The near-vacant Nationwide Arena echoed with the sound of pucks hitting iron, Plexiglas and the leather of Mason's catching glove. Intermittent shouts of joy accompanied shots that beat a goalie who at 6 feet 4, 215 pounds can make the net look the size of a croquet wicket.

Mason, 20, has been participating in goalie drills since he was 9, but rarely has the routine seemed so invigorating. Seldom has the chance to interact with teammates felt like such a privilege.

"It's good to be back on the ice and practicing," Mason said. "It's just fun to be around the guys and the game again."

After six months, two knee surgeries and plenty of fits and starts, the Jackets' top goaltending prospect is healthy enough to resume playing.

Barring any setbacks, Mason will join the Syracuse Crunch, the franchise's top minor-league club, within days and possibly make his first start next weekend.

"His knee is fine," general manager Scott Howson said. "It's just a matter of Steve getting back the timing and getting in game shape. We're very pleased with how hard he's worked to get back to this point."

Mason's character has been tested on several levels since suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee during the Ontario Hockey League playoffs in April. He has dealt with adversity as great as the near death of his father and as trivial as learning to live on his own in Columbus.

He and his father, Bill, who was hospitalized in June because of blood clots in his lungs, spent the summer rehabilitating their maladies.

Mason arrived at training camp in mid-September with designs on making the team and staying in Columbus. He got half of his wish, reinjuring the knee after just six on-ice workouts.

Compounding the setback was the fact that doctors in Toronto had reattached the damaged cartilage in April, rather than removing it, in hopes of gaining some long-term health benefits. All parties were on board with the decision, but the drawback was a lengthy recovery period.

"The meniscus just didn't heal properly," said Mason, who had the cartilage removed Sept. 23 in Columbus. "It was so frustrating because I had put so much effort into getting back, 5 1/2 months of therapy down the drain, a lot of wasted time."

Mason spent the next three weeks healing up and working out away from other players. He arrived at the rink for therapy and conditioning while most teammates were still sleeping. He was walking across Nationwide Boulevard to his franchise-owned condominium as the Jackets were pulling on their jerseys for practice.

"It's the worst feeling in the world," said Tyler Wright, the Jackets' development coach. "It's almost like you lose your identity, you're floating around doing nothing. You miss the camaraderie, but you don't want to hang around and become a distraction."

Mason watched movies and played video games at the condo. He worked out in the arena weight room on nights the Jackets had home exhibition games.

As the Jackets opened the season in Dallas, Mason was left in Columbus to begin skating and facing shots from a former local college player and a Jackets assistant equipment manager.

The first-year pro also has been without the services of Clint Malarchuk, the Jackets' goaltenders coach who accidentally shot himself in the chin Oct. 7.

"You are by yourself a lot," Mason said. "It gives you motivation to get back quickly."

Mason has used some of his spare time to learn to cook. He's sticking to basics, pasta and chicken. Lots of Ragu, no meals from scratch.

"I've got to figure out how to spice things up," he said. "I need my mom's cookbook."

Players in the locker room probably will ride Mason for his culinary endeavors. He'll savor every minute of it, of course. It's not just the hockey he has missed, but the interaction, the give and take among the players.

Yesterday afternoon, Mason sat in the corner of the locker room after practice talking and joking with defenseman Marc Methot and forward Alexandre Picard.

It was a good day, one that has Mason feeling whole again.

treed@dispatch.com