If you want to better know the man behind the mask, read this book. You'll be left with a better appreciation why Jacques Plante is arguably the greatest goal keeper ever.

Jacques Plante "The Man Who Changed The Face Of Hockey", by Todd Denault, proves to be one of the finest hockey biographies ever written. The cover photo of the book immediately grabs your attention, as a blood stained Plante prepares to change hockey history, by donning the mask for the first time, after he was on the receiving end of an Andy Bathgate slapshot to the face. This book traces his poor beginnings in Shawinigan Falls, and his rise to hockey stardom with the Montreal Canadiens, and his ups and downs with the New York Rangers, ST. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and his end of career stint with the WHA. More importantly, Jacques Plante is portrayed as the true innovator of modern day goaling in the NHL. He perfected the mask from antiquated beginnings, and improved designs for 15 years, culminating in his classic Fibrosport design[Bernie Parent etc], which at the time provided more protection then ever before. By all accounts, he was the first goalie to communicate with his defensemen with hand signals which goalies use today, to indicate icing. He was the first goalie in history to leave the crease and play the puck, which was unheard of back in the 50's. Goalies like Ed Giacomin, Ron Hextall, and of course Marty Brodeur took it to another level, but the foundation of such daring play was started by the great Jacques Plante, who's influence on the game remains intact even today. He was a complex man, who like many goalies of his day like Terry Sawchuk, was a loner who owned a brilliant hockey mind both on and off the ice. Jacques Plante died young at 57 years of age in 1986, but he leaves behind a Hall Of Fame Career, and innovations that changed the game of ice Hockey forever.