A Pat Patriot in Bruins colors, several images of Patriots players, and the old Boston Garden adorn a new goalie mask Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask debuted Thursday at Gillette Stadium.
Goalies often have a special mask created for the Winter Classic, and Rask's pays homage to a number of things in Boston sports. Four Patriots players are depicted: quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski, receiver Julian Edelman, and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The mask also features a winter theme highlighted by snowflakes.
"We wanted to pay tribute to their success and some of their players and make the biggest part of the mask about the Pats, with the Bruins colors," Rask said. "So I'm pretty happy with the result, and it's been a secret for months now, and now you guys see it."
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The mask was designed by Bruins assistant equipment manager Matt Falconer and painted by Montreal artist Sylvie Marsolais, who also painted one for Canadiens backup goalie Ben Scrivens.
TUUKKA RASK winter classic mask!!!! Painted by Sylabrush! #Patriots tribute! @VaughnHockey @Progoalie mask! pic.twitter.com/YRoL3OZZIY
— Sylvie Marsolais (@Sylabrush) December 31, 2015A dream come true! Ben Scrivens, Montreal @CanadiensMTL / Had to paint it in 24 hours (semi-gloss finish). pic.twitter.com/SjrDgoKKZ1
— Sylvie Marsolais (@Sylabrush) December 31, 2015
Montreal's projected starter in the Winter Classic, Mike Condon, also had a special mask created. Condon, who is from the Boston area, also included Patriots imagery — a hooded Bill Belichick, a Patriots logo, and the phrase "Do Your Job" — on the mask designed by Dave Gunnarsson of Sweden.
Gunnarsson also designed a mask for Bruins backup Jonas Gustavsson.
The Bruins and Canadiens both held practice Thursday on the outdoor rink set up for Friday's Winter Classic.
Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter at @mattpep15.