Van Velden masks?

[Danny99]

Hello everyone.
I've been reading on here, but just registered about a week ago.
I have a "koho" and a "heaton" mask. I am pretty sure that both of these were once van velden design masks. I wanted to know more about them. searching didnt turn up much on what I am wondering.
what kind of construction are they? any aramid in there? are there cateyes that fit these masks? When I tore them down to recondition them I discovered that the cages are exactly the same.
are these masks worth useing anymore? I have been useing both for about 10 years now. how are they compared to the newer masks out there?

anyone knowledgeable in these masks please share.

Thanks!

-Dan

[The West Wall]

If you could post pictures, or at least model numbers, im sure the mask experts on the board would be happy to help.

[Danny99]

WOW!
fast response!
here you go.
Sorry about the cell phone pics...
the heaton looks like the mask marty B wears but I've never seen any other goalie with the black koho/VV.

-Dan

[Jim]

I have a VV that i bought off Ebay and refubed..
here is the thread.

It a okay helmet, used it for 3 years of senior hockey it took its share of shots.
No major complaints. Only that when you do get tagged.. It makes your ears ring.

To my knowledge my mask has fiberglass and kevlar and was top of the line when it was purchased back when from *******.. or so i was told by the guy who sold it to me.


My mask restoration is complete

pics are in the above thread.





Cheers
Jim

[sba]

I have a VV cateye on my Eddy, so they exist. They're pretty pricy if you can find them though.

[Coldaccord]

used to have VV from *******. not impressed.

[goalieman_81]

i bought one of the first sherwood masks. (no pics) On the side it had Van veldon. hope this helps.

[flyersfan2788]

They are NOT made by the same guy.

Van Veldon, was made by Jerry Van Veldon.

Koho/ Heaton-CCM, was made by Gabe Hackman, who now makes Hacka masks.

His deal with Koho/Heaton was terminated when RBK bought the company, and struck out on his own.

Where they may be some confusion, is where in between launching Hacka, and closing down Koho, he bought the rights to make Sherwood masks for a short time.

I think he ended up making around 200 "Sher-wood" masks, and then started his own line.

Van Veldon may have done the same thing. I don't really know.

A lot of maufacturers will "ghost" things, by which they put their name on it, but it's been made by someone else.

For example, Koho pads, and now RBK, are "technically" ghosted by Lefevbre. He makes them, RBK slaps their name on it.

Josh


This is what I know. However, if you'd like to speak to Gabe directly, he is on this board as mask maven.

[Danny99]

the black one had "koho" down the side.
there is the half maple leaf at the back sides of the black mask and the chin cup said Van Velden type 3 on it.
No maple leaf on the white one, but the chin cup said Van Velden type-2.
both chin cups were the same except for the labeling,
so this leads me to believe the white is a VV2 and the black is a VV3?

[daffy]

I have used VV masks almost my whole goalie career. Only mask that has felt right on my head. I mean the ones made in 1995 area. In the attached pic, it's the one on the right. I always liked the short chin and more room in the cheek area. Every mask I wear today "pinches" my cheeks and I'm not a chubby guy. The VV has always been good for me. Played against all levels with it and it's done well. I agree though, that the ears will ring if you take a puck off the head.

[secross2]

Van Velden did do KOHO masks for a short time before doing the Vaughn masks. The Half leaf was the VV sig from the late 80's and early 90's.
The cages are a pain to find. I think he worked w/ Heaton at some point but I'm not too sure.
VV was doing custom masks after the DS relationship fell through, however, is currently not responding to emails.

[radar]

Just to clarify for everyone. Van Velden Masks was started and owned by Jerry Van Velden. For quite a time he made masks under his own name, and did quite welll. He also did some private label stuff for a few smaller companies at the same time.

Later on an opportunity came about to do cross-branding of the VV mask with Sherwood hockey. This went off with some success. After a couple of years this relationship ended, and a new relationship began with Karhu. Karhu was the parent company of the Koho/Heaton brands. At this time 2 models were being made, one with Koho, and one with Heaton.

After a while Skor Corps, parent of Hackva, became involved and eventually took over the company. They continued the relationship with Koho/Heaton for a number of years, until RBK took over. Now Hackva are doing there thing.

Jerry went on to do his own thing in a different field for a while, before getting back into it with Vaughn and a couple of others.

Hope this helps.

And, in case you are wondering, I know this information because I worked for Van Velden Masks, with Jerry, and after Jerry was no longer involved.

Ray

[flyersfan2788]

I stand corrected. Thanks Radar. I knew about the VV masks, (even had one), but never knew they ghosted for Koho. That must have been late 80's, early 90's, correct?

Josh

[Danny99]

Originally Posted by radar

Just to clarify for everyone. Van Velden Masks was started and owned by Jerry Van Velden. For quite a time he made masks under his own name, and did quite welll. He also did some private label stuff for a few smaller companies at the same time.

Later on an opportunity came about to do cross-branding of the VV mask with Sherwood hockey. This went off with some success. After a couple of years this relationship ended, and a new relationship began with Karhu. Karhu was the parent company of the Koho/Heaton brands. At this time 2 models were being made, one with Koho, and one with Heaton.

After a while Skor Corps, parent of Hackva, became involved and eventually took over the company. They continued the relationship with Koho/Heaton for a number of years, until RBK took over. Now Hackva are doing there thing.

Jerry went on to do his own thing in a different field for a while, before getting back into it with Vaughn and a couple of others.

Hope this helps.

And, in case you are wondering, I know this information because I worked for Van Velden Masks, with Jerry, and after Jerry was no longer involved.

Ray

Very good info!
Now the other question. what is the construction and how are they compared to more modern masks.
Like am I better off selling these and getting an eddy or other mask(newer, easier to get cateye for) or dealing with no cateye and having a great set of masks?
thanks again.

-Dan

[Carnivale]

The models that you have pictured are fiberglass with spot kevlar in the chin and forehead areas. These are solid, durable masks that are comparable to many of the mid-level masks on the market now. I personally still use a VV that I've had for a decade. Obviously, with any older mask you should make sure that there are no stress cracks or other structural weaknesses.

As far as finding a cateye, other than keeping an out on ebay for one that has a cateye on it, you're probably out of luck. They're pretty much impossible to come by. Try asking Daffy what cage he has on his short-chin VV pictured above....it is not a stock VV cage.