We’ve seen goalies pay homage to their hockey path on their helmets including locally with Jets two-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck, something we spoke to him about almost 10 years ago when we went behind the mask with him.
Recently, our Illegal Curve photog Colby Spence was shooting the Moose and Wolves game for us and as he usually does he captures details at ice level that we just cannot appreciate when we are up in the pressbox or even watching practice. This was the case when I was perusing his photos and I noticed that Jets goalie prospect Domenic DiVincentiis had a number of team logos on his goalie pads. It was unusual as I couldn’t recall having seen a netminder do that before.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Following practice on Monday we caught up with the first year pro and discussed with him his unique pads. He had this to say about it:
“A little appreciation for all the teams that I’ve played for. Those teams never go unforgotten, so no matter what level you’re at, those are always the teams that have gotten you here. The hockey world’s a small world so just to give back and show the appreciation for those organizations is kinda the little touch up I wanted to do on my pads. I have it starting from day 1 with my first ever team ’till my North Bay season, last season. Just a little idea I wanted to put on the side of my pads to show appreciation for all those organizations.”
Those teams are:
Duffield Devils (2010-2013)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (2013-2019)
Vaughan Kings (2019-20)
North Bay Battalion (2020-2024)
Of course as we detailed with Hellebuyck, the mask for DiVincentiis also gets some personal touches to remind the Ontario product of his start in hockey.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
“My first (pro) mask was basically a replica of my first ever hockey mask that I got custom made. That was my dad’s idea. I thought it would be cool to have my first ever mask as my first ever pro mask so that’s kinda what I did. I pretty much just changed the colours, added a couple of things Moose related and kinda stuck with it. Pretty simple. I think that was kinda something I always wanted. My first helmet to be my first pro helmet as well. So I think that was a cool little idea and, yeah my dad helped me with that so thanks to him.”
While his first pro season is drawing to an end with the road trip to Texas which gets underway tomorrow it has been an important first year for the young netminder who was appreciative to the organization and the city.
“The way that they’ve handled everything here this year has been unbelievable. Looking to be here hopefully a long time. I love the city.”
He started the season in the ECHL with the affiliate in Norfolk where he played 20 games. He ended it as a primary starter in the AHL playing 26 times for Manitoba.
