Mask of compassion

EVERETT — For Brian Archer, painting hockey goaltender masks is a labor of love.

But in this instance, Archer’s emotions run far beyond his love for the game, or his need for artistic expression.

The Everett Silvertips hold their annual Pink the Rink game tonight at Comcast Arena, the

ir effort to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. And Archer’s contribution to the event comes from an individual who has experienced first-hand the consequences of the affliction.

Archer, a 40-year-old who lives in Battle Ground, has painted Everett’s goalie masks the past four years. But he had a special request this year. He wanted to provide the Tips with a pink-themed mask for their Pink the Rink game.

He was determined to do it for his wife, Rose, who died from breast cancer in July of 2010.

“It’s a good cause,” said Archer, who survived his wife along with their three daughters. “It’s my way of remembering her. She’s still a part of our lives.”

Archer doesn’t paint goalie masks professionally. He works as a police officer in Vancouver, Wash., and paints masks on the side, using a makeshift workshop in his garage. He first began painting masks for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks six years ago and later added a handful of other teams, including the Silvertips. He doesn’t paint the masks for money, instead trading for equipment to fuel his recreational hockey habit.

All was fine until the Archer family’s lives were turned upside down when his wife received her diagnosis.

“She was diagnosed in 2008 with breast cancer, underwent a double mastectomy, then was given a clean bill of health,” Archer said. “A year later she wasn’t feeling good, went in for a check-up, and they found another spot on her chest wall. It metastasized real fast.

“It was pretty tough on me,” Archer added. “We have three girls, one who’s 21, one who’s 17 and one who’s 16. It was a tough part of their lives to lose their mother. So I thought this was a good idea.”

Archer contacted Everett’s equipment manager, James Stucky, with the idea of the pink-themed mask. Stucky was initially reluctant, but Archer was persistent, so Stucky decided to approach Everett goaltender Kent Simpson with the idea.

Fortunately, Simpson has gone through several masks during his three-plus seasons with the Tips. Therefore, one of his old masks happened to be sitting around collecting dust at Comcast Arena. And since Simpson had used it before, he was already comfortable with its fit.

After Simpson gave his approval, the Tips sent the old mask to Archer to repaint. He completed the job Wednesday, overnighted it to Everett, and Stucky put it back together in time for Simpson to use at practice Thursday afternoon. Simpson gave the mask the thumbs up and will wear it during tonight’s game.

“Stucky came up to me and asked if I’d be willing to wear a pink mask for Pink the Rink,” Simpson said. “I said, ‘Absolutely, it sounds like a good idea.’ The mask is probably the easiest thing to get used to other than a stick.

“It’s pretty cool,” Simpson added about the mask, which has the same flame pattern as his current mask, but contains pink accents. “Obviously it’s for a good cause.”

The mask will be being auctioned, with the proceeds going to Providence Comprehensive Breast Center. The team is accepting blind bids, both at tonight’s game and online at www.everettsilvertips.com, with the largest bid winning the mask. The auction continues through next Friday.

The Tips also are wearing special pink jerseys during tonight’s game. The jerseys also are being auctioned through blind bids. The bidding closes at the end of the second period tonight. The winners will be announced during the game and, if present, will have the opportunity to have a photo taken with the player. Pink hockey sticks and pink T-shirts also are available for purchase, with all the proceeds going to Providence Comprehensive Breast Center.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.