Behind the Mask - A Revealing Look at Twelve of the Greatest Goalies in Hockey History

A dozen incredible stories about hockey’s legendary goalies, on and off the ice—including Carey Price, Marc-André 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 traveling 100 miles an hour. He's the last line of defense 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, emphasizing 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 color 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-André Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins / Vegas Golden Knights
• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
• Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

List of contents

CONTENTS

Author’s Note

1 THE NERVOUS WRECK ROGER CROZIER

2 THE CASTAWAY: ROGIE VACHON 

3 THE CHARACTER: GERRY CHEEVERS

4 THE WORKING-CLASS HERO: ED GIACOMIN

5 THE KID BROTHER: TONY ESPOSITO

6 THE STRANGER: VLADISLAV TRETIAK

7 THE SHOOTING STAR: MIKE PALMATEER

8 THE SURVIVOR: GRANT FUHR

9 THE CROWD-PLEASER: ROBERTO LUONGO

10 MISTER CONGENIALITY: MARC-ANDRÉ FLEURY

11 THE CLASS ACT: HENRIK LUNDQVIST

12 THE STOIC: CAREY PRICE

Notes 
Glossary 
Acknowledgments

About the author

Randi Druzin is an author and journalist. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Time magazine, the Globe and Mail and several other major publications. She is the author of three books including Between the Pipes. She lives in Toronto.

Summary

A dozen incredible stories about hockey’s legendary goalies, on and off the ice—including Carey Price, Marc-André 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 traveling 100 miles an hour. He's the last line of defense 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, emphasizing 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 color 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-André Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins / Vegas Golden Knights
• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
• Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Foreword

• TikTok and Instagram outreach: sending the book to viral hockey fan accounts and hockey commentators on both platforms.
• Big Mouth Mailing: sending galleys to athletes featured in the book, sports media, hockey twitter accounts, and more.
• Outreach to the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Social media advertising campaign (Instagram and Facebook)
• E-newsletter campaign

Product details

• Authors: Randi Druzin, Druzin Randi
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 14.11.2024
• EAN: 9781778402333
• ISBN: 978-1-77840-233-3
• No. of pages: 272
• Illustrations: Illustrationen, nicht spezifiziert
• Subjects: Guides > Sport > Ball sport; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Sports, SPORTS & RECREATION / Sports Psychology, Biography: sport, SPORTS & RECREATION / Cultural & Social Aspects