Episode 43 Pekka Rinne and Chris Mason
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Pekka Rinne credits Pesapola, Finnish baseball, as a key factor in developing his elite glove hand. Both Rinne and former Predators backup Chris Mason cite goalie whisperer Mitch Korn as central to their development in Nashville. Mason also details how he read shots by studying the blades of opposing forwards.
- Pekka Rinne attributes his elite glove hand to playing Pesapola (Finnish baseball) during his formative years — a sport that builds the tracking and catching instincts critical for goaltending.
- Goalie coach Mitch Korn played a significant development role for both Rinne and Mason during their time with the Nashville Predators.
- Chris Mason developed a technique of reading shots off the blades of opposing forwards rather than tracking the puck release.
- Goalie Bloc — a thick rubber band that wraps around the stick paddle — protects the index finger from shots riding up the paddle and has recently received NHL approval.
- Mason enjoyed an 18-year pro career including 317 NHL games, World Championship medals with Canada, and a championship in Norway before returning to Nashville as a broadcaster.
In this Episode of the InGoal Radio Podcast presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports , we sit down with Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Pekka Rinne and his former Nashville Predators playing partner Chris Mason, who is back with the team as a broadcaster and still as entertaining and passionate about puck stopping as he was during an 18-year pro career that included 317 NHL games, gold and silver medals with Canada at the World Championships, a championship in Norway, and some of the best gear and mask art the NHL has ever seen.
Our conversation with the two Predators icons includes everything from how Pesapola (Finnish baseball) helped forge an incredible glove hand for the late-blooming Rinne, the role that famous goalie whisperer Mitch Korn played in the development path of both guys, how Mason read shots off the blades of opposing forwards, and lots more insights every goalie will appreciate and relate to.
In the gear segment, we catch up with Cam back at the Hockey Shop to talk about Goalie Bloc, small rubber band with a thick protective layer that wraps around your stick to help protect the index finger from shots that ride up the paddle. It’s a relatively new product that was only recently approved for use in NHL games, and seems like a no-brainer in terms of mitigating injuries risk, especially in practice.
Weekly Gear Segment
presented by The Hockey Shop Source for SportsIn the gear segment, we catch up with Cam back at the Hockey Shop to talk about Goalie Bloc, small rubber band with a thick protective layer that wraps around your stick to help protect the index finger from shots that ride up the paddle. It’s a relatively new product that was only recently approved for use in NHL games, and seems like a no-brainer in terms of mitigating injuries risk, especially in practice.
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