The Anaheim Ducks will look a bit different Friday night when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning, but goaltender John Gibson is taking it one step further in the wake of Sunday's tragic helicopter accident that took the life of Kobe Bryant.
While Gibson will be wearing the Ducks' third jersey like the rest of his teammates, the 26-year-old netminder will also be donning a custom mask in tribute of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven others who died in Sunday's accident.
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The Ducks released images and video of the mask hours before Friday's contest. Gibson's headwear features the Nos. 24 and 8, which Bryant wore during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as a silhouette of the basketball superstar and Gianna. The names of the seven other victims of the tragedy surround the silhouette, and a portrait of Bryant's face is superimposed on the Ducks' logo on the top of the helmet.
Anaheim Ducks' goalie John Gibson is wearing a Kobe Bryant-inspired mask in tonight's game against Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/XGQd6lXPMW
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) January 31, 2020
The Ducks also honored the victims during their 4-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, with a video tribute and 24 seconds of silence observed at the Honda Center.
“That’s just an unbelievable tragedy for all those families,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said after Wednesday's game. “Kobe Bryant has had an unbelievably positive influence on Southern California and to honor him tonight, I thought that was incredible from our players and our organization and most importantly those fans up there. It was very surreal and somber and humbling standing on that bench.”