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26 // JUNE/JULY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Getty Images "I think hockey is always g oing to have an element of tradition. Goalies are very nostalgic, so there's always going to be a piece of the past," said Mark Gignac, manager of the goalie category for Bauer Hockey. "There are certain things you don't want to lose, like the look and feel of the goalie. We don't try to go too far from how the gear looks, but we can change the materials and change how it behaves for the goalie." And that starts with understanding the posi- tion and what goalies are looking for to get the job done. "The size of goaltenders and their athleticism has evolved quite a lot over the past couple of years," said Mathieu Filiatrault- Giroux, who oversees CCM Hockey 's Goalie category. "In order to match that progression, equipment has to evolve at the same pace." A c c o r d i n g t o Jo h n s o n , ke e p i n g u p w i t h a constantly changing game means making pads lighter, masks safer and other equipment more dynamic. To do that successfully, major contrib- utors rely not only on extensive research but also on long-standing partnerships with goaltenders and coaches at every level. "A lot of the time, the product development isn't just one-on-one with the goalie," said Gignac of Bauer's collaborative efforts. " We're always talking to the goalie coaches because they're the ones that are also trying to stay ahead curve." " What it comes down to is getting as much information as possible," added Filiatrault- Giroux. "The new kind of twist to it has been more the research and the performance labs we now have access to in order to really conduct testing and using that testing to lead product design." People may think the game is changing right in front of them, but the real challenge lies in trying to predict the future. That's the case for many of these companies, whose goalie departments are often working on the "next big thing " three to five years in advance of when it will hit the ice. Regardless, as gear continues to evolve to suit the needs of the "modern day " netminder, one thing will always remain the same: the person behind the mask comes first, and that's something that every brand can agree on. "All manufacturers make great equipment," Johnson said. "If one company was undeniably better than all the others, then all goalies would only wear that brand. In reality, goalies need to decide what is best for them and the rest will speak for itself." P The protective gear worn by goaltenders in the 1970s was heavier and typically did not provide the same level of protection as the gear worn today. "I think hockey is always going to have an element of tradition. Goalies are very nostalgic, so there's always going to be a piece of the past. — M A R K G I G N A C FADS IN PADS