Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek has adorable snowman pads for outdoor game (PHOTO)
We’ve seen plenty of creative masks for the NHL’s outdoor games, from Ilya Bryzgalov’s tribute to Philadelphia to Jonathan Bernier’s ode to pond hockey to the Carey Price mask that still gives us waking nightmares.
What we haven’t seen from goalies is themed creativity in their other equipment. Thankfully, Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek is attempting to reverse that trend this season with the most adorable pads we’ve ever seen:
Dawwwwwwww…
These pads were tweeted out by former NHLer Brent Johnson and Kathryn Jean (@msconduct). No word on the designer, but one imagines it’s Ms. Migillicutty’s first-grade class in Ann Arbor.
(And six snowflakes on each pad for THE ORIGINAL SIX! Or just because they fit that way. One of the two.)
Barring something unforeseen, Mrazek should be in action at Comerica Park’s Winter Festival game between the Wings’ AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL team, the Toronto Marlies, on Dec. 30.
The assumption around the Red Wings is that Jimmy Howard will be healthy for the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at The Big House, as he recovers from a sprained MCL. But if he can’t go, goalie Mrazek would likely be the backup to Jonas Gustavsson.
No matter in what game he appears, Mrazek should be confident that all shooters are going high glove side. No one with an ounce of the holiday spirit could dare unleash a slap shot at Frosty, could they?
(Also, it would be the greatest thing in the history of winter if the snowman's carrot nose lit up every time the puck crossed the line...)
