Jacques Plante

Jacques Plante is my hero because he invented the goaltending mask. He was born on January 17, 1929 in Mauricie, Quebec and died on February 27, 1986 in Geneva, Switzerland at the age 57.. After he was born they moved to Shawinigan where he started his hockey career when he was 15.

This is Jacques his first year playing hockey (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=jacques+plante&hl=en (unknown))

His hockey career started in 1947. In 1952 he was drafted into the NHL with the Montreal Canadians and then traded in 1963. In that period of time Jacques Plante won 6 Stanley cups. In that time he made the goalie mask but only could use it for practices. Then on November 1, 1959, 3 minutes into the game, he took a slap shot to the face. They took him to get stitches. It took over 200 stitches and he almost died. After he got out, he told the coach that he would only play if he was wearing the mask he made. The coach made it ok for that game. After the game, Jacques told his coach that he would now only play with the mask. The coach got the rules changed so he could wear the mask during games. They were on an 18 game winning streak when the head coach told him to not wear the helmet for the next game. They lost 4-3. He wore the mask all the time after that.

Jacques in his first hockey year (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=jacques+plante&hl=en (unknown))

Over his hockey career he played in the NHL [National Hockey League] for Montreal Canadians, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple leafs, Boston Bruins, and the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA [World Hockey Association]. He was the coach for the Oilers in the WHA. He also was a goalie trainer for them. After he did all of that he ended up playing for them for a season. Then went back to the NHL for a few more years. After he did that he decided that he was going to retire. He went to be a goalie coach. In 1978 he was introduced into the H. He won 6 Vesna trophies to go with the 6 Stanley cups he won. He was the first goalie to win the Vesna trophy.

In Switzerland there is a trophy called Jacques Plante Trophy which is given to goalies. In Shawinigan there is an arena called the Arena Jacques Plante. His jersey the best goalie. In The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League there is a trophy called the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy which is given to the best QMJHL goalie. In Shawinigan there is an arena called the Arena Jacques Plante. His jersey was retired in the Montreal Arena on October 7, 1995. when he was 15 in Shawinigan. From there he went to play He started to play hockey in the bigger leagues until he got to the NHL. After he was born they moved to Shawinigan where he started his hockey career when he was 15. That's the reason there is the arena there named after him. He was the coach for the Oilers in the WHA. He also was a goalie trainer for them. After he did all of that he ended up playing for them for a season. Then went back to the NHL for a few more years. After he did that he decided that he was going to retire. He went to be a goalie coach. After a few years doing that he was diagnosed with cancer.

The original mask (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=jacques+plantes+orig (unknown))

Jacques Plante has made a difference to me because of the making of the goalie mask. His mask made it so that not as many people would get hurt or die. He has changed because once I got a concussion being a goalie. If it wasn't for the helmet I would have died. Jacques Plante is my hero because of the goalie mask.