I wear a Heaton 3000 Custon goalie mask, painted just like Martin Brodeur’s. I’m glad I got the helmet—I justified it the very first time I wore it for hockey: I took a slap shot in the mask.

Sizing

When purchasing a mask, fit is the most important detail. If it’s not comfortable, you will have no fun. Make sure that the wires don’t block your view. When you try on a mask, stand in your ready stance and look at the far corner where the floor meets the wall. If a horizontal wire blocks that line, it will annoy you.

The mask must be the correct size. If it is too big, it will move around on your head and not offer the best protection. If it is too small, it will give you a headache. Check the inside of the mask. Make sure there are no corners in the foam padding that will irritate your skin. There were some in this mask, but I used a razor knife to trim them down.

I wear ear plugs when I play. This protects my hearing and puts me in a nice calm space from which I easily get into my “zone.”