Raymond’s star shines bright with homecoming hat trick
Written for Cochrane Eagle
It was the greatest night of Mason Raymond’s young life, and the best part of all was that his family and friends were on hand to witness the whole thing.
The 24-year-old emerging NHL star, who grew up on a ranch just outside of Cochrane, scored three goals in succession in the first two periods Dec. 27 as his Vancouver Canucks thumped the host Calgary Flames 5-1 in front of a packed house at the Saddledome.
It was the first career hat trick for the speedy left-winger and earned him the game’s first star recognition.
“Obviously it was great,” said a reserved Raymond in the locker room after the game. “I grew up watching the Flames and was a big fan . . . this area has been good to me over the years.
“Obviously the Calgary-area is very passionate about their hockey and Cochrane was a great place for me to grow up. Some good players have come out of there, I still consider it home and a place I come back to all the time and enjoy.”
- Vancouver forward Mason Raymond celebrates his third goal of the night as the Cochrane hockey product tallied his first-ever hat trick in a 5-1 win against Calgary Flames Dec. 27. Raymond was named first star in the effort and now has a career-high 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) for Vancouver this season. Photos by Jeremy Nolais.
More photos from the game: Photo Gallery
For Raymond’s father, Terry, who watched his son play the game of his life from the Saddledome stands along with wife Carol, daughter Nadine, and numerous other family and friends, it was an emotion-filled night that he will never forget.
“Well I didn’t cry,” Terry said, chuckling. “I always believed in him. You just never know how big the heart in the dog is.”
Terry, who still lives in the Cochrane area, has been Mason’s biggest source of encouragement over the years, offering him guidance and building outdoor rinks for his son to practice on as a youngster.
The proud father recalls watching with great excitement as his son erupted on the Alberta hockey scene with the Camrose Kodiaks in 2005, scoring a league-high 41 goals and adding an identical number of assists in his second season with the team to lead them to the Alberta Junior Hockey League championship.
Later on that year, the Canucks drafted Mason in the second round, 51st overall.
It was at this point that the Cochrane farm boy’s dreams of playing in the NHL became a viable reality.
“I think you always believe you can make it,” Mason said. “You get your chances and opportunities, but when I got drafted that was really the turning point.”
After successful stints with the NCAA’s University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, Raymond finally earned his NHL stripes in the Canucks season-opener against the San Jose Sharks in October 2007, picking up an assist in the process on a goal by Brendan Morrison.
But the battle wasn’t over for Mason, as he suffered a knee injury during a game in March 2008 that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Finally, after being scratched from the lineup numerous times during the regular season, Mason got his shot in last year’s playoffs when fellow Vancouver forward Pavol Demitra went down with a knee injury in the second round against the Chicago Blackhawks. Paired with Canucks stars Mats Sundin and Ryan Kesler, Mason took full advantage of his opportunity, scoring two goals and adding an assist before the Canucks fell to the ‘Hawks in six games.
It’s been a long road indeed, but looking back Mason doesn’t seem to have many regrets.
“It’s all been stepping stones to where I’m at now,” he said bluntly.
Where he’s at now is a consistent second-line forward for the Canucks who has appeared in every game for the team this season and already logged a career-high 29 points (17 goals,12 assists) with a lot of season still left.
Terry says his son has gained a new level of confidence this season and he foresees even greater things from him in the years ahead.
“He hasn’t exceeded my expectations, I expect a lot more from him yet,” Terry said. “He has got a long ways to go yet with his development in terms of where he wants to be.”
Mason’s father isn’t the only one who has taken notice of the Cochranite’s drastic improvement, just ask Canucks superstar Daniel Sedin.
“He’s such a skilled player, and a smart player, and he’s figured it out himself,” Sedin said. “We have been there too, myself and Henrik (his twin brother and fellow Canucks forward), sometimes you have just got to relax, get back to the basics and have fun.
“Mason’s been working really hard these past few years and now he is getting some really nice goals and some points too. He’s really deserving of his success.”
Success like his hat trick Dec. 27. In the opening period, Mason got behind the Calgary defence and chipped a shot from Mikael Samuelsson past Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. On the same shift, Mason flipped a puck in from about centre ice that fell onto Kiprusoff’s left arm and then trickled into the net.
In the second period, Vancouver defenceman Alexander Edler fed a beautiful, cross-ice pass to Mason, who was on the doorstep to bury it home and complete the hat trick. The Canucks bench exploded with excitement and the young forward was mauled by his linemates.
“It was really special to do it tonight, in front of friends and family,” Mason said.
Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said the team has been extremely pleased with the input from Mason, who now ranks third on the team in overall points.
“Mason’s been real good at home and this was a real good road game for him,” Vigneault said. “A lot of our group has talked about playing better on the road . . . we made some mistakes, but our goaltending was really good and shut the door.”
The Canucks now move on to face the Blues in St. Louis on New Year’s Eve.
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