The JOFA 280

I have not yet discussed the use of JOFA helmets by goaltenders, so I figured Arturs Irbe would be an appropriate candidate to begin with, also because of his career long use of the JOFA 280 helmet. He has a following too.  There are many forums and blogs written by goaltenders who are huge fans of Irbe and his helmet, as well as goaltenders who prefer using JOFA helmets for protection rather than the modern goalie mask.

This helmet was produced after the JOFA 235, but before the JOFA 290 (which I will later discuss). It was an injection molded, one piece helmet like the JOFA 235, but shares a similarity to JOFA models later produced.

The only star player I know of who wore a JOFA 280 is Christian Ruuttu, during his seasons with the Buffalo Sabres during the late 1980's and early 1990's. As you may guess by looking at this photo, the JOFA 280 helmet was not exactly a hit with players as much as other JOFA helmets, probably due to the helmet's lack of sculptural refinement and odd proportions. However its significance is that it was an important step in the development and design of the JOFA 290 helmet, and later the JOFA 390 helmet; most notably the addition of ear protection, integrated as a single injection molded part.

Here is a giant JOFA 280 helmet that is, or was, on the rooftop of the Malung, Sweden JOFA factory.  Apparently this helmet is of much significance to JOFA, as I have not seen any other JOFA models being produced at this enormous scale.

These JOFA ads show a young Wayne Gretzky modeling the JOFA 280 helmet. This helmet must have marked an important point in JOFA's growth as a business, as mainstream advertising of their products was not common.