Sports

Arizona Coyotes goalie just raised the bar for rock 'n' roll-themed goalie masks

by Mark Teo

For the Arizona Coyotes, there haven’t been many positives during the 2014-2015 season. They are, along with the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, and God’s team the Toronto Maple Leafs, among the worst teams in the NHL, and this summer, they’ll be rewarded for their futility, with the chance to draft future stars Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid. But until one of the junior phenoms lands in Phoenix, things are pretty bleak for the Desert Dogs: At the trade deadline, they traded star defenceman Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers. They dealt no. 1 centre Antoine Vermette to Chicago. They even sent dependable shot-blocking d-man Zbynek Michalek to the St. Louis Blues, effectively stripping their rosters of any veterans.

Well, except for Kingston, ON-born goalie Mike Smith, one of the lone veterans in Arizona.

Smith—who, in the midst of his own terrible season, was usurped by backup Devan Dubnyk before the latter was shipped to Minnesota—isn’t letting the Coyotes’ tank ruin his fun. In fact, recently, he unveiled one of the better music-themed masks in the league, with a downright frightening image of Alice Cooper adorning the keeper’s cage. It, reports Blabbermouth, was designed by David Arrigo, and the mask was debuted in a game last week against the Vancouver Canucks.

Even better: Cooper is an Arizona resident, and is a long-time Arizona Coyotes fan. “Probably the coolest thing about the helmet is the backplate. It’s a tribute to Alice Cooper. He’s been a lifer as a Coyote fan and a big supporter of the team,” Smith, who shouldn’t be confused by the Trailer Park Boys actor of the same name, said.

“[Arrigo has] been wanting to paint Alice Cooper on my helmet for quite a few years now and finally I let him have at it. Obviously it’s an amazing tribute to Alice and the support he gives our team, and a throwback to him.”

It’s pretty excellent, if we say so ourselves. But if there’s one thing that Cooper will enjoy more than Smith’s custom mask, it’ll be Connor McDavid playing in the desert. Make it so, hockey gods. Check the gallery above for shots of Smith’s helmet—and photos of Cooper in a ‘Yotes jersey.