{"id":103395,"date":"2025-07-30T00:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T00:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/103395\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T00:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T00:12:09","slug":"are-karel-vejmelkas-new-pads-the-best-in-the-league-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/103395\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Karel Vejmelka’s new pads the best in the league? \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The GOAT discussion is officially settled.<\/p>\n

No, I\u2019m not talking Gretzky vs. Lemieux or LeBron vs. Jordan. It\u2019s the debate of the greatest goalie setup of all time \u2014 and Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka just ended it.<\/p>\n

\n

I love this.<\/p>\n

When I was a kid, goalie pads were art. Now, most guys just use plain white with a little bit of color.<\/p>\n

Good on Veggie for being exciting. https:\/\/t.co\/YTGRPBSXkm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brogan Houston (@houston_brogan) July 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Vejmelka quickly became a fan favorite in Utah after taking over the starter\u2019s net last season. His 49-save win against the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> in November sparked \u201cVeggie\u201d chants, which then turned into a cult following of broccoli hats and such.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt actually means a lot,\u201d he said of the support he\u2019s received. \u201cI\u2019ve never had that support like that from the fans, so it\u2019s kind of unique for me and I really enjoyed every moment on the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although leaving Arizona was hard for the players, most (if not all) have taken a liking to Utah \u2014 and Vejmelka is chief among them. Those who follow him on Instagram know how much he loves the outdoors, and that\u2019s one of Utah\u2019s best qualities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Utah as a country, so it\u2019s really, really easy to live here,\u201d he said through his Czech accent.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time Vejmelka has received attention for his prehistoric-themed equipment preferences. Last season, he debuted a Jurassic Park mask, which was inspired by Utah\u2019s dinosaur history.<\/p>\n

The NHL\u2019s personality revolution<\/p>\n

For most of the NHL\u2019s 108-year existence, teams have tried to dissuade players from showing individualistic personality. What does that entail? Strict dress codes, tight grooming policies and in the current era, cautious social media posts.<\/p>\n

Over the last decade or so, players have pushed to be able to show more personality. The new collective bargaining agreement, which comes into effect in 2026-27, is a big win for the players who wish to do so, as it will allow players to wear almost anything to the rink and will prevent teams from implementing dress and grooming standards.<\/p>\n

The NHL has long been criticized for not marketing its stars enough<\/a> \u2014 something that the NBA does particularly well. By adopting these new policies, the league is allowing players to develop their own brands, in a sense, which will be good for both the individuals and the game as a whole.<\/p>\n

For example, when Paul Bissonnette played for the Phoenix Coyotes in the early 2010s, he was constantly disciplined for his rowdy posts on Twitter. His agent once told him to delete his account because \u201cnothing good\u201d can come from it.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to the present day, and \u201cBiz\u201d is one of the most prominent members of hockey media \u2014 not for his overly intelligent opinions, but rather for his goofy, fun-loving personality \u2014 which he first showed on his Twitter account in the early 2010s.<\/p>\n

Vejmelka isn\u2019t likely to become a media superstar because of one fashionable decision, but he is building up his personal brand, which could benefit him in the form of endorsement deals or simply winning over more hearts.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good for him personally, it\u2019s good for the Utah Mammoth, it\u2019s good for the NHL, and it\u2019s good for the game of hockey as a whole.<\/p>\n

\"\"Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) comes onto the ice before an NHL game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Los Angeles Kings at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 3, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News