Bob Mason begins his 10th year as Goaltending Coach for the Wild after being named to the position on Sept. 14, 2002. He is responsible for working with goaltenders throughout the Wild organization. Under his tutelage, Wild goaltenders Niklas Backstrom (2007) and Dwayne Roloson (2004) won the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award given annually to the goalie with the NHL’s best save percentage. Backstrom (2009) and Roloson (2004) also represented Minnesota in the NHL All-Star Game. The Wild ranked first in the League in 2006-07 with a 2.20 GAA and a .922 save percentage and claimed the William Jennings Trophy as the team allowed a league-low 191 goals against.
Mason, 50 (4/22/61), also served as a Goaltending Consultant for the Atlanta Thrashers during its first two seasons of existence from 1999-2001. Prior to joining the Thrashers, he spent three seasons with the University of Minnesota as a volunteer Goaltender Coach. Mason played parts of eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks. He finished his NHL career with a 55-65-16 record and a 3.76 GAA in 145 games from 1984 to 1991. He also appeared in five Stanley Cup playoff games and posted a 2-3 record and a 1.95 GAA with Washington and Chicago. The native of International Falls, Minn., played two seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and was a member of Team USA at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.
Mason and his wife, Victoria, currently reside in Bloomington, Minn.
