You can tell a lot about the goalie by the mask he wears.

A relatively quiet group on the whole, Denver’s three goaltenders let their masks speak volumes about them, particularly if you’re willing to take a 360-view.

Sophomore Devin Cooley obviously values his family, his pet and music. Filip Larsson favors simplicity and displays an understated sense of humor. Fellow freshman Michael Corson won’t forget his roots and obstacles he’s faced down like an opponent on a breakaway.

Devin Cooley’s mask speaks to his love of family, music and a certain fine, feathered friend. Photo montage by Chris Bayee

 

Devin Cooley

The sophomore has as wide a range of outside interests as any college hockey player you’re likely to encounter, and his mask does those justice.

As is the case for many goalies, the back plate is the most personal.

“The main part is my treehouse from back home that my dad hand built,” Cooley says. “It’s got two stories, carpet, a stereo system. It’s pretty cool. It’s a symbol for back home, it reminds me of California.”

Cooley spends whatever free time he has creating and playing music, and he has legit DJ skills.

“Then I have a couple of symbols for my favorite music producers because I’m really into music,” he adds. “Porter Robinson’s world album symbol and Odesza’s symbol – they’re my favorite electronic music producers.

“Then there is my parakeet, Petrie. He’s my pet here. Then I had the Denver skyline added to the bottom.”

The right side of the mask also features a creative nod to home and his home away from home.

“On the right side, I have my mom’s piano to symbolize my mom’s house,” Cooley says. “I get a lot of my music creativity from her. It’s a tribute to her.

“The piano has letters for my girlfriend and mine’s favorite song – Morphine by The Ninjas. It’s an emotional song but it’s our theme song.”

The mountains and DU also figure prominently, and therein lies another unique twist on this gem of a mask by Gilders Design from London, Ontario. Cooley said his back plate was largely the same as last season’s mask, so there was minimal back and forth between him and the artist.

“We went back and forth twice mainly because I wanted to keep the back plate the same, and that’s the most personalized part,” he says. “I wanted the piano on the right side and he came up with the idea to put it in the DU logo.”

His nickname adorns the jawline of the mask. “Cools” indeed.

 

Filip Larsson

This is only the second customized mask the freshman has ever had but he knew exactly what he wanted his fist college mask to look like.

“I wanted it to be clean with light colors. You see a lot of white,” Larsson says. “I wanted some details with the mountains in the back.

“I wanted ‘Dumb and Dumber’ when they ride into Aspen (on it) because that’s the only movie connection I had to Colorado before I came here. I really like that movie I chose to have them on the side.

“(It’s) Harry and Lloyd arriving to find that woman for Lloyd. It’s one of my favorite movies, I’ve watched it more than 10 times. I just love that scene when they ride into Aspen. I found that funny to have that on my mask.”

The mountains also are prominent on Larsson’s mask, as is DU – in both word and symbol.

“On the back I have the school (logo) and the Swedish flag. I’m a proud Swede,” Larsson reminds. “There’s not a lot else, just my number on the front. I wanted DU up here (on top) because I had TC there last year. It looks clean.”

Simple and clean. It’s a good match for Larsson and his personality.

Michael Corson

Not that the freshman needs it, but the back plate of his mask is packed with motivation.

“Gold over silver is the motto I picked up last year,” Corson says. “I used to have it on my glove. It means never stop competing.”

Corson also wanted a reminder of all he and his family went through last season.

“It has my grandfather’s initials, who passed away, and my ex-girlfriend’s father, who also passed away. Both were very traumatic and both happened last season.”

For good measure, he recalls another point from last season.

“Blind River was a lower-level junior team I was on last season, and it was kind of another low point,” he says. “I was frustrated. I grinded my way out of there and was able to get here last summer.

“Then there is the Chicago flag. I had to throw that in there. The rest is pretty basic.”

Corson said this is his first custom mask, and he knew immediately what the theme would be.

“A lot of motivation. Where I came from. I was able to work hard and get here.”

©First Line Editorial 2017-19