Jacques Plante

Canadian ice hockey goaltender who revolutionized the position by popularizing the goalie mask and pioneered modern goaltending techniques in the NHL.

Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was born in Mont-Carmel, Quebec in 1929. He is primarily remembered for two achievements: his extraordinary goalkeeping excellence and his pioneering decision to wear a goalie mask in game situations. He won six Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) — part of his five consecutive Cup dynasty. He won the Vezina Trophy as best goaltender seven times (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1969) and the Hart Trophy as MVP in 1962. His career goals-against average of 2.38 reflected elite goaltending across multiple eras. On November 1, 1959, having been struck in the face by a shot, he emerged from the dressing room wearing a fibreglass mask and refused to play without it — his act of defiance permanently changed hockey. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978 and named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. Every goaltender who has ever worn a mask owes his safety to his insistence.

Plante was known for his aggressive, wandering style that saw him frequently leave his crease to play the puck and assist his defensemen. He possessed exceptional puck-handling skills that were revolutionary for goaltenders of his era. His technical innovations included perfecting the stand-up style and developing new angles and positioning techniques.

Plante's introduction and popularization of the goaltender face mask transformed hockey safety forever, making the position far less dangerous. His puck-handling innovations established the template for the modern goaltender as an active participant in team play rather than just a last line of defense.

• Stanley Cup 6x
• Vezina Trophy 7x
• Hart Trophy
• Hall of Fame (1978)
• NHL 100 Greatest Players