Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzļikins just stepped onto the ice with one of the most eye catching Sonic themed tributes the NHL has ever seen. During warmups against the Edmonton Oilers, Merzļikins revealed a brand new custom mask featuring Sonic and Knuckles in a striking blend of movie designs and classic 16-bit style.
The mask was created by artists Jordon Bourgeault and Chris Moniz, who took on the challenge of merging two eras of Sonic into one cohesive design. Bourgeault explained that the goal was to highlight movie inspired versions of Sonic and Knuckles on the main panels while using pixel art for the background details. Everything from logos and number plates to clouds was recreated in a retro 16-bit aesthetic.
Sharp eyed fans can also spot small pixel versions of Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Dr. Robotnik, and even the Blue Jackets mascot Stinger scattered throughout the artwork. The chin of the mask features Elvis The Goalie styled after the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog title logo, giving the design an extra nostalgic touch.
According to Bourgeault, the concept was chosen for a heartwarming reason. Merzļikins’ young son is a huge Sonic fan, and the goalie selected the theme specifically for him. By combining both the modern movie look and the original game visuals, the artists created something that would resonate with both father and son.
Merzļikins was thrilled with the finished mask and publicly thanked the artist on Instagram, saying, “Thank you for making Knox’s dream come true.”
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Too cool!