Joe Cannata has played for a few AHL franchises over the past six years, with his most recent one being the San Antonio Rampage.
The 27-year-old Wakefield, Massachusetts native was previously a member of the Washington Capitals’ organization, but he was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Cody Corbett at the trade deadline this past March.
Cannata and the Avalanche agreed on a new one-year, two-way contract on July 1, so the former Vancouver Canucks draft pick decided to get a new mask made up for the upcoming season and he dedicated it to a special friend.
Designed by the amazing David Gunnarsson, Cannata’s new mask is known as the Ruby Strong mask and it features a portrait of Ruby Mae Millea, a three-year-old girl with childhood cancer who is currently at Tuft’s Children’s Hospital in Boston.
Ruby and her family got the news this past June and have been trying to raise funds for treatments through a GoFundMe campaign. Cannata has been supporting Ruby and her family in different ways during this time and made a surprise visit to show her that she’s going to be the star on his new mask for the upcoming season.
This is a nice way for the young goalie to show his support for Ruby while raising awareness for her campaign at the same time.
It's definitely up there on our list of favourite masks for the upcoming season.
You can contribute to Ruby's Go Fund Me page by clicking here.
(H/T Instagram/davidofdaveart)
