Goaltenders are a unique luxury in hockey — customization.
Each new season is an excuse for netminders to splurge on a fresh set-up. and this season is no different.
Just over two months into the 2024-25 campaign, we’ve seen plenty of fun, creative and slick gear from goalies old and new.
Here’s a list of the best that have graced the ice this season.
Honourable mentions
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
No. 15 | Samuel Meloche (Rouyn-Noranda)
Photo: Jean Lapointe
Meloche’s pads are almost reminiscent of William Rousseau’s last season. Mostly white design with a simple design. Meloche’s lacks the Huskies crest on each pad, instead opting for a classic striping pattern.
No. 14 | Mathis Rousseau (Halifax)
Photo: Trevor MacMillan
Mathis Rousseau’s almost all-green set-up is one of the cleanest in the league, and the red accents pop nicely. However, it does teeter on looking a bit too festive.
No. 13 | Vincent Gladu (Blainville-Boisbriand)
Photo: Sebastian Gervais
Vincent Gladu’s newest set is sharp. The horizontal black and white pattern almost gives off a zebra-esque vibe. Great helmet as well.
No. 12 | Louis-Felix Charrois (Drummondville)
Photo: Jonathan Roy
No. 11 | Samuel St-Hilaire (Rimouski)
Photo: Jonathan Roy
I think in terms of design, St-Hilaire might have the coolest in the QMJHL. I absolutely love the detailing of the waves. It’s just too bad that the almost all-white design has led to his pads completely torched with puck marks.
No. 10 | Riley Mercer (Drummondville)
Photo: Ghyslain Bergeron
Riley Mercer’s set may be simple, yes. However, there’s something absolutely evil about an almost all-black with red accent pads. Also, I’m a fool for the cheesy throwback style.
No. 9 | Kian Hodgins (Gatineau)
Photo: Domenic Charette
Who doesn’t love a good silver set? Kian Hodgins debuted these pads last season, and yet we’re still not sick and tired of it. It’s too bad he’s been out the last month
No. 8 | Donald Hickey (Charlottetown)
Photo: Darrell Theriault
Charlottetown’s Donald Hickey has brought some head with his almost all gold set-up.
No. 7 | Linards Feldbergs (Sherbooke)
Photo: Vincent L-Rousseau
With a vaguely similar pattern to Gladu’s from earlier, Feldbergs ups the ante with light blue accents that make the pads match the jersey exceptionally well.
No. 6 | Jacob Steinman (Moncton)
Photo: Daniel St-Louis
Steinman’s retro aesthetic is absolutely ludicrous. My only complaints are that it fits the away jersey better than the home and that having a similarly 90s helmet design would complete the look. Apart from that, it’s in a league of its own.
No. 5 | Justin Robinson (Saint John)
Photo: Michael Hawkins
Similar to Steinman, Robinson also has a retro-looking design. An underrated touch is the use of silver on the pads’ fake straps, as it almost mimics the silver accents on the jersey. Much like Steinman, the helmet doesn’t quite match the rest of the style, and also the stick is somehow too blue. Regardless, it’s an unreal look.
No. 4 | Felix Hamel (Shawinigan)
Photo: Vincent Letourneau
Perhaps a hot take, but I love how well Hamel’s play off the jersey. The blue areas of the pads match with the blue jersey parts. Plus the middle section adds more white to a uniform set that is almost devoid of it, aside from two small stripes, while not overpowering the whole setup.
No. 3 | Keegan Warren (Moncton)
Photo: Jonathan Roy
I love everything about Keegan Warren’s gear. His pad design is the perfect medium between sleek and disjointed, and the use of yellow for the Bauer logo to match the Cats logo is unreal. Major props for getting a matching stick too. To add onto all of this, Warren’s helmet is sweet as well.
Photo: Daniel St. Louis, Moncton Wildcats
I may have limited every other goaltender to just one set-up but I can’t not mention Warren’s ‘black-out’ design either. With these two set-ups, Warren has easily some of the best ‘sty’ in QMJHL history.
No. 2 | Raphael Precourt (Chicoutimi)
Photo: Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Raphael Precourt’s homage to former Chicoutimi Saguenéens star goaltender Felix Potvin is one of the nicest set-ups, period. An unbelievable touch is how Precourt’s design plays into the fact that it’s a remake by having the design look cartoony.
No. 1 | Jakob Hanlan (Victoriaville)
Photo: Alex Garneau
Jakob Hanlan’s set up takes the ideas of honorable mention Gabriel D’Aigle and pushes it to it’s absolute peak. Inside the large black scratch marks are smaller yellow scratch marks. Hanlan’s Tiger mask completes the look. All in all, it’s a beautiful, inspired take on an otherwise straight-forward concept that is perfection.
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