Behind the Mask

A dozen incredible stories about hockey's legendary goalies, on and off the ice—including Carey Price, Marc-Andre Fleury, Roberto Luongo, and Henrik Lundqvist.

"Hockey goaltenders have forever been thought of as unique, eccentric, weird and wacky. Also misunderstood. Randi Druzin's Behind the Mask is a fascinating examination of a dozen of those who have played the position at the highest levels. This well-researched and well-written book is revealing and delightful at the same time." – Roy MacGregor

While his teammates rush up the ice in a coordinated attack, the goalie is alone in his net. And when the play turns back toward him, he's prepared to step in front of a frozen rubber disc travelling 100 miles an hour. He's the last line of defence in a pitched battle. The goalie stands apart, on and off the ice. Like the relief pitcher in baseball and the place kicker in football, he is a maverick.

Behind the Mask profiles 12 legendary NHL goalies, emphasising the traits that make each one unique. It blends accounts of the goalies' on-ice exploits with anecdotes about their lives off the ice, information gleaned from archival research as well as interviews with teammates, family members and the goalies themselves.

The careers here cover the last half-century of professional hockey from the personal struggles of Roger Crozier and Ed Giacomin on their way to stardom in the 1960s, to the recent brilliance of Carey Price, whose character blends stoicism with a deep warmth and pride in his Indigenous background.

Told with author Randi Druzin's trademark mix of knowledge and wit, Behind the Mask has all the insight and colour to make it a bestseller, like her previous book on NHL goalies, Between the Pipes.

Hockey goalies profiled include:

• Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings / Buffalo Sabres
• Rogie Vachon, Los Angeles Kings
• Gerry Cheevers, Boston Bruins
• Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers
• Tony Esposito, Chicago Black Hawks
• Vladislav Tretiak, Soviet Red Army
• Mike Palmateer, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers
• Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
• Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins / Vegas Golden Knights
• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
• Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens