Syracuse Crunch press release
Syracuse, NY (June 18, 2009) – Former Syracuse Crunch goaltender and current Columbus Blue Jacket Steve Mason was named this year’s winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy at tonight’s Annual NHL Awards at the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mason beat out Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan and Chicago’s Kris Versteeg for the honor.
The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded annually ‘to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.’ Mason joins Michael Peca (Frank J. Selke Award (Best Defensive Forward) – 1996-97, 2001-02) as the only other Crunch alumnus in the 15-year history of the club to win a major NHL Award.
Mason, 21, appeared in three games with the Crunch this season, going 2-1-0 with a 1.63 goals against average and .937 save percentage, making his professional debut in a 2-1 shootout win over Grand Rapids on October 29, 2008. He was recalled by Columbus on November 4 and appeared in 61 games for the Blue Jackets, going 33-20-7 with a 2.29 goals against average, .916 save percentage and a league-leading 10 shutouts, helping guide Columbus to the club’s first-ever playoff appearance.
A native of Oakville, Ontario, Mason was twice named the NHL Rookie of the Month, winning the award in November, going 5-2-1 with a 2.09 goals against average, .919 save percentage and two shutouts, and December, going 7-5-0 with a 1.41 goals against average, .950 save percentage and three shutouts. Mason was drafted by Columbus in the third round, 69th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
