Mason could pull off rare double at NHL awards night Steve Mason could have a couple extra items to declare at customs when he returns from Las Vegas next month. The 20-year-old local resident has been named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, an award given annually to the National Hockey League's top goaltender. The Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas and Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom are the other finalists for the award, which is voted on by the NHL's 30 general managers. Mason, who backstopped the Columbus Blue Jackets this season to their first playoff appearance in franchise history, was also named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year) last week. Both awards will be handed out June 18 in Las Vegas at the NHL's annual awards show, which will be televised on CBC. Mason could become only the fifth goalie to win the Calder and Vezina trophies in the same year, and the first since Ed Belfour accomplished the feat with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991. "I haven't had a whole lot of time to think about it," Mason told NHL.com. "When you look back at the players who have done it, just to be nominated for one of these awards is a special honour. I'm just thinking about the people who helped me along the way, my family, the players this season, the coaching staff and Blue Jackets' management. Without that support, none of this would have been possible. "I've never been to Las Vegas and I'm excited to go and see what it's all about," added Mason, whose season was ended last weekend in the first round of the playoffs by the Detroit Red Wings. "I'll be going with my family and my girlfriend and hoping we come away winners, not losers." The three Vezina Trophy finalists posted the top three goals-against averages in the NHL this season, with Thomas leading the way (2.10), followed by Mason (2.29) and Backstrom (2.33). Thomas, 35, went 36-11-7 with a .933 save percentage and five shutouts. Mason had a 33-20-7 record, .916 save percentage and a league-leading 10 shutouts. Backstrom, 31, was 37-24-8, posting a .923 save percentage and eight shutouts. 24 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 TAKING ON THE WORLD: Pictured left to right, Kathi Dryburgh, Carolann Carbone, Jodi Clark, Lisa Newman and Gloria Sdao are part of the Oakville Fury women's soccer team that will compete in the 40-and-over division at the World Masters Games in Australia later this year. DOUG BALL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER STA's Thomson headed to Lakehead After winning provincial medals the past two years with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, Ryan Thomson will look for more basketball success with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves. Thomson, the centerpiece of the Raiders' Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AA championship team this past season, committed to Lakehead last week. "We have had the chance to watch Ryan in action several times over the past two seasons and are very familiar with his allaround game," said Thunderwolves head coach Scott Morrison. "We think he will be a versatile player in the (Ontario University Athletics league) and expect him to continue to find different ways to help our team win ball games as he did at the high school level." Ryan Thomson Aquinas coach Mark Maga believes Lakehead will be happy with its latest addition. "I believe Ryan will be a high-quality post player for many years in (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). He possesses great vision and passing ability as a big man, can shoot the ball from the outside with great consistency, and overall has a game that is very much suited for the highly-competitive OUA West," Maga said. "The most impressive aspect to Ryan's game is his basketball IQ. It is like having another coach on the floor, someone who is always communicating with his teammates and brings a great work ethic to practice and workouts." Thomson is currently finishing his Ontario Basketball Association club team tenure with Hamilton-based UPlay. On top of this past season's OFSAA gold medal, Thomson also won provincial bronze with the Raiders in 2008. Women's team hopes to Master the world n By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF There were 10 minutes left to play and Caroline Yurchuk thought to herself, "We can't go home with silver. We can't let this slip away." Yurchuk and her teammates were clinging to a 1-0 lead over the Surrey Saints with the gold medal in women's soccer at the World Masters Games on the line. The Oakville team would add another goal for a 2-0 victory and Yurchuk can still recall the feeling of relief. "I can remember when the whistle blew and I was so glad it over." Now, four years after that victory in Edmonton, Yurchuk can't wait for it to start all over again. Yurchuk is one of 16 players that has been training since September for the World Masters Games in Australia in October. And the team, which will compete in the 40-and-over division, is going with designs on bringing the gold medal back to Oakville. "We all look at (Caroline's) experience and think, `Wow, could we do that?" says Lisa Holtshousen. They are certainly making sure they can do everything they can to make it happen. Since holding tryouts, the team has been holding two practices and a conditioning workout each week. It has made for a big commitment for the players, but Yurchuk hesitates to call it a sacrifice, "because I want to be there." Left midfielder Gloria Sdao, 42, said she was intrigued by the thought of playing at the World Masters Games. "I'm very goal oriented and this gave me the motivation to get there," she said. The players also see themselves as examples of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and continuing to participate in an activity they enjoy. "We're active, competitive athletes," n See Soccer page 26