Best Canucks Masks Championship: Curt Ridley vs. Gary Bromley

Back in the happier days of July - when there was still hope we may have hockey by this very week - we helped report on Cory Schneider's new mask. In turn that started a dialogue of where did this design stack up against all the other designs throught the years. So we dusted off the history book, checked out each design and tossed this your way:

It gave us all a chance to view designs perhaps we'd never seen or forgotten entirely. It also gave a chance to bring up some notables from the past, like the short lived Bob Essensa bandwagon, that time Garth Snow made ladies kiss and that Alfie Michaud did, indeed, exist. Above all else, we learned everyone is an art critic: one man's Mona Lisa is why Roberto Luongo was robbed from championship gold (again!).

Thanks to your votes, here's where we stand now:

The best design has come down to two of the three netminders from the 1980-81 campaign, a year in which Vancouver finished third overall in the Smythe division before Buffalo tossed them out in the playoffs.

Now let's get down ringside for the start of the match.

INT. ROGERS ARENA / EVENING

(hooting and hollering, there's already an beer-induced fight with Leafs fans in section 304)

(thunderous applause, a bra is tossed into the ring)

(deafening ovation, the Green Men openly weep)

(fierce stare down ensues, someone throws a salmon at Mark Donnelly. NOM NOM NOM)

(combatants return to their corners, "LUUU" chants descend from the rafters for no particular reason)

(rambunctious cheering, Jack Millos dances to the tune of Cotton Eye Joe)

(record scratch and a chilling hush envelopes the arena. After a few seconds a child's cry breaks the painful silence)