The NHL announced yesterday that Mason is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the league's top goaltender. Boston's Tim Thomas and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom are the other finalists for the award, which is voted on by the NHL's 30 general managers.

"It's an unbelievable honor," Mason said. "When you look around the NHL and see the type of goaltenders who play in the league ... to be considered in the top three is really special.

"I know I couldn't have done it without the players around me and without the opportunity (coach Ken Hitchcock) and (general manager Scott Howson) gave me this season."

Last week, Mason was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the top rookie. The hardware will be handed out June 18 in Las Vegas at the NHL's annual awards show.

"It puts a young guy in pretty elite company," Hitchcock said. "We're really proud of him. It's a real good starting point for his career to be nominated on both fronts.

"There are a lot of really good NHL goaltenders out there. To be in that category at 20 years old, that's really substantial."

The Blue Jackets expected Mason to spend the season with their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse, but injuries to expected No. 1 Pascal Leclaire and the ineffectiveness of backup Fredrik Norrena led to Mason's NHL debut on Nov. 5 against Edmonton.

Mason, who turns 21 on May 29, started 61 of the Blue Jackets' final 70 regular-season games, finishing 33-20-7 with a 2.29 goals-against average and .916 save percentage and spearheading the Jackets' drive to a first-ever playoff appearance.

"He was a major factor in us getting to the playoffs," Hitchcock said. "He's going to be a major factor for us in the many years ahead, too."

In late December, Mason had three consecutive shutouts, becoming the first rookie to achieve that feat since Glenn Hall in the 1955-56 season. Mason's 10 shutouts led the NHL.

"As a young player, all you can ask for is an opportunity, and I got an unbelievable opportunity for a first-year player," Mason said. "We had a really good season, even though the playoffs didn't go as we wanted.

"This would be the icing on the cake. For myself to go to Vegas I'm very proud of it."

Mason could become only the fifth goaltender in NHL history to win the Calder and Vezina trophies in the same season, joining Chicago's Ed Belfour (1990-91), Buffalo's Tom Barrasso (1983-84), Chicago's Tony Esposito (1969-70) and Boston's Frank Brimsek (1938-39).

Mason won't travel to Sin City alone.

On Friday, Hitchcock is expected to be named a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy, given to the NHL's top coach.

Mason said he will take his girlfriend and several members of his family to the desert, too.

"It'll be expensive," he said, "but it'll be worth it.

"For them to be there, after all they've done for me to get to this point, it'll definitely be worth it."

aportzline@dispatch.com