Brent Johnson: Future Led Zeppelin Roadie

When Robert Plant wrote Houses of the Holy to describe the arenas were Led Zeppelin fans would flock to bear witness to the Zeppelin, he may never have known how close he was to the truth. Here in Canada those hockey rinks are the temples that offer service to our national religion: hockey.

Hockey is so woven into our national identity, and fighting is the heroic swordsmanship of our crusaders. When two goalies decide to have at ‘er, it is like a pair of Bishops bopping each other with their crosier. So this week when the New York Islanders’ Rick DiPietro gave a forearm to Pittsburg’s Matt Cooke and Pittsburg Penguin goalie Brent Johnson skated the ice to take on DiPietro, it went viral.

Skating down the ice Johnson peeled off his mask and threw it on the ice.

Johnson’s Led Zeppelin I mask.



Johnson is known for his Zeppelin based masks, and has a number, including the "Stairway" mask:



Notice the opening line of the song Stairway to Heaven is written on the back





And my favourite, the Physical Graffiti mask:



Brent Johnson, NHL goalie who wears his Led Zeppelin fandom on his mask. And, if they ever get around to that whole reuniting thing, front of stage roadie in training.