During my regular shinny game two Fridays ago, I took a slapshot straight to the head. A shot harder than usual...most I just shrug off. It was from an amazingly sharp angle -- in the corner, about five feet out from the goal line. I didn't go down from the impact, but was a bit disoriented for ten seconds or so.

In the locker room afterwards, I noticed that my mask looked weird. Upon further inspection, there was a nice dent in it, and two of the welds came undone.

As a result, I only played one more game in it (partially because in the next game, I hurt my knee pretty bad). I'm now searching for a goalie mask to replace my current helmet/mask combo.

Itech masks are readily available in most stores; they start around $180 for an Itech 1200, and the Itech 1400s (which are basically 1200s with art on them) are in the neighborhood of $280. On eBay, you can find an Itech 1400 for as low as $140 new.

After research, however, I've found that the 1000/1200/1400 line of Itech masks have acquired the nickname of "Widowmaker". They are made of plastic, instead of the fibreglass and kevlar construction of the more expensive masks. As a result, there are many stories of the masks cracking and/or breaking after shots. There are also stories of more frequent concussions, and concussions from otherwise innocent shots.

As an low-cost alternative, several messageboards have brought up the low-end Eddy masks, or the NXi Phantom. Both have a much stronger, more reliable construction. Currently, the Phantom is my mask of choice.

$250 USD if you contact the seller directly. They'll also toss in a second cage for $35...I think I'll go for the standard HECC/CSA grill-type cage, with a HECC/CSA cat-eye cage on the side. Next paycheque, that is. I have stuff like my dad's 65th birthday and camping expenses that may have made a dent in my savings.

Once again, http://www.nxidefensesystems.com