The Evolution Of Goalie Pads

[James Laverance]

The first goalie pads were originally cricket pads worn in 1890
at UConn Connecticut (Then storrs agricultural school)
http://hockeygods.com/blog/historybuffarticles/ICE___ROLLER_POLO_PLAYERS_Invented_Hockey_Nets

The leather style of padding was used at the University of Maryland in 1896!

https://archive.org/details/icehockeyicepolo00tuth page 8)



The first concept of modern hockey pads was in 1903 at Duluth Central High School.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/...age Hockey Photos/1904DuluthCentralHSTeam.jpg

An even more modern-style invention of Goalie Pads were worn by
Ottawa Senators all-star netminder Alec Connell.(date of photo circa.1925)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG Blog/AlexConnellSenators.jpg

Also...

Feel free please to Add to this.
Thanks

 

[Doctor No]

Reggie Lemelin was the first (I believe) to wear synthetic pads (not leather-based), when he switched to prototype Aeroflex pads (designed by Jim Lawson) for the 1986-87 season.

 

[James Laverance]

Reggie Lemelin was the first (I believe) to wear synthetic pads (not leather-based), when he switched to prototype Aeroflex pads (designed by Jim Lawson) for the 1986-87 season.

Very cool!
Thanks I'll look in to that.

 

[FerrisRox]

Reggie Lemelin was the first (I believe) to wear synthetic pads (not leather-based), when he switched to prototype Aeroflex pads (designed by Jim Lawson) for the 1986-87 season.

They were originally known as Win-Lite by Lowson I believe then later they were rebranded as Aeroflex.

 

[Sanf]

Slightly OT. Some goaltenders did use very heavy overall paddings even in early days of big leagues. Gordon Lewis who was Stanley cup winner with Montreal Victorias was Giguere of his time. There were some others too who were critized about this.

The Montreal Gazette Jan 25, 1897
While Lewis, who was arrayed with armor that much increased his bulk, made some phenomenal stops between the poles.

The Montreal Gazette Feb 1, 1897
Lewis, their goaler, was padded to such an extent as to make him appear almost a monstorisity, and rendered scoring next to impossible.

 

[Sanf]

An even more modern-style invention of Goalie Pads were worn by
Ottawa Senators all-star netminder Clint Benedict.(date of photo circa.1920)
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Lege...mber.jsp?mem=p196502&page=gallery&pic=5&list=

That actually seems to be Alec Connell. They have mistake in their page.

 

[sr edler]

The Montreal Gazette Feb 1, 1897
Lewis, their goaler, was padded to such an extent as to make him appear almost a monstorisity, and rendered scoring next to impossible.

^ Hah, that's brilliant.

I read a match report from an AAHL game saying Sars Kennedy [a smallish 5'5" 115 lbs forward acting as a substitute-goalkeeper] was "padded to twice his natural size". But one has to read those reports with a bit of feeling for the literal tone, because padding him twice his size would be practically impossible, one has to think.

An AAHL goaler could look something like this.

 

[Killion]

^^^ Wow! Quite the photograph. Havent seen that one before.

 

[sr edler]

^ It's Arthur Williams of the New York Athletic Club, circa 1904–1906.

 

[James Laverance]

Slightly OT. Some goaltenders did use very heavy overall paddings even in early days of big leagues. Gordon Lewis who was Stanley cup winner with Montreal Victorias was Giguere of his time. There were some others too who were critized about this.

The Montreal Gazette Jan 25, 1897
While Lewis, who was arrayed with armor that much increased his bulk, made some phenomenal stops between the poles.

The Montreal Gazette Feb 1, 1897
Lewis, their goaler, was padded to such an extent as to make him appear almost a monstorisity, and rendered scoring next to impossible.

Awesome find Sanf!

I was browsing through some of his photo's and he wasn't wearing anything so...
Probably a cricket-style of padding.

Thick cricket pads(non-leather though)were very common in those days.
BTW thanks for correction.

 

[Killion]

^ It's Arthur Williams of the New York Athletic Club, circa 1904–1906.

Gotta love that logo & jersey. That Ive seen before... and as pucks werent raised nearly as much as what evolved, looking at his skates and lack of protection/padding, youve just gotta figure some major punishment from not only the puck but so too slashing & hacking sticks, unable to fall to his
knees, smother the puck, stop the abuse.

 

[Doctor No]

Came across a fun article from April 1988 where Jeff Russell talks about the success of the Win-Lite pads:

 

[BraveCanadian]

Came across a fun article from April 1988 where Jeff Russell talks about the success of the Win-Lite pads:

Really interesting to see the weight difference quantified there. 4 3/4 vs. 8-14lbs when wet is a pretty significant difference!

I don't think it can be emphasized enough how much the changes in equipment over time have enabled the changes in playing style. That goes for skaters as well.

 

[mrhockey193195]

Reggie Lemelin was the first (I believe) to wear synthetic pads (not leather-based), when he switched to prototype Aeroflex pads (designed by Jim Lawson) for the 1986-87 season.

As a kid I learned that because of this book. Eight year old me thought Lemelin was a HOF goalie because he was one of the goalies included!

 

[Johnny Engine]

As a kid I learned that because of this book. Eight year old me thought Lemelin was a HOF goalie because he was one of the goalies included!

I had that one too.
I also thought Manon Rheaume was Tampa Bay's starting goaltender (until I got a Daren Puppa card from the back of a Kraft dinner box), and the book even had a bit about Rick Knickle of all people because of his persistence in the minor leagues before his very late debut. I think the closest thing to that in a book published today is if Troy Grosenick got some face time.