Rookie Ducks, Blue Jackets, and Blackhawks in Running for Calder

Columbus Blue Jackets' net minder Steve Mason, forward Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks, and forward Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks were named Calder trophy finalists for NHL Rookie of Year this week.

The three rookies are in the running for the 2008-09 Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition" in the NHL.

Mason finished the regular season with a league best 10 shutouts, including three in a row.

Ryan led all rookies in scoring with 31 goals and 57 points in 64 games.

Versteeg led all rookies with 31 assists and four shorthanded goals.

The winner will be announced on June 18th at the 2009 NHL Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association submitted ballots for the Calder Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote getters designated as finalists.

Mason won his first three NHL starts and was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for both November and December. Mason finished strong, going 8-2-4 from March 7th-April 8th, as Columbus captured the first playoff berth in franchise history. His 2.29 goals against average ranked second to Tim Thomas' 2.10 for Boston.

Ryan was Rookie of the Month for January, when he scored 11 goals with five assists in 14 games.

Versteeg is the third Blackhawk in the last two seasons voted a Calder Trophy finalist. In the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 on New Year's Day at Wrigley Field, Versteeg scored a goal and assisted on another.