Do you enjoy hockey? For a sport that doesn’t receive a lot of publicity, the arena will always be full of fans from both teams, cheering on their players. The athleticism of hockey players is amazing. For someone who doesn’t ice skate, I’m captivated with the speed, aggressiveness, and the ability to watch that little black puck as it travels 80-90 mph.1 The ability of the players to react to something so small, fast, and low is incredible! And goalies can have the puck traveling at them at over 100 mph!
Allow me to introduce you to Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens. This goalie did something on this day in 1959 that was a first. We could call Plante a trend setter. He became the first goalie to wear a face mask.
That alone seems unbelievable! The International Ice Hockey Federation says that the first game of hockey was played on March 3, 1875, however there is evidence that earlier forms of this game were played as early as the 1500s.2 Wouldn’t you have thought that someone might have worn a face mask sooner?
What prompted Plante to don a face mask? “Plante, in his seventh season in the NHL, had the mask made after he suffered fractured cheekbones in games. A Montreal hospital made a skin-tight plaster mold of his face, then turned it over to experts to construct the mask. Before he used the mask in a regular-season game, Plante tried it in practices and exhibitions.”3
“The last goaltender to not wear [a face mask] was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Andy Brown in 1974.”4 Since then, goalies are geared up to protect themselves. This past summer, we took our South Carolina grandkids to the Imagination Station in Toledo where they got to see a hockey exhibit that included cages where you could practice hitting a puck, view hockey memorabilia, play other hockey related games, and see a display showing how the goalie gear has changed through the years. To say that the first hockey goalies played with limited protection is an understatement!
Just like those hockey players, the Christian needs to gear up for safety. Ephesians 6:10-18 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of 
God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
As you read through this armor, God tries to protect us as we walk in this world. A failure to put on the WHOLE armor of God is as foolish as being a goalie without a face mask. Probably a whole lot worse!
Gear up, child of God! There’s a fierce battle being waged and we are in the middle of it. Protect yourself with the armor of God. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 reminds us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;).”
1https://icehockeycentral.com/how-fast-does-hockey-puck-travel-discover-the-speed-of-the-game/#What_is_hockey_puck_speed
2https://www.history.com/articles/who-invented-hockey-origins-canada
3https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-1/nhl-innovations-facemask-goaltender-jacques-plante
4Ibid.
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