Jacob Markstrom unveils insane “cowboy” goalie mask for the 2022-2023 season.

It seems like each and every year the talented artists that spend hundreds of hours making the goalie masks we see across the National Hockey League step their game up and take the craft to a new level, and on Saturday we were treated to what may be the latest evolution in that process when Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom unveiled his mask for the 2022 - 2023 NHL season.

This particular mask was created by Jordon Bourgeault of Jbo Airbrush and he goes into great detail about the work and details he put into the mask during the unveiling process. The centerpiece of the mask is of course the cowboy himself whose empty-eyed skull features prominently on the top of the mask itself. We can also see a red cowboy hat resting on top of the skull, but that is just the beginning of the incredible work in this design.

Featured on the mask is also a leather belt with "Markstrom" emblazoned across it, one that looks so real you might wonder to yourself if it feels like the genuine item. Holding the belt in place is a belt buckle that features Markstrom's number and also pays homage to the Calgary Stampede, a festival and rodeo that is held every year in July in the city of Calgary, one that has a very rich history dating all the way back to its inception in 1886. Perhaps my favorite part of this new design though is what Bourgeault describes as his custom designed Calgary Flames bandana, one that while torn is featured prominently on every part of the mask.

The whole thing is held together by barbed wire which is wrapped around the mask, and it all comes together to create what I can only describe as a true work of art. Words won't do this any justice though, so you'll just have to see it with your own eyes.