In the English Standard Version of the Bible, Isaiah 26:4 reads, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” That’s the verse that Utah Hockey Club goaltender Jaxson Stauber chose to display on the back of his mask.
“It just reminds me to keep my trust in Him and everything will work out,” Stauber said.
He and his wife, Annie, are devout Christians. While they were living in Rockford, Illinois, they found a church there that they like. They’ve only been in Salt Lake City for a few weeks, so they continue to attend that church’s online service every week.
An ode to the greats
Goalies are the only players in hockey who are allowed to design their own equipment, and the mask is the ultimate canvas. The Bible verse is one part of a well-thought-out design.
The entire mask has an Olympic theme as a nod to both the 2002 and the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake. On the very top is an inscription that reads “Salt Lake 2002,″ with the Olympic rings below it.
He styled it after the mask that 2002 Team USA goaltender Mike Richter used, with a big logo on the top, a smaller logo on the chin and the team name written across the sides.
He’s not the first goalie to tribute Richter with his mask design. Former New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundvist and current Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin have done the same.
The back of Stauber’s mask has a few inscriptions that nod to former places he has played. The phrase “be herd” reminds him of his time with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL and “Friartown” is for his years with Providence College. The big design on the back of his mask is an image of his home state, Minnesota.
Jaxson Stauber: Utah Hockey Club goaltender
Stauber has played just eight games in the NHL, but he has seven wins, a shutout, a .922 save percentage and a 2.36 goals-against average.
When Connor Ingram went down suddenly with an injury, Stauber stepped up in a big way, helping his team to a 6-0 victory over the powerhouse Vegas Golden Knights in his first game. He soon won his second game — a 4-2 contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.
With this weekend’s set of back-to-back games, he will likely get his third start with Utah HC.
