Red Wings Odd and Unusual: Detroit’s First Masked Man

The post Red Wings Odd and Unusual: Detroit’s First Masked Man appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

If you were to ask who was the first Detroit Red Wings goalie to wear a mask in an NHL regular-season game, the correct answer would be Terry Sawchuk. The future Hall of Famer and franchise leader in wins (352) and shutouts (85) first donned facial protection in a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 11, 1962.

However, if you were to pose the question, ‘Who was the first Red Wings player to wear a goalie mask in an NHL regular-season game?’ we’ve got news for you.

It wasn’t Sawchuk.

It was Claude LaForge.

Funny thing about that is LaForge played left wing.

On December 27, 1961, the struggling Red Wings shipped forward Allan Johnson to the AHL Hershey Bears, summoning LaForge from the same club.

Earlier in the month, while playing for the Bears, LaForge was struck in the face by a puck, suffering a fractured cheekbone. He kept on playing, wearing a goalie mask to protect his fractured face.

He was still wearing it when he suited up for the Red Wings to face the Chicago Blackhawks on December 28, 1961.

It wasn’t long before the gathered masses were taking notice of this anomaly. Remember, at the time, only two NHL goalies were wearing masks – Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens and Don Simmons, who rarely saw duty as Johnny Bower’s understudy with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

King Clancy, assistant GM of the Leafs, who was scouting the game, was the first to take notice of LaForge’s unusual equipment.

“Who’s the masked marvel?” Clancy asked, according to the Windsor Star.

Red Wings Masked Man Scored Game-Tying Goal

LaForge wasn’t unfamiliar to Red Wings fans. He played 123 games for the team between 1958-65, scoring 15 goals. LaForge even appeared on some Topps hockey cards in a Detroit uniform.

His unique wardrobe led to the unusual circumstance of the masked LaForge on a breakaway against Chicago goalie Glenn Hall, who wasn’t wearing a mask. Hall foiled LaForge in that instance, but the masked man would get the last laugh.

LaForge’s goal at 13:03 of the second period was the final tally of the night as the Red Wings and Blackhawks skated to a 2-2 tie.

So, Chris Osgood’s 1996 goalie goal didn’t make him the first masked man to score a goal in a Red Wings uniform.

That was Claude LaForge.

The post Red Wings Odd and Unusual: Detroit’s First Masked Man appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.