White is.....Dynamite

Boyko's new, white mask

It's the reason many are attracted to the goaltending position in the first place. It's all about 'the gear'. Sure, the colour coordinated pads and gloves are cool. Being a difference maker is also intriguing, but it's the ability to express yourself with a painted or decaled mask that draws many to the pressure packed position.   

At the NHL level, most goalies keep the same design for the duration of a career. Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens is the odd exception, changing his look on a regular basis. Over the years, junior goalies have taken great pride in fashioning a unique design. Outside of training, it is a focal point in the summer to get together with a mask manufacturer in an effort to drum up a eye popping look. 

When Talyn Boyko was traded to the Kelowna Rockets from the Tri City Americans last month, the 19 year-old heard rumblings that goalies who wear the colours with the angry Ogopogo lake monster on the front, don't express themselves in that way. Nope. No design on the mask. No colours. No funky graphics. Let's call it an unwritten rule. Majority owner and GM Bruce Hamilton wants it that way. With his team, the belief is no one stands out from the rest. An old school philosophy perhaps, but Hamilton writes the checks at the end of the day, so it's his call. You have to respect that. Hamilton's winning track record only cements his position. 

When first traded to Kelowna, Boyko wore his flashy, decal laden mask with a massive white star on the forehead with the words 'Tri-City' on the left side and 'Americans' on the right side. On Friday night though, it was off with the old and in with the new when he exchanged his bold mask for something others would consider bland by comparison. The new head gear is about as plain as it gets. It's white. No colours. No decals outside of the manufacturer - Bauer - in black lettering on the side and on the forehead. 

How has the 'no flash face wear' impacted the New York Rangers prospects play? It's actually improved it. 

Since he put on the white mask in a game against the Spokane Chiefs, Boyko has stopped 71 of 73 shots in back-to-back wins. With that effort while stopping 24 of 26 shots in a 2-1 loss this past Wednesday on the road, it makes you wonder if the newest member of the Rockets has a shot at being named the WHL Goalie of the Week?

That's a .956 save percentage in three straight appearances. 

It's a clear indicator that white is indeed all right, or in Boyko's case - dynamite!