizona Coyotes.
LaBarbera spent four seasons with the team from 2009 to 2013, playing 68 games in total. His record in those four years was 22-26-9, while his goals against average and save percentage were 2.64 and .918, respectively. Jason LaBarbera currently plays with the Philadelphia Flyers organization.
Jason LaBarbera’s mask had a common theme throughout his time with the Arizona Coyotes organization.
That theme is WWE wrestling.
Wrestlers like CM Punk, Bret “Hit Man” Hart, and even Mr. McMahon are featured on his masks. LaBarbera also pays tribute to war hero and Arizona Cardinals football player Pat Tillman with one of his Coyotes masks.
Scott Langkow was a monster goaltender in the American Hockey League, but could not replicate that play in the NHL.
As a hybrid goaltender, Langkow struggled with the Arizona Coyotes franchise. He went 0-1-1 through four games in Arizona. On top of that, his stats were horrendous. Scott Langkow had a 4.53 goals against average and a .831 save percentage.
Everyone probably thought Mike Smith was the first Arizona Coyotes goaltender to feature Wile E. Coyote, but they would be wrong.
Scott Langkow had the idea first back in 1997. Langkow had the head of Wile E. Coyote sitting on the very top of his goaltending mask. On the chin of the mask sits the pesky Road Runner, as Wile E. Coyote stares from above. A few cartoon cacti are spread around the mask on top of a green background.
David LeNeveu spent only two seasons as backup goalie for the Arizona coyotes franchise.
LeNeveu did not have any success in the NHL despite being a college star at Cornell University. The Coyotes drafted him 46th overall in 2002 and he reported straight to the AHL. David couldn’t improve and finished his Coyotes career with a 5-9-2 record in Arizona.
His 3.38 goals against average and .888 save percentage did not help the team that much either.
David LeNeveu had a pretty cool mask despite his performance on the ice for the Arizona Coyotes.
There is a depiction of a glowing phoenix rising from it’s ashes on the right side of the headgear. The left side features a full bodied coyote with the primary logo as it’s head. The Arizona Coyotes moon logo is found towards the top, above the desert sky. Silhouettes of canyons finish off LeNeveu’s mask.
Anders Lindback is the new face among Arizona Coyotes goaltenders this season.
Lindback signed a one-year, $925,000 deal on July 1, 2015 to become the new backup goalie for Mike Smith. Due to Smith’s core muscle surgery, Lindback is going to carry more of a load at goaltender for the 2015-2016 season than previously anticipated.
Lindback has been fairly inconsistent for the Arizona Coyotes to start out the season.
He is either red hot or ice cold and there doesn’t seem to be a happy medium. Lindback is 4-5-1 through 13 games played this season. Despite his 3.14 goals against average and .891 save percentage, he and Louis Domingue have kept the Coyotes in the playoff hunt thus far.
However, he will need to improve drastically if the Coyotes want to play in the postseason.
Anders Lindback had a very sweet mask to start out the year.
His old mask looked a lot like Louis Domingue’s current mask for the Arizona Coyotes. Lindback’s mask displayed the new paw print shoulder patch on each side of the mask. The top featured a white primary Coyotes logo with red stripes circling beneath the chin.
Lindback’s current mask is a solid white molding with a handful of Arizona Coyotes stickers spread about. His current mask is of the same style, but with the logos in opposite places.
Curtis McElhinney was an animal for Colorado College of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
His 62-15-8 record in four years led him to two All-Star team selections in the NCAA. The Arizona Coyotes acquired McElhinney on July 4, 2011 from free agency. He appeared in merely two games for the Coyotes, where he posted a 1.67 goals against average and a .944 save percentage.
McElhinney was involved in a trade that sent him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Antoine Vermette.
Curtis McElhinney did not have a lot of time to customize his mask with the Arizona Coyotes.
His mask had a dark edge to it whenever he suited up for competition. The base color of the mask is solid black with hints of red. The main feature of the mask is a giant skull that rests above the face mask.
Mike McKenna provided goaltender depth to the Arizona Coyotes farm system. McKenna is generally the backup goaltender’s backup. He unfortunately played in only one game for the Arizona Coyotes in 2015.
After Devan Dubnyk was traded mid-season, the Arizona Coyotes desperately searched for more options at goaltending. Mike McKenna was called up from the Portland Pirates to provide relief for Mike Smith. He ended up losing the only game he started and gave up five goals in the process. McKenna did not re-sign with the team in the offseason.
Al Montoya played fairly well during his five game stint with the Arizona Coyotes.
Montoya went 3-1-0 with a 2.08 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. Al also posted a shutout in his debut with the Coyotes on April 1, 2009 against the Colorado Avalanche. On February 9, 2011 Montoya was traded to the New York Islanders for a sixth round pick.
Al Montoya had two very intimidating masks with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
Both sets of headgear portrayed a graphic of an intimidating bear with large teeth. The only difference between the two masks is that one bear is black and the other is brown. The top and bottom rows of teeth surround the face mask, as if it is eating Montoya alive.
Mike Morrison had a very short stint with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
Morrison could not find his groove as he finished his time with a 0-3-0 record, a 6.14 goals against average, and a .790 save percentage. Mike would then be put on waivers before being sent down to the ECHL.
Morrison would eventually finish out most of his career in Sweden.
Mike Morrison had a fairly plain mask during his four games with the Arizona Coyotes.
After being acquired from the Ottawa Senators as a free agent, Morrison did not have time to customize his headgear for the Coyotes. The first couple games as a Coyote, Morrison used his Senators helmet before making a switch. His actual Coyotes helmet included a white base with a giant ‘Yotes logo on each side.
Jean-Marc Pelletier was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes on December 31, 2002 in exchange for former goaltender Patrick DesRochers.
Pelletier played only seven career NHL games (six with the Coyotes), after being drafted 30th overall in 1997. Pelletier’s career numbers include a 1-4-0 record, a 3.90 goals against average, and a .857 save percentage.
Jean-Marc Pelletier’s goaltending mask played off the Coyotes’ Kachina-green jerseys.
With as many designs as this piece of headgear has, there seems to be no sign of any Coyotes logo at all. The main feature of this mask is the serpent looking creature above the face mask. Two pistols are located on the sides of the mask as well.
Philippe Sauve was drafted 38th overall in the 1998 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
Before his time with the Arizona Coyotes, Sauve was mainly famous for a fight during his career with the Calgary Flames. On January 24, 2006 in a game against the Colorado Avalanche, Philippe Sauve went toe-to-toe with former teammate, David Aebischer.
Just a week after his fight, Sauve would be shipped off to the Coyotes.
Philippe Sauve had a very short career with the franchise. In only five games, Sauve recorded a 5.45 goals against average and a .867 save percentage. Sauve would never win a game with the Arizona Coyotes.
Philippe Sauve used the same mask that he used with the Calgary Flames.
The only difference in his mask from the image above would be a Coyotes logo covering up the Flames logo on the chin. Sauve’s goalie headgear seems to have an automobile racing style to it. The top displays smoke from the exhaust pipe of a car.
The sides, on the other hand, depict an evil clown with a joyous laugh.
Mikhail Shtalenkov was a monster goaltender in international play for the Soviet Union National Team.
Shtalenkov decided to take his talents to the United States where he was acquired by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1993 NHL draft. Mikhail found his way to Arizona later on in his career where he played 19 total games in two seasons. Shtalenkov was 8-8-3 with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
He finished with a 2.35 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.
Mikhail Shtalenkov’s mask with the Coyotes was not as intimidating as his others with his former NHL squads.
Mikhail had a way of transforming the team’s logo to make it wrap around the entire facemask. For instance, his Mighty Ducks mask above looked like a duck head wearing an old-school goalie mask. His Coyotes helmet was a little plain. The Kachina logo rested above the helmet with the word “coyotes” labeled on each side.
Next: Mike Smith
Nov 5, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) watches the puck during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
Mike Smith is the current starting goaltender for the Arizona Coyotes.
Smith is slowly climbing up the ranks for franchise wins (94) and games played (225) for the Coyotes. The Coyotes solidified him as the franchise’s goalie moving forward with a six-year, $5.7 million per year contract back in 2013.
Mike Smith has had his fair share of ups and downs with this franchise.
His high point in his career came in the 2012 NHL playoffs. Smith would lead the team to the Western Conference Final with his 1.99 goals against average and .944 save percentage. His lowest point would come in 2014, where he finished 14-42-5 with a 3.16 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.
Mike Smith has been very creative throughout the years with his mask designs for the Arizona Coyotes.
The first couple of years, Mike would feature a cartoonish Wile E. Coyote design and just revamp is each season. Subtle differences can be seen throughout his first few seasons to the design. The biggest addition would be the inclusion of a facemask to Wile E. Coyote as seen above and below.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith has a new mask that he's ready to debut. pic.twitter.com/OvHAgjpcA0
In 2014, Mike Smith released a new design that feature a more terrifying Wile E. Coyote. His rabid coyote mask featured yellow eyes and teeth, sharp claws, and a long tongue stretching out on the mask’s chin. The entire head engulfs Smith’s face.
As interesting as that mask was, Mike Smith steps it up another notch for Throwback Night.
What is arguably one of the most beautiful masks on this list, Smith debuts his take on what he would wear as headgear in the 90’s. The entire mask is the Kachina-Coyote head. The full-bodied logo makes an appearance on the right side of the helmet with the collar trim as a border.
Mikael Tellqvist was a Swedish goaltender who played a total of 67 games with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
Tellqvist was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 28, 2006 for Tyson Nash and a fourth round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft.
Tellqvist would battle it out for the starting position throughout the years but would ultimately sit as Ilya Bryzgalov’s backup. Mikael was 27-24-6 with the Arizona Coyotes, as he finished with a 3.06 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.
Mikael Tellqvist had a couple of unique mask designs with the Arizona Coyotes team.
During his first season with the team, Mikael displayed pride for both the Winnipeg Jets franchise and his native country of Sweden. The base of the mask (pictured at the top) has a white base with a large Coyotes logo on the side. The other side pays tribute to Thomas Steen and Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets. The Three Crowns from the Swedish flag make an appearance on the chin of the mask.
Tellqvist would update his mask yet again, but only with minor changes. Instead of Steen and Hull, Dale Hawerchuk stole a spot on the headgear. The mask went from a white base to a red one and still kept the Coyotes logo prominent. The Three Crowns of Sweden rest on his chin once again.
The final design showed a lighter side to Tellqvist’s personality. Tellqvist dedicated his mask to a large, cartoon picture of Wile E. Coyote (a popular idea among goaltenders of the franchise). The Looney Tunes character takes up the entire mask and wears goaltending gear too.
Josh Tordjman played only two games at the professional level for the Arizona Coyotes.
Tordjman spent most of his career in the American Hockey League system. However, in those two games he recorded a 4.07 goals against average and a .871 save percentage. He would never win a game in a Coyotes uniform.
Josh Tordjman’s mask was a a dark, black color to match those of the AHL affiliate, San Antonio Rampage.
The mask had both the PHX shoulder patch logo and the primary Coyotes logo on each side. There is a full-bodied, gray coyote that is shown howling at the moon on the right side as well. Tordjman’s nickname “Torch” is written on the chin of the mask.
Feb 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Niklas Treutle (60) looks on prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
Niklas Treutle was signed by the Arizona Coyotes prior to the 2015-16 season after spending the first part of his pro career playing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.
He was signed primarily as a development goalie to play in the AHL with the Coyotes’ affiliate Springfield Falcons.
The German goaltender has played in two games for the Coyotes and is 0-1-0 with a 6.00 goals against average and a .750 save percentage.
The Mask:
Niklas Treutle’s mask is a CCM model that features lots of Coyotes imagery including a variation of the logo on the tops, chin, and the kachina variation on the back of the mask.
There is also falcons imagery on both sides likely referencing his AHL gig as goaltender for the Springfield Falcons.
Though his name is pronounced TROYT-lay, Treutle is often referred to as “Turtle” by the fans and he features an homage to the nickname with a turtle in the center of the back of the mask.
Mark Visentin was an Arizona Coyotes draft pick that did not develop in the direction that the team hoped.
As the 27th overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Coyotes, Visentin would play just one game. Mark’s first game with the Coyotes came against the San Jose Sharks on April 12, 2014. He finished the game with a 3.05 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.
Mark Visentin’s mask was not as colorful as some in the Howlin’ Hockey art gallery.
Mark had a pirate theme due to his time with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, Portland Pirates. The main feature on the mask was located on the chin. The chin displayed a pirate flag with Visentin’s nickname, “Vizzer,” stretched across. Skulls and crossbones are visible on the mask as well.
Jimmy Waite spent two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes franchise before finishing his career out in Germany.
With the Coyotes, Waite recorded a 11-11-5 record and played in 33 games. He would finish with a 2.45 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. Jimmy Waite is currently the Chicago Blackhawks goaltending coach.
Jimmy Waite’s mask for the team showed intense Coyotes pride, as the team logos were the main features on the headgear.
The mask displayed the Kachina-Coyote head on both sides with a giant “Coyotes moon” on the forehead. The old school piping outlines the entire helmet too.
Darcy Wakaluk played 16 total games for the Arizona Coyotes franchise during the 1996-1997 season before suffering a career-ending knee injury in a game against the Washington Capitals.
Wakaluk was an impressive 8-3-1 with the team with a 2.99 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. Wakaluk is primarily known for his play in the AHL, as he was the first goaltender to score a goal in that league back in 1987.
Darcy Wakaluk’s mask was a plain one during his tenure with the team.
Darcy’s headgear had a pretty simple design on top of a tan base coloring. Each side of the mask pictured a bandit riding a disgruntled bull with beady, red eyes. The chin of the mask displayed the old shoulder patch logo with cacti on each side of the purple moon.
Next: Conclusion
Dec 29, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of Arizona Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue /
With 36 Arizona Coyotes goaltenders accounted for, that concludes the Howlin’ Hockey Art Gallery!
With everything from Looney Tunes to rock and roll guitarists, these goaltenders got very creative with their designs.
Let us know which masks were your favorite in the comment section below!
