For the design-inclined, goalie masks can become works of art. All that’s needed is a dose of creativity and an incredible artist, and a stop-worthy masterpiece is born. Maybe not goal stop-worthy (although kick-ass gear helps), but it definitely warrants another look.
San Jose Sharks newcomer Adin Hill’s new mask, created by Friedesigns, a well-known and much-respected goalie mask artist is the perfect example of art on ice (and, with my college degree coming from an Art and Design school, I’m uniquely qualified to talk about his mask).
The CCM mask begins with a deep, nearly black navy base, with steadily lighter shades of teal building a gradient to the crown — almost as if you were swimming up to the surface underwater, with fractals of sunlight drifting through the currents. The top of the mask features the Sharks’ logo, and smaller, glowing-orange-eyed sharks and other menacing sea creatures populate the depths around the mask.
New shark infested waters mask for @Adin_Hill @SanJoseSharks Finished pics to come! #Friedesigns @NHL pic.twitter.com/8oRHjryPTK
— Friedesigns (@Friedesigns) August 24, 2021
If you look carefully, a shark is munching a tentacle in the background … maybe a Seattle Kraken and San Jose Shark rivalry is on the horizon?
Basically, if Shark Week met the Shark Tank, this is what the collaboration would look like (in the best way possible).
Other personal details include the ‘MM30’ lettering, which is a heartfelt remembrance for a former coach and mentor, Michael Maniago, who passed earlier in Hill’s career. Overall, the design demonstrates Hill’s personality, and his relationship with his family — Hill’s younger brother and Dad designed the mask along with Friedesigns.
Let my little brother and dad design my first sharks mask with @Friedesigns
How’d they do? pic.twitter.com/mKFxUFrpFN— Adin Hill (@Adin_Hill) August 24, 2021
If you’re thinking this stand-out mask reminds you of something, it’s probably because Friedesigns is a popular choice for NHL goal-tenders and National team members. Besides catering to Adin Hill, FrieDesigns has designed masks for Tristan Jarry (PIT), Logan Thompson (VGS) and Anne Renée Desbiens of Team Canada. His airbrush designs are top-notch. You can find his website here — show Friedesigns some love!
Adin Hill was signed to a two-year contract with the Sharks earlier this off-season as a trade piece with the Arizona Coyotes, which sent netminder Josef Korenar and a 2022 second-round pick to the ‘Yotes in exchange for Hill.
In the 2020-21 season, Hill played 19 games with the Arizona Coyotes, ending his time with the team with a .914 save percentage and 2.74 goals-against average. He’s expected to compete with fellow newcomer (returnee?) James Reimer for the starting role in San Jose.
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