Mason Raymond

Mason Evan Raymond (born September 17, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks.

After playing AAA midget with the Strathmore Bisons of the Foothills Bisons Hockey Association, Raymond began a two-year Junior A career with the Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL in 2003–04.

Raymond had been hesitant about pursuing his career due to a lack of interest from major junior teams, but his friend Dan Bertram encouraged him to play with him in Camrose.

Bertram also played midget with Raymond and went on to be a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick, three selections after him.

Raymond posted a team-high 27 goals and 62 points as a rookie, including six game winning goals.

Following his first junior season, Raymond was recruited by the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

Having earned an athletic scholarship, he had the choice of playing one more season with Camrose or to make the jump to the college ranks.

He consulted with Kodiaks head coach Boris Rybalka and was challenged to improve at the Junior A level before moving to Minnesota-Duluth.

As a result, Raymond remained in Camrose, signing a letter of intent in November 2004 to join the Minnesota-Duluth the following year for the 2005–06 season.

Several other National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) schools had recruited Raymond as well, including the University of Denver, Western Michigan University and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

He chose the Bulldogs because he knew that, with 11 seniors leaving their team the following season, he would have the biggest role with that club.

Raymond went on to lead the AJHL in scoring with 41 goals and was named league MVP in 2004–05.

He was draft-eligible in 2004, but opted out due to his low ranking at the time.

He was scouted by Canucks general manager Dave Nonis as a fast skater with the puck who needed to work on his strength.

Following his draft, he joined the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

Born in Cochrane, Alberta, but growing up in Calgary, Alberta, he played Junior A in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for two seasons, where he captured league and regional titles with the Camrose Kodiaks, while also being named league MVP in 2005.

He then joined the college ranks with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) for a two-year tenure there, as well.

Raymond was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft in the second round, 51st overall.

He added 20 points in 15 post-season games as the Kodiaks captured the Rogers Wireless Cup as league champions to advance to the 2005 Doyle Cup, Canada's Pacific Junior A regional championship.

During the competition, Raymond was hospitalized with fatigue and dehydration that decreased his weight to 150 pounds.

Though he missed the final against the British Columbia Hockey League's Surrey Eagles, the Kodiaks won without him and advanced to the 2005 Royal Bank Cup, Canada's national Junior A tournament.

Raymond returned to action as the Kodiaks advanced to the national level at the 2005 Royal Bank Cup.

He led the tournament in scoring with 10 points (4 goals and 6 assists) over 5 games as Camrose finished as runner-up to the tournament host Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Raymond was selected in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round, 51st overall.

Scoring 11 goals and 28 points over 40 games, he was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team for the 2005–06 season.

In his sophomore campaign, Raymond led the Bulldogs in scoring with 14 goals, 32 assists and 46 points.

Raymond's points total was good for second in league scoring behind Jonathan Toews.

He received WCHA Player of the Week honours twice and was awarded the Mike Seiler Award, as the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player.

His college career ended after the Bulldogs were eliminated by the St. Cloud State Huskies in the second round of the WCHA playoffs.

Raymond chose to forgo his final two years of college eligibility to turn professional and signed an amateur tryout contract with the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

He earned WCHA All-Rookie honours in 2006, WCHA First Team All-Star honours in 2007, and was also named the Bulldogs' most valuable player in 2007.

After spending parts of two seasons with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, he joined the club full-time in 2007–08.

He is known as a fast-skating offensive player.

He scored his first AHL goal in his debut with the Moose on March 23, 2007.

The goal was the game winner against goaltender Stefan Liv with four minutes remaining in a 3–2 victory against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Following his second AHL game, the Canucks signed him to an NHL contract.

He completed his 11-game regular season in the AHL with two goals and two assists.

In the subsequent 2007 playoffs, he added an assist in 13 games, as the Moose were eliminated by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the second round.

The Kodiaks later retired Raymond's number 9 prior to their season-opening game against the Okotoks Oilers on September 10, 2010.

He represented Canada in South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics.