Google Doodle honours legendary goaltender Jacques Plante

Quebec-native Jacques Plante was called up by the Montreal Canadiens on this day in 1954. And for that reason, he’s being honoured by Google with an illustration on the home page as well as an in-depth feature in the Google Arts & Culture section titled “How Jacques Plante Revolutionized The Future Of Ice Hockey.”

Here’s a look at Google’s Plante-focused home page:

In November 1959, Plante took a puck to the face against the New York Rangers and broke his nose. After being stitched up, he returned to the ice wearing a fibreglass mask that he wore in practice.

Ignoring reluctant coach Toe Blake’s objections, Plante continued wearing his mask for the rest of his NHL career, becoming the first goalie to regularly wear a mask during games — a trend that soon after caught on in hockey across the world.

Plante won a record five consecutive Stanley Cups with the Habs (and six in total), seven Vezina trophies and a Hart Trophy in his storied career. He was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.

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