Creating a Monarch

Last summer, the Vancouver Canucks asked their fans to help design the mask for backup netminder Curtis Sanford. A few months ago, the folks in Minnesota topped that by asking Wild fans to create the mask of starting goaltender Niklas Bakstrom. Now the Manchester Monarchs are getting in on the fun. Yesterday, they announced their own 'design a mask' contest for Jeff Zatkoff.

They've also raised the ante by adding a second component - raffling off the mask at the end of the season. Details of the entire contest are available here.

Zatkoff is the heir apparent in Manchester after backing up AHL Goaltender of the Year, Jonathan Bernier, last season. As the Monarchs second netminder, he compiled a 10-9-3 record in 22 games, after playing for the ECHL's Ontario Reign the year prior.  He also is among the large group of college players in the Kings system, having been drafted out of Miami (OH) University in 2006.

Info on Bernier's mask design after the jump...