Chris Mason
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the ice hockey player, for the darts player see Chris Mason (Darts).
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| Position | Goaltender |
| Catches | Left |
| Nickname(s) | Mace |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg/13 st 13 lb) |
| NHL Team | Nashville Predators |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | April 20, 1976 , Red Deer, AB, CAN |
| NHL Draft | 5th round, 122nd overall, 1995 New Jersey Devils |
| Pro career | 1997 – present |
Christopher Mason (born April 20, 1976 in Red Deer, Alberta) is a professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League.
Mason was drafted in the 5th round, 122nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.
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[edit] Playing career
Mason made his NHL debut in the 1998–99 NHL season, appearing in three games for the Nashville Predators in relief of starters Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun. Mason spent the better part of the next four seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. Mason was called up for one game in the 2000–01 NHL season - his first complete game in the NHL, a loss.
In 2003–04, Mason joined the Predators full-time as the backup to starter Tomas Vokoun. In 17 appearances that season, Mason finished with a 4–4–1 record, with a 2.18 GAA and .926 save percentage.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Mason played for Vålerenga Ishockey in the Norwegian league. Being hailed as the best goalie in the league, he played a big part in Vålerenga securing their 25th league championship and their 24th Norwegian Championship by winning the playoffs.
On April 15, 2006, when he was starting because starting goaltender Vokoun was lost for the year with a blood condition, Mason was credited for a goal when Phoenix Coyotes forward Geoff Sanderson shot the puck into his own net. Mason became the ninth NHL goalie all-time to score a goal. [1]
In response, Mason said, "It was a cheesy goal. Someone else should have received it." [2]
He was a member of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4–2 win against Finland in Moscow.
In the off-season of 2007, Nashville goaltender Tomas Vokoun was traded to the Florida Panthers for a few draft picks, leaving Mason as the starter for Nashville, alone with backup goaltender Dan Ellis.
Mason quickly won the first two games, the collective scores of which were 9–1 in favor of the Predators, but then dropped a startling seven straight games. Dan Ellis, however, was able to step up for the Predators and win four straight.
Mason returned to play against the Detroit Red Wings in a 43-save loss. The loss was no surprise, but Mason did show that he could effectively remain the Nashville starter, and continues to start for the Predators.
[edit] Career statistics
[edit] Regular season
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Nashville | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 69 | 6 | 0 | 5.21 | .864 |
| 2000–01 | Nashville | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 58 | 2 | 0 | 2.05 | .900 |
| 2003–04 | Nashville | NHL | 17 | 4 | 4 | 1 | - | 743 | 27 | 1 | 2.18 | .926 |
| 2005–06 | Nashville | NHL | 23 | 12 | 5 | - | 1 | 1226 | 52 | 2 | 2.54 | .913 |
| 2006–07 | Nashville | NHL | 40 | 24 | 11 | - | 4 | 2342 | 93 | 5 | 2.38 | .925 |
| 2007–08 | Nashville | NHL | 51 | 18 | 22 | - | 6 | 2691 | 130 | 4 | 2.90 | .898 |
| NHL career totals | 135 | 58 | 43 | 1 | 11 | 7131 | 310 | 12 | 2.61 | .913 | ||
[edit] Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Nashville | NHL | 5 | 1 | 4 | -- | 418 | 17 | 0 | 3.45 | .901 |
| NHL playoff totals | 5 | 1 | 4 | -- | 418 | 17 | 0 | 3.45 | .901 | ||
[edit] References
- ^ "Goalie Mason scores, wins fifth straight as Preds top Yotes", April 15, 2006.
- ^ NHL Power Rankings (April 18, 2006).
