Dave Gunnarsson

Design of Darcy Kuemper’s first mask with the Washington Capitals revealed

New starting Capitals goaltender and 2022 Stanley Cup champion, Darcy Kuemper, signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Caps this offseason, leaving the Colorado Avalanche — the team he won that championship with.

Kuemper hasn’t been on the ice yet in Caps colors but he now has the equipment to play the part. Saturday, Kuemper’s longtime mask designer, David Gunnarsson, released the design of his first mask.

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By Chris Cerullo 3 months ago

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Design of Philipp Grubauer’s first Seattle Kraken mask revealed

Former Capital and 2021 Vezina Trophy finalist, Philipp Grubauer, signed a six-year, $35.4 million contract with the expansion Seattle Kraken on the first day of free agency, leaving the Colorado Avalanche — the team Washington traded him to after he won the Stanley Cup in 2018 as a backup.

In late August, Grubauer first toured Seattle’s new facilities. Now, he has the equipment to play the part. Sunday, Grubauer’s longtime mask designer, David Gunnarsson, released the design of his first mask.

“I am very happy to release the first Kraken mask for my friend Philipp Grubauer,” Gunnarsson wrote. “It is a design built on the awesome team logos, loaded with 3-D effects and vintage style. Thanks Grubi for the paint adventure!”

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Vitek Vanecek’s new Washington Capitals themed mask

Vitek Vanecek is expected to back up Ilya Samsonov next season and now he will have a mask that looks the part.

Tuesday, Swedish mask painter Dave Gunnarsson released the design of Vanecek’s new bucket. The predominant design feature is the Weagle logo which is featured on the top of mask. Other subtle details include blue stars on the chin and a subtractive Capitals logo in white on the sides.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Ilya Samsonov shows off designs of new goalie masks for 2020-21 season

Ilya Samsonov is the latest Washington Capitals goaltender to show off his new buckets for next season joining Henrik Lundqvist, Pheonix Copley, and Zach Fucale.

The second-year goalie posted a photo of himself holding up two different masks he had painted by Swedish airbrusher Dave Gunnarsson. Sammy posed next to his tiny Christmas tree at home.

“Thank you @daveart ready for battle👍💪,” Samsonov wrote on Instagram.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Pheonix Copley’s new goalie mask features oversized Weagle wings

Monday, the debut of new goalie masks continued as Pheonix Copley’s 2021 bucket was released by Swedish airbrusher David Gunnarsson.

The dominant features of Copley’s design combine white stars, oversized Weagle wings, and the Capitals’ wordmark for a bold red and blue look. The chin also features two crossed candy canes symbolizing Copley’s home of North Pole, Alaska.

“The new Caps mask creation for my friend Pheonix Copley was a joy to create,” Gunnarsson wrote. “It is crisp and clean on a distance, all built on the awesome team logos. It lives and breathes Washington Capitals with the red bottom and crisp white details, and when you come closer the 3️⃣-D FX delivers… Thanks Pheonix for the paint ride!”

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Braden Holtby’s new mask for the Vancouver Canucks

Braden Holtby is a member of the Vancouver Canucks and it’s getting really real now.

On Friday, Holtby’s longtime mask painter, David Gunnarsson, debuted the Holtbeast’s new bucket for his first season in The Couve.

According to Gunnarsson, the design of Holtby’s mask is based “on the myth of the Thunderbird, a Canadian northwest coast myth. The huge Thunderbird is flying over the mountains to the ocean to catch orcas with his huge claws. A totally perfect story to create on a Canucks mask.”

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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The Mandalorian and Grogu are featured on Chris Driedger’s new mask

This is the way (to have one of the coolest goalie masks in hockey).

Florida Panthers’ goaltender Chris Driedger recently teased his new bucket on social media which is being painted by David Gunnarsson of @DaveArt.

The lid has tributes to the hit Disney+ show The Mandalorian and features illustrations of Din Djarin and Grogu (The Child). “Love to create sketch drawings direct on the masks,” Gunnarsson wrote on Instagram.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Ilya Samsonov’s new Hershey Bears themed mask

Capitals 2015 first round pick Ilya Samsonov has hit his stride in Hershey. He’s got two shutouts and 15 wins, and has helped the Bears set a new franchise record point streak.

Earlier in the season, Samsonov debuted a Capitals-themed bucket during the NHPLA’s rookie showcase.

Dave Gunnarsson is back at it again with the airbrush, and designed a new Hershey Bears themed helmet for Samsonov.

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By Julia Karron 4 years ago

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Pheonix Copley’s new mask features an Alaska Native-style Weagle

Swedish mask artist Dave Gunnarsson has been the mask artist for several current and former Caps goalies, including Braden Holtby, Philipp Grubauer, and Ilya Samsonov.

Friday afternoon, Gunnarsson revealed the newest Capitals-themed design that he created for the team’s likely new backup, Pheonix Copley. It’s a gem.

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By Rachel Cohen 4 years ago

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