The Story Behind Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin's New Masks

New season. New masks.
Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin are sporting some new masks for the 2022-23 season, spicing up their goalie kits.
Both goalies had their masks designed and painted by Dave Gunnarsson, also known as Dave Art, a Swedish painter who services most of the NHL.
Varlamov updated the "Long Island" wordmark that's been a feature on his mask since joining the team in 2019. The new addition - and the goaltender's favorite part of the design - is a drawing of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. Varlamov said he saw a picture of Poseidon spray painted on a wall near the arena where the goaltender trains in the offseason in Texas and was inspired. Given that Long Island is surrounded by water, it seemed like fitting imagery to Varlamov.

"He's the God of the ocean and they live pretty much in the ocean," Varlamov said. "I saw some cool graffiti where someone painted this Posieden on the wall, so I took a picture of it and then I showed that to Dave Art and told him I want to put this on my helmet and I think he did an amazing job."
Sorokin paid tribute to the Islanders legends on his new mask, including black and white drawings of Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Butch Goring, Bob Nystrom, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, John Tonelli and Bryan Trottier. It's fitting given the Islanders 50th anniversary this season.
"They built this club," Sorokin said of the legends. "It's respect for the organization."
See below for some close-ups of Varlamov and Sorokin's new masks.