San Jose Sharks
Preview/Lines #4: Hill’s Masks Share Common Tribute
TORONTO — Will Adin Hill’s new mask finally debut tonight?
In training camp, Hill promised two masks this season, a home and a road one.
Hill says he'll have two masks this year, this home teal one and a white road one that's being worked on now — says the Shark eating the Kraken on this mask was an intentional design touch from his dad/little brother: pic.twitter.com/Ax5BAgGn2S
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 30, 2021
So far, even though Hill started in Montreal, we’ve only seen the home mask.
“It’s a little bit behind, but it’s actually done and now being sent for padding and stuff,” Hill said after he shut out the Canadiens on Tuesday. “I don’t think it’ll be here for the next game.”
That would be the San Jose Sharks’ visit to the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.
In training camp, Hill hinted that his road mask would be much different than his home: “The other one is a shark, deep sea theme. This one, I don’t really want to give it away, but it’s not a sea theme. It’s a little bit different.”
How different? Wendy’s square patties different?
I lose sleep over the fact that @Wendys never freezes their beef
— Adin Hill (@Adin_Hill) August 13, 2021
Hill laughed: “That’d be funny. A little cheese melting off there. But yeah, I don’t have that on it.”
On a more serious note, both Hill’s masks will have a tribute to WHL goaltender Michael Maniago, just 20 years old when he died in 2008. For example, Hill’s home San Jose Sharks mask has an “MM30” on a goalie stick:
Let my little brother and dad design my first sharks mask with @Friedesigns
How’d they do? pic.twitter.com/mKFxUFrpFN— Adin Hill (@Adin_Hill) August 24, 2021
Hill was 12 when Maniago died.
“He was [going to play] in the WHL,” Hill recalled. “But then, he ended up staying at home with his mom for family stuff. He skipped his 20-year-old year and the WHL to stay at home.
“I was working with him all summer. He was a young goalie who I looked up to because he’s playing in the WHL which is where I wanted to get to and eventually did. He had a big impact on me.
“Around Christmas time, he got hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light. His brother and a friend were getting pizza.
“Ever since then, every mask I’ve had, I’ve had a little tribute for him on it.”
San Jose Sharks
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Eklund-Hertl-Balcers
Nieto-Bonino-Labanc
Cogliano-Weatherby-Pederson
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Hill
Toronto Maple Leafs
Where to Watch
Puck drop against Toronto is 3:00 PM PT at Scotiabank Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports Bay Area and ESPN+. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.
