Behind the Mask with Lord of The Crease

Awhile back I kicked off a new feature on my blog where I write a profile piece on other social media personalities. For my first installment I wrote about Travis Ridgen, better known as trav4oilers. My intent was to have a new installment every week, but a funny thing happens when you have a job and family – you are left with little extra time for pet projects like blogging. All that said, I am back with another installment, and do have plans to put out new ones when time permits, and hopefully on a more regular basis.

This week I spotlight @LordOfTheCrease of Instagram, better known to his family as Ian Humphrey.

LordOfTheCrease (LOTC) has been playing hockey since he was, in his estimate, eight or nine years old skating for the Waterloo, IA, Waterloo Jr. Hawks. LOTC started skating after moving to Iowa from California when his stepfather started taking to Hawks games. One day LOTC asked his stepfather if he could play. Next thing you know he is buying him equipment, and helping him sell raffle tickets to help pay for ice time, because what is youth sports without fundraising?

Growing up LOTC was inspired by one of the all time greats (my opinion) Ed Belfour, and an underrated goalie of the era Kelly Hrudey, but Felix Potvin’s fight with Ron Hextall fight on November 10, 1996 made him want to play hockey. In fact Hrudey’s setups with the Kings and Sharks, and Potvin’s Brian’s setup are his favorites.

As far as organized hockey goes, LOTC played through Squirts. He returned to the ice though when stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina at the age of 26 while a member of the U.S. Army. Medically discharged from the Army last year, LOTC now resides near the Illinois/Wisconsin border with his wife and three children. LOTC plays three to four times a week, and was recently in Minnesota to play in the Hendrickson Foundation’s Hockey Festival as part of the Wisconsin Marauders team, a team made up of veterans who have served our country.