Chris Mason (ice hockey)

This article is about the ice hockey player. For the darts player, see Chris Mason (darts player).

Chris Mason
Mason with the Nashville Predators in 2006
Born	(1976-04-20) April 20, 1976 Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Nashville Predators Vålerenga Ishockey St. Louis Blues Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets Ritten-Renon Augsburger Panther
National team	Canada
NHL draft	122nd overall, 1995 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1997–2015

Christopher Robert Mason (born April 20, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He most recently played with Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He previously played for four National Hockey League (NHL) teams. Mason is the colour analyst covering Predators games broadcast on Bally Sports South.

Playing career

While completing a junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince George Cougars, Mason was originally drafted 122nd overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Embarking on his professional career and un-signed from the Devils, Mason signed as a free agent by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on June 27, 1997. After his rookie professional season with the Ducks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, and on the eve of his sophomore season, Mason was traded by Anaheim along with Marc Moro to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Dominic Roussel.

Mason made his debut in the NHL with the Predators during the 1998–99 season, relieving in three games. After a further three seasons within the Predators organization, Mason left as a free agent and signed a contract with the Florida Panthers. Mason was assigned to Florida's AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, for the duration of the 2002–03 season. He re-signed with the Panthers to a one-year extension, however he never featured for the club before he was claimed in the 2003 NHL Waiver Draft to return to the Nashville Predators.

In the 2003–04 season, Mason joined the Predators full-time as the backup to starter Tomáš Vokoun. In 17 appearances that season, Mason finished with a 4–4–1 record with a 2.18 goals against average (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.

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

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.

Mason at the 2008 Blues FanFest. Mason was traded to the St. Louis Blues in the 2008 off-season.

On June 20, 2008, Mason was traded by the Predators to the St. Louis Blues for a fourth round draft pick. In two seasons as the Blues number one goalie, Mason appeared in career high 61 and 57 games, to post 27 and 30 wins respectively.

On July 1, 2010, Mason left the Blues and signed a two-year, $3.7 million deal with the Atlanta Thrashers, marking the first time in his NHL career that Mason 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. Following the team's relocation, Mason played out the second season of his contract for the Winnipeg Jets.

On July 1, 2012, Mason returned for a third stint with the Nashville Predators, on a one-year deal to serve as the team's backup goalie. During the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, Mason was unable to recapture his earlier career form posting a career low goals against and save percentage.

With limited NHL interest at season's end, Mason signed abroad in Italy to a one-year contract with Ritten-Renon of the Elite.A on August 6, 2013. After a successful season in Italy, on May 23, 2014, he moved to Germany to sign a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

On September 21, 2015, Mason announced his retirement from professional hockey and that he would be joining the Nashville Predators Radio Network as a colour commentator for select games during the 2015–16 season.

International play

Medal record
Representing Canada
World Championships
	2007 Russia
	2009 Switzerland

Mason made his international debut with Canada at the 2006 World Championships but did not play. He won a gold medal with team Canada at the 2007 World Championships as a third goaltender. He played his first game at the 2009 World Championships in Switzerland where he went 4–0 with a 1.00 GAA, and helped Canada to a silver medal.

Based on the strong performance in 2009 World Championships and in the NHL regular season leading up to the Olympics, Mason was selected as a reserve by Team Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics as a stand-by goaltender should an injury occur. He would play as the starting goaltender at the 2010 World Championships in Germany, where they lost against Team Russia in the quarter-finals. Mason also played for Team Canada at the 2013 Spengler Cup.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	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	8	30	0	2288	192	1	5.03	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Prince George Cougars	WHL		59	16	37	0	3289	236	1	4.31	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Prince George Cougars	WHL		50	19	23	1	2852	172	2	3.62	.900		15	9	6	938	44	1	2.81	—
1997–98	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		47	13	19	7	2368	136	0	3.45	.903		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		34	15	12	6	1901	92	1	2.90	.906		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Nashville Predators	NHL		3	0	0	0	69	6	0	5.21	.864		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		52	20	21	8	2952	137	2	2.78	.904		3	1	2	252	11	0	2.62	.923
2000–01	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		37	17	14	5	2226	87	5	2.35	.920		4	1	3	239	12	0	3.01	.891
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		3	0	3	195	9	0	2.77	.926
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	5	1	1203	36	1	1.79	.934		11	10	1	657	22	1	2.01	.936
2005–06	Nashville Predators	NHL		23	12	5	1	1226	52	2	2.54	.913		5	1	4	296	17	0	3.45	.901
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		4	0	4	257	10	0	2.34	.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		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		20	8	7	1	995	43	2	2.59	.898		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Nashville Predators	NHL		11	1	7	1	467	29	0	3.73	.873		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Ritten/Renon	ITL		36	27	8	0	2064	75	1	2.18	.927		17	—	—	1030	—	3	1.86	.951
2014–15	Augsburger Panther	DEL		33	13	18	0	1865	99	0	3.18	.901		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				317	137	113	31	17,004	754	23	2.66	.909		9	1	8	553	27	0	2.93	.907

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA	SV%
2006	Canada	WC	4th		0	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	Canada	WC			0	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009	Canada	WC			4	4	0	0	1	1.00	.965
2010	Canada	WC	7th		7	3	4	0	0	2.80	.896
Senior int'l totals					11	7	4	0	1	2.06	.925

Awards

• Air Canada Cup Top Goaltender in 1994
• Norwegian GET-ligaen All-Star Team in 2004–05.
• GET-ligaen champion with Vålerenga in 2004–05.
• Norwegian Champion with Vålerenga in 2004–05.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database