The Vancouver Canucks have released a great video detailing the controversy and process behind goalie Braden Holtby‘s mask for the season.
Holtby’s initial effort, a project by Swedish mask whiz David Gunnarsson, used impressions of Coast Salish art. After criticism, Holtby and Gunnarsson teamed up with indigenous artist Luke Marston to make the new mask, which is stunning.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
Braden Holtby hasn’t played a game for the Vancouver Canucks yet, but he’s already gone viral for two off-the-ice stories. First, in November, Holtby was trapped behind the US/Canadian border because he didn’t have the proper paperwork for his family’s two tortoises, Honey and Maple. Friday, Holtby’s new thunderbird mask for the Canucks was released by Swedish airbrusher David Gunnarsson. The design was criticized for appropriating First Nations artwork.
Holtby addressed the controversy on Saturday with CTV News and said he will not be wearing the mask next season. Gunnarsson also deleted imagery of the new bucket off his social media pages and did not respond to requests for comment from the news outlet.
“I wanted to make sure I apologize to anyone I had offended,” Holtby said to CTV News. “It was definitely not my intent and I definitely learned a valuable lesson through this all and will make sure I’m better and moving forward, do the things that help the community the most.”
By Ian Oland 2 years ago
Dave Gunnarsson is known for his eclectic airbrush artwork on goalie helmets. His past clients include Braden Holtby, Philipp Grubauer, and Phoenix Copley.
Gunnarsson can now add Capitals goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov to his list of goaltenders whose helmets are decorated with his work.
Gunnarsson showed off Samosonov’s new mask on his Instagram last Friday.
Swedish airbrush artist Dave Gunnarsson just released the design of another new goalie mask. This time, the bucket is for Hershey Bears netminder Pheonix Copley.
Gunnarsson posted media of the new bucket on his Instagram account Tuesday.
By Cara Bahniuk 5 years ago
Swedish artist David Gunnarsson released photos of the newest mask he finished painting this morning. Lo and behold, it’s for Washington Capitals starting goaltender Braden Holtby. Gunnarsson has entitled it “Number 70 of the Capitals.” The mask is stylized to go with the Caps’ third jerseys, the same vintage sweaters that they wore during the Winter Classic in 2011.
Gunnarsson, in his very odd/excitable dialect, walked us through the story behind Holtby’s new bucket on his Facebook page.
Photo credit: Kyle Mace of Sweetest Hockey on Earth
Because I’m an optimist, let’s say there’s an NHL season this year. As soon as the new collective bargaining agreement is signed, sealed, and delivered, the Washington Capitals goaltenders will debut shiny new masks. Michal Neuvirth, who has been playing with Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga, has been wearing a new mask featuring former Capitals great/current goaltending coach, Olie Kolzig, on its side.
I spoke with Braden Holtby on Saturday about his thoughts on Neuvirth’s new bucket. After I showed him the mask on my iPad, Holtby chuckled and flashed a big smile in approval. “Olie’s done a ton for the organization,” Holtby said, “so that’s pretty cool.”
Not to be outdone, Holtby has been wearing his own new mask playing with Bears. Unlike last season, where his helmet featured a split Bears/Capitals theme (and oh yeah don’t forget that awesome bear on a rollercoaster), Holtby’s new headgear is ALL CAPS (get it?).
Photo credit: DaveArt.com
On Tuesday, Michal Neuvirth completed a deal to play for his former team HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga during the NHL lockout. Well, now he has some new goalie gear to work in too.
One day after Michal Neuvirth spectacularly shut out the Winnipeg Jets, the biggest news of the day is still goaltending.
First, during today’s practice, Alex Ovechkin and Michal Neuvirth switched gear with each other. ‘Cause why not. The Great 8– sporting a goalie glove, blocker, and mask— skated to the crease and took several long-range shots from his teammates.
The other big goalie news of the day is that Swedish airbrush artist David Gunnarsson released photos of his latest project: Tomas Vokoun‘s new presidents-themed mask.
A few weeks ago, word leaked out on Twitter that Braden Holtby was sporting a new goalie mask during practice up in Hershey. We sent photographer Kyle Mace — of our sister blog Sweetest Hockey on Earth — to the Bears’ next home game and had him capture every angle imaginable of Braden’s new roller-coaster themed mask.
Well now, David Gunnarsson — the Swedish artist who custom-painted Holtby’s new headgear — explains the backstory to the project.
Photo credit: DaveArt
On Saturday, Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth took to the ice for practice wearing a new mask designed by Swedish airbrush artist David Gunnarsson, who also paints Semyon Varlamov’s masks. Neuvy is not sure if he is going to wear this mask for the rest of the season or not, but I’ll let Gunnarsson take it away.
By Chris Gordon 12 years ago
