Steve Mason came out of left field...However hockey fans across the nation and in Canada are circling Mason for this years rookie of the year award...
The 20-year old native from Ontario, Canada basically saved the Columbus organization from another disappointing season and turned them into a contender in the West...In previous seasons Columbus was a doormat for NHL teams as they haven't made the playoffs in their existence....This year Mason basically took over the number 1 role and is carrying the Blue Jackets on his back....He came on the scene when Columbus starter in the beginning of the season Pascal Leclaire went down from injury and Mason hasn't looked back since...
Mason stared his road to the NHL with a 3 year stint in the major junior hockey league OHL...He was a main stay with the London Knights winning over 60 games for them in 3 seasons...In 06-07, Mason won 45 games which is the second most for wins in season by a goalie in the OHL and was named the OHL Goalie of the Year....London then traded Mason to Kitchner but Mason sat out most of the season due to injury....Mason in 2008 went on to win a gold medal in the World Junior Championships for Canada and took home every award a goaltender could including MVP....
Mason jumped to the NHL in November and gave Blue Jackets fans have something to cheer for...He was starting regularly over Leclaire when Leclaire came back and had shutouts in 3 games...Mason should be this years rookie of the year ....Hes 10th in wins....3rd in goals against average....1st in Shutouts and 8th in Save %...Mason was also the NHL rookie of the month for two straight months in November and December....
There are some candidates in Blake Wheeler in Boston....Kris Versteeg in Chicago and Bobby Ryan in Anaheim....However, Mason is the most important player to his team and I dont think Columbus would be where they were without him while those other players teams would probably survive without them...
Congrats Steve as you will be the 2009 Rookie of the Year
The Nuch
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