Curt Ridley passes away suddenly at just 70 years old

This just in, former Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curt Ridley has passed away at just 70 years old.

While he was drafted by the Boston Bruins and played the first two games of his NHL career with the Rangers, most people remember Ridley from his five seasons with the Canucks from 1975-1980. He was most notable for rocking one of the most absolutely simple and beautiful mask designs from the entire 1970s.

I mean... just look at this work of art:

So simple, yet so striking at the same time. I honestly wish that more goaltenders these days went with the "Ridley" approach when it comes to designing their mask. While I can appreciate the artistic ability it takes to airbrush in such intricate details, I feel like those modern designs don't always come across well on television or from the stands. But, a simple design like Ridley's is timeless and instantly identifiable. It's just a classic.

Ridley, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, retired from professional hockey after a brief stint with the Leafs in the early 1980s. He was the first player ever to be drafted from Tier II junior hockey in and was ready to make an impact in the NHL as a teenager, but he was stuck behind the Bruins' tandem of Gerry Cheevers and Ed Johnston. He was claimed by the Rangers but then quickly flipped in a trade and eventually ended up with the Canucks where he'd establish himself as an everyday regular NHL goaltender.

In total he managed 104 NHL games split between the Rangers, Canucks, and Leafs. RIP, Mr. Ridley. Gone, but never forgotten.