Jim Murphy was a mask maker from Sault Ste. Marie and he taught me the fundamentals of mask making. He helped me with one of my own masks, one that I wore in my last year of minor hockey and in Jr. Hockey as well. Jim taught me the importance of taking my time during each stage of the process in order to ensure the final product is as perfect as possible.

      Jim made masks during the mid 60’s to the late 70’s and gave goalies from Sault Ste. Marie a distinctive look. Jim made masks for Greyhound goalies and for the old Senior Sault Canadians Senior Goalies. I remember, as a youngster watching these goalies in wonderment. I vividly remember trying to conjure up enough nerve to ask Bob Besner (one of the Greyhounds first goalies) if I could see his mask. I stood there staring at it for about 10 minutes during one of the first training camps in the early 70’s. He was probably feeling a bit unnerved by this little kid standing about four feet from him, too shy to utter a word. He finally glanced over at me and smiled and I asked him if I could see his mask and he said “sure” and tossed it to me. He was so nonchalant about it that I was shocked; to me it was like a knight tossing the Holy Grail towards me. In Sault Ste. Marie, in the early 70’s, holding Bob Besner’s mask I was indeed holding in my hands a Holy Relic. And if I were to have that mask in my hands today I would feel the same sense of awe.

      It’s funny how such seemingly insignificant events can have such a huge impact on one’s life. I’m sure Bob Besner does not remember this event or realize that by letting me hold his mask he triggered a life long obsession with goalie masks.

     Jim Murphy recognized this enthusiasm and nurtured it, Jim was always patient with questions and thoroughly explained each step to mask making including the chemistry in adding the catalyst to the resin, the reason temperature is important etc.

 Jim Passed away in 1990 and it is to him that I dedicate this site.

* Legal Disclaimer *

All masks made by the featured maskmakers are designed to protect the head and face from superficial injuries, they are not designed to protect from neck or spinal injuries. Ice hockey and other contact sports can be dangerous. No protective equipment will eliminate all injuries, If you wear a mask made by the featured maskmakers when you play hockey it is implied that you accept the risk of injury.

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