Chris Mason (ice hockey)

Chris Mason

Mason in goal during his tenure as a Nashville Predators.
Born April 20, 1976 (1976-04-20) (age 35)
Red Deer, AB, CAN
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Winnipeg Jets
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Atlanta Thrashers
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 122nd overall, 1995
Nashville Predators
Playing career 1997–present

Christopher Robert Mason (born April 20, 1976) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Playing career

NHL beginnings

Nashville Predators

In 2003–04, Mason joined the Predators full-time as the backup to starter 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 with fellow Predator Scott Hartnell. Being hailed as the best goalie in the league ever, 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 goaltender to score a goal and joined Damian Rhodes as the only goalies to be credited with a goal in both the AHL and the NHL.[1]

In response, Mason said, "It was a cheesy goal. Someone else should have received it." [2]

In the off-season of 2007, 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 continued to start for the remainder of his time with the Predators.

Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets

On July 1, 2010, Mason signed a two year, $3.7 million dollar deal with the Atlanta Thrashers, marking the first time in his NHL career that Mason will have played for an Eastern Conference team. Mason's 2010-11 campaign was a disappointment, as it marked the first time in his career that he posted a GAA above 3.00. Due to the team's relocation, Mason currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets.

Awards

Career statistics

Regular season

   
Season Team League GP W L T OT MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1993–94 Victoria Cougars WHL 5 1 4 0 — 237 27 0 6.84 —
1994–95 Prince George Cougars WHL 44 — — — — — — — — —
1995–96 Prince George Cougars WHL 59 — — — — — — — — —
1996–97 Prince George Cougars WHL 50 19 23 1 — 2852 172 2 3.62 .900
1997–98 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 47 13 19 7 — 2368 136 0 3.45 .903
1998–99 Nashville Predators NHL 3 0 0 0 — 69 6 0 5.21 .864
1998–99 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 34 15 12 6 — 1901 92 1 2.90 .906
1999–00 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 52 20 21 8 — 2952 137 2 2.78 .904
2000–01 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 37 17 14 5 — 2226 87 5 2.35 .920
2000–01 Nashville Predators NHL 1 0 1 0 — 58 2 0 2.05 .900
2001–02 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 48 17 21 7 — 2755 116 2 2.53 .917
2002–03 San Antonio Rampage AHL 50 25 18 6 — 2914 122 1 2.51 .921
2003–04 Nashville Predators NHL 17 4 4 1 — 743 27 1 2.18 .926
2003–04 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 1 1 0 0 — 60 2 0 2.00 .933
2004–05 Vålerenga GET 20 14 1 5 4 1203 36 1 1.79 .934
2005–06 Nashville Predators NHL 23 12 5 — 1 1226 52 2 2.54 .913
2006–07 Nashville Predators NHL 40 24 11 — 4 2342 93 5 2.38 .925
2007–08 Nashville Predators NHL 51 18 22 — 6 2691 130 4 2.90 .898
2008–09 St. Louis Blues NHL 57 27 21 — 7 3215 129 6 2.41 .916
2009–10 St. Louis Blues NHL 61 30 22 — 8 3512 148 2 2.53 .913
2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 33 13 13 — 3 1682 95 1 3.39 .892
NHL totals 286 128 99 1 29 15542 682 21 2.63 .911

Playoffs

   
Season Team League GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2004–05 Vålerenga GET 11 10 1 657 22 1 2.01 .936
2005–06 Nashville Predators NHL 5 1 4 418 17 0 3.45 .901
2008–09 St. Louis Blues NHL 4 0 4 256 10 0 2.34 .916
NHL totals 9 1 8 552 27 0 2.93 .907

References

  1. ^ "Goalie Mason scores, wins fifth straight as Preds top Yotes". 2006-04-15. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260415027. 
  2. ^ "NHL Power Rankings". CNN. 2006-04-18. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/scott_wraight/04/17/power.rankings26/index.html. 

External links