COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason will miss the next 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old Mason was the Blue Jackets' second pick and No. 69 overall in the 2006 draft and is considered the franchise's prize goaltender of the future.
He suffered the injury last spring playing with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, where he went 32-7-3 with a 2.51 goals-against average and three shutouts in 42 games last season.
Mason also went 5-0-0 with a 1.19 GAA in leading Canada to a gold medal at the 2008 world junior championship. He was selected as the tournament's top goaltender and MVP.
He was expected to spend this season in the minors since the Blue Jackets have veteran goalies in Pascal Leclaire and Fredrik Norrena.
