Waltham, Mass. – Ever wondered what goes into the design of a goalie's mask? Bentley Falcons senior goalie Aidan Pelino was kind enough to share the inspirations behind the graphics on his mask.

Aidan, from Oakville, Ontario, came to Bentley in 2016 after a highly successful career in junior hockey with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the British Columbia Hockey League. In his four years as a Bentley hockey student-athlete, Pelino excelled both on and off the ice.

A finance major, he has been named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic team three years in a row. This season, he was named one of just 20 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award for Division I men's hockey, which recognizes excellence in the areas of competition, academics and community service.

On the ice, Aidan made 93 starts for the Falcons in four seasons. He ranks second in the program's history in wins (39) and goals against average (2.72). He was named second team All-Atlantic Hockey for his junior year (2018-19) in which he won 16 games and posted a 2.54 GAA.

The mask was designed by Dave Fried from Fried Designs, based in Okotoks, Alberta. "Dave has painted the last couple of masks for me," Aidan shared. "I work with Dave because he is a great guy to work with, is super talented, and it's always a joy to have him paint my mask. Big shout out to him."

What follows is how Aidan described the designs on his mask:

• The Falcon on each side of the helmet: "I liked the graphic and it is a slight tribute to one of my idols growing up – Ed Belfour – where his helmet had eagles, but a similar design. Go Falcs!"
• The Bentley Shield on the top: "For obvious reasons…Wanted that to be the center piece of the design."
• PLUGS across the chin: "This is my nickname that the guys call me, which I got from one of my coaches in juniors in Canada 5 or 6 years ago."

Behind the Bentley Logo:

• The Rocky Mountains & Canadian Flag: "A tribute to home."
• David "Big Papi" Ortiz hitting a dinger: "Once I moved to Bentley and made Boston a home, I became a big Red Sox fan. Loved going to the games in the spring and it's one of the things I'll miss most. Ortiz is my favorite Sox player."

The Backplate: "Everything on the back are things that are important to me."

• JBJT: "My family's initials – Joe (dad), Brigid (mom), Jenna (sister), Tessa (sister)".
• The Yellow Rose & Date September 17^th, 1996: "Remembering my other sister Sarah (& her birthday), who is passed, and knowing she watches over my family and I every day."
• The Inukshuk: "The national symbol of Nunavut [a territory in the far Northeast of Canada]. I have been going up every summer to the north for a volunteer hockey school and that part of the world has become an important part of who I am."
• Vincero: "This means win in Italian, something I have had on all my helmets."
• Tomstrong Cancer Ribbon: "A tribute to one of my good friend's fathers and his battle with overcoming cancer."