Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith’s mask featured in ’10 Masks in 10 Days’ feature
Nov 8, 2013, 9:24 PM
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (9-3-2 with a 2.88 GAA) has been a star attraction so far in 2013-14, as the team is off to its second-best start (11-4-2) in franchise history.
In turns out, his mask is quite the attraction too.
Artist David Arrigo began a series on his “Art of Sport” blog back in October, featuring some of his most creative AHL/NHL mask designs.
Smith made the list, thanks in large part to the sentimental depiction of his sons on the right side of the mask.
Here’s Arrigo’s breakdown of the mask:
It features his sons Ajax and Aksel who are using the Wile E. Coyote’s ears to navigate. Wile E has been a fixture on Smitty’s mask since he arrived in Phoenix, however with this installment he did everything but paint the mask. I took Smitty’s ideas and applied a design where the entire mask is used as a canvas for a seamless image.
Continuing with the family theme I had the Smith boys paint the backplate of the mask.