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Miska Designs
Client
(1995-2000)
Stanley Cup Champion Netminder
Ed "The Eagle" Belfour
ed
belfour
chapter 1
 
Click on any of the pictures on this page to view it enlarged .
On January 25, 1997 at 2:38 am, Ed Belfour was traded from the
Chicago BlackHawks to the San Jose Sharks. Ed contacted Todd that evening and requested
that a new paint scheme be prepared to reflect the colors of his new team. Todd completed
Ed Belfours new mask, which was unveiled on Friday, January 31, 1997 right here on this
web site.
It's Arrived..........He's Back......
One of Todds most famous graphic designs is the
current mask that is worn by Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour of the San Jose Sharks.
The eagle mask, as seen above, was worn by Eddie during his days with the Chicago
Blackhawks is well known to all hockey fans and a early version of it is even in the
Hockey Hall of Fame.
Shortly after Ed got his first mask his famous
nickname took hold. Eddie used this early version of the mask until the beginning of the
1995-96 season. Todd was approached by Gary Warwick who created the mask shell for Ed and
asked if he would like to submit a new eagle design. Todd then went to work and presented
Ed with this version of the eagle as seen below.
Ed used this mask during some Blackhawk practice sessions and
advised Todd that he liked the detail of the design, but wanted a meaner, more intense
looking eagle, along with a symbol for the make a wish foundation. Todd went back and
revamped the design and came up with the all black shell and the new eagle design, as seen
below.
This mask was debuted during the 1995/1996 season. The mask was
only used for a short period., because Ed felt that the mask didn't show up well enough
from far away, so Ed asked Todd to make a Red shell and use the exact same eagle design.
Todd went back and painted a helmet shell red and reproduced the now famous eagle design
that adorns Eds masks. Todd also made a special design on the back of Ed's mask, which
reveals one of his favorite hobbies - classic cars, as seen below.
The back plate has the name of "Carman Racing", which
is one of Eds hobbies during the off season and a picture of a 1941Willy.
Ed Belfour A New Era Begins
chapter 2
It has been no secret to the fans of Ed Belfour that he was
traded from his home with the Chicago Blackhawks, to the San Jose Sharks. Ed boarded his
plane for San Jose on Saturday evening, but before leaving to join his new team, Ed
contacted Todd and asked him to prepare a new mask that would reflect the colors of his
new team.
On Tuesday, January 28, 1997, Todd received the new shell from
the man who supply's Ed with his goalie mask shells, that man being Gary Warwick of
Warwick Custom Goalie Masks. Step one for Todd is to prime the rough fiberglass shell with
apoxy primer.
Todd then airbrushes the wishbone, and the eagles beak onto the
mask. After completing the beak, the lower dark colored feathers are added in. Once this
phase of the mask is completed, the feathers are masked off and the head of the eagle is
next in line for completion.
Once the eagle takes shape and is completed to Todd's satisfaction,
airbrushing of the base is completed, which is the new teal color to match the San Jose
Sharks uniform.
Once this crucial phase is completed, the mask is clearcoated with
6-8 layers of clearcoat. It is then allowed to setup. The next step is for the mask to be
wet sanded and buffed to reveal the final finished product.
Todd then begins work on the back plate of the mask.
Todd base coats the plate in the new teal color. Then Todd painstakingly adds the graphics
to the back plate.
This project was completed within 48 hours after Todd received
the shell. As of Friday, Todd packed the new mask in a Miska pro helmet case and sent it
back to Gary Warwick so that it could be padded and fitted to Ed's specifications. It will
then be sent to Ed in San Jose for his game against his old team.....the Chicago
Blackhawks.
This new mask is a new beginning for Ed Belfour. A chapter in his
professional career is now closed and a new chapter has just begun, and even though Ed has
a new team, he has made an identity for himself recognizable around the world. He is
and always shall be Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour.
ed
belfour
chapter 3
On July 1, 1997, Ed Belfour finalized a 3 year, $10 million dollar contract
with the NHL Dallas Stars. Before the press conference started to announce the deal, Ed
contacted Todd and advised him of his new home in the NHL and requested a new mask design
be prepared for the '97-'98 season. Below is the finished mask for Ed Belfour of the
Dallas Stars..
Introducing Miska Designs
Ed Belfours Dallas Design #1
This new mask is a new beginning for Ed
Belfour. A
chapter in his professional career is now closed and a new chapter has just begun, and
even though Ed has a new team, he has made an identity for himself recognizable around the
world. He is and always shall be Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour.
From his friends and fans back in Chicago and around the
world we wish you well Ed.
ed
belfour
chapter 4
Introducing Miska Designs
1998-99 Ed Belfour Dallas Stars Edition
Mask Used For Away Games
Mask Used For Home Games
In November 1997, Todd Miska was called to Dallas to meet
with Ed. This meeting was to come up with a radical new design concept that would be used
as a universal icon and be associated with the EAGLE. This icon would be used on signature
hockey equipment and sportswear.
This new mask was to be more graphic in intensity, and
done in a way that it could be seen from anywhere in an arena where Ed plays. For 2 days
Ed and Todd worked on the computer with state of the art graphic design software to come
up with the ultimate design.
Ed and Todd go over design ideas for mew mask
Todd and Ed rendering new design on the computer
Ed received the finished product as seen above and
debuted the mask against the St. Louis Blues on January 14, 1998. Ed then took his mask to
the All Star game for the national debut of the new mask. If you look closely at the white
feathers on the mask you can see the word EAGLE spelled out. This is the identity that
made Ed recognizable around the world. He is and always shall be Eddie "The Eagle"
Belfour.
On July 31, 1999, Miska Designs
had the pleasure of being invited to a very special celebration.
Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Champion Goalie Ed Belfour flew back to Chicago
for a get together with friends and family to celebrate his 1999 Stanley
Cup Championship. The party took place at the famous Palmer House
Hilton Hotel, in Chicago. Each Dallas Stars player was allowed to
have the cup in their possession for 24 hours. Ed on the other
hand was able to get his hands on the cup for 48 hours.
Miska Designs Todd Miska, David
Romz, and Matt Rumpfeldt arrived at the Palmer House Hilton and joined
Ed and the party. There were alot of family and special guest who
traveled from Canada, Dallas, and Miami to join the celebration,
including Ed's mentor and friend Vladislav Tretiak.
Also on hand was Gary Warwick of Warwick
Goalie Masks. Gary is the developer of Eds head gear.
Gary Warwick, Ed and Todd pose for photo
Todd was able to catch up with
some friends that also made the trip to celebrate with Ed including Ken Tangen
of Norman James, the group responsible for the fantastic NHL, Nascar,
and WWF posters, and replica mini masks including the famous Ed Belfour
replica mini masks.
Todd and Ken with Eds replica mini masks
During the celebration Ed took
time to take for us to take some photos of him and the Stanley Cup.
Ed and Dave posing with Lord Stanleys Cup
As the celebration continued into
the wee hours of the morning, Ed allowed us to drink from the Stanley
Cup as he did on that fateful early morning.
Getting a BIG slurp with help
Dave, Matt and Todd pose with the cup
Group of partying fools!!!
Gary Warwick, Matt Rumpfeldt, Todd Miska,
Ed Belfour, David Romz, Psycho Michael
The celebration is one that I will
never forget. I am hoping that Ed and his fellow Dallas Stars will
repeat, and we get the chance to party with one of the greatest
netminders of all time once again as a back to back Stanley Cup
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