Derek Bridges

Stan Mikita introduced the curved hockey stick, but Jacques Plante made an equally important innovation: the goalie mask.  Imagine playing goalie in the NHL without a hockey mask.  They used to (squeamish beware on that link).

Rangers forward Andy Bathgate played a key role in this historical development:  Peeved at Plante for causing an earlier injury, he took a wrist shot at Plante’s face.

 

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