Abstract: There is provided an improved protective face mask for use in hockey, or other sports requiring facial protection, comprising a plurality of wire members defining a grid of a plurality of apertures of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a hockey stick through the grid to contact the face of a wearer when the mask is in place and yet to maintain very good vision for a wearer and to comply with safety and strength requirements due to the use of relatively thin wire members of a particular form and placement within the grid.