Calling all Castlegar and area artists and hockey fans — it's time for the 11th annual Bauer and Boston Pizza Design-A-Mask contest.
Goalie masks, designed by young Canadians, will be worn by Canada’s National Junior Team goaltenders during the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2013 to Jan. 5, 2014 in Malmö, Sweden.
Past winners have seen their masks worn by the likes of NHL first-overall selection Marc-André Fleury and gold medal-winning goaltenders Jeff Glass, Justin Pogge, Steve Mason and Dustin Tokarski.
The design forms are available at the Castlegar Boston Pizza on Columbia Avenue or they can be found online and downloaded at www.hockeycanada.ca/dam.
Two winners will be chosen from all of the completed entries, one in the 12-and-under category and one in the 13-to-18 category but it's best to pay attention to the details.
"We've done this before but unfortunately no one ever seems to meet the design details," said Jordan Perkins, owner of the Castlegar Boston Pizza. "We had two completed over the weekend but neither had the logo on it."
The logo Perkins speaks of is the Hockey Canada logo. The designs must also have a Team Canada theme.
The logo is on the form, which doubles as a placemat at the restaurant, so all that's required is a little artistry and copying skills.
Perkins said he has about 100 of the forms left and the promotion wraps up here on Oct. 13.
Apart from the thrill of having their designs worn by Canada’s net-minders, both winners will receive a trip for two to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp in early December, or two tickets to a game at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto, Ont., and Montreal, Que.
“It is always a thrill for our goaltenders to wear the designs of our fans at the World Juniors,” said Brad Pascall, vice-president of hockey operations/national teams for Hockey Canada in a release. “We’re very excited that Bauer and Boston Pizza have partnered again this year to grow this contest and get even more young Canadians involved.”
A $100 Boston Pizza gift card, a Team Canada jersey and duplicate, custom-painted mask autographed by members of Canada’s National Junior Team that will be awarded to the winners. For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team and the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, or Twitter @hockeycanada and @hc_men