Anders Lee Jam Kancer EAST MEADOW, NY -- During the 2022-23 season, New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/oliver-wahlstrom-new-york-islanders-lane-lambert-acl-injury] netminder Ilya Sorokin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islanders-extension-anders-lee-scott-mayfield] paid homage to the franchise's legends as he donned their faces on his mask. In an exclusive interview with The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/new-york-islanders-alexander-romanov-training-camp], Sorokin took me through his new mask, created by the brilliant Dave Art. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTYwMjY0NTc1Nzg4NDMz/img_0250.jpg] "Same top. I did the [team] name," Sorokin told The Hockey News. "Straight lines. I did the name." As you may be able to see in the picture, there isn't a shine to the mask. All goalie helmets are made with fiberglass, but the outside of Sorokin's mask has a softer feel to it. The best way to describe it is velvety. On both sides of the mask, Sorokin went with the alternate jersey "NY" but added a nice touch to certain Long Island landmarks. At the top of the left side, you can find the Brooklyn Bridge. On the right side, you can see a lighthouse. "So, it's original bridge, Brooklyn Bridge," Sorokin said. "And Montauk lighthouse. "Yeah, so it's simple." Sorokin also had a message to Islanders fans: "I don't know what more I can draw for Islanders. If our fans have examples of what they can draw for next mask, please send my way." LEFT SIDE Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTYwMjc0MjM5MzMzNzc3/img_0251.jpg] RIGHT SIDE Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTYwMjY0NTc1NjU3MzYx/img_0249.jpg] Sorokin has a few things on the back of the mask that he wanted to point out. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTYwMjY0NTc1NzIyODk3/img_0248.jpg] The sticker on the left is the emblem of his hometown, Mezhdurechensk. On the right side is the logo Novokuznetsk. "[That's] where I started to play hockey," Sorokin said. Sorokin wouldn't say why he has the line "I believe I can fly" on his mask, but did say that it's a phrase that's been on each one of his helmets. We've seen Sorokin fly a few times, diving left and right to make some jaw-dropping saves, so it certainly makes sense. With white dots around the entire mask, it certainly gives off a winter vibe. Sorokin enters the 2023-24 season as a Vezina favorite after posting a 2.33 GAA, with a .924 SV%, and a league-leading five shutouts in 62 appearances a year ago.
