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August 27, 2010
RBC.017
 The Camrose Kodiaks, hosts of the 2011 RBC Cup, have announced they will retire the No. 9 of
Mason Raymond prior to the team’s AJHL regular season home opener on September 10 when they host the Okotoks
Oilers.
Raymond, a member of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, played two seasons with the Kodiaks (2003-05), leading
them to an AJHL championship and a berth in the championship game of the RBC Cup in 2005. The Cochrane,
Alta., native totalled 144 points (68 goals, 76 assists) in 112 regular season games with the Kodiaks.
“The Kodiaks organization is extremely proud of the accomplishments of Mason Raymond,” said Boris Rybalka,
head coach and general manager of the Kodiaks. “We have seen and admired Mason’s growth through the years,
and are very delighted that his hockey career has reached the levels it has. We could not be more proud that
Mason wore a Kodiaks uniform for two seasons, and are pleased to support him in his professional hockey
career.”
After recording 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) in his rookie season with the Kodiaks in 2003-04, Raymond
took off in his sophomore year, putting up 82 points (41 goals, 41 assists) in just 55 games en route to the
AJHL’s Most Valuable Player award. In the playoffs, Raymond helped the Kodiaks to victories over Fort
McMurray in the AJHL final and Surrey in the Doyle Cup before falling agonizingly short in the national
championship game against the host Weyburn Red Wings.
For his efforts that season, Raymond was selected in the second round (51st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry
Draft by the Canucks.
Following his career in Camrose, Raymond moved on to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he earned a
spot on the WCHA All-Rookie Team after posting 28 points in 40 games, and improved to 46 points in 39 games
in his sophomore year, which led to him being named UMD MVP and to the WCHA First All-Star Team.
Raymond signed his first professional contract following the 2006-07 season and made his pro debut with
the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, suiting up for the final 11 regular season games as well as 11 postseason
contests.
He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2007 against San Jose, picking up an assist for his first NHL point,
and scored his first NHL goal against Anaheim’s Jean-Sebastien Giguere on December 12, 2007. Raymond split
his time between the Canucks and the Moose during the 2007-08 season, posting an impressive 21 points (nine
goals, 12 assists) in only 49 NHL games.
An NHL regular for the last two seasons, Raymond was named the Canucks’ Unsung Hero for the 2009-10 season
after a 53-point (25 goals, 28 assists) campaign, which earned him a new two-year contract beginning with the
upcoming 2010-11 season. His 2009-10 performance also led to his first-ever international appearance for
Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany.
Prior to the jersey retirement ceremony on Sept. 10, Raymond will visit a number of Camrose-area schools
before taking part in a tailgate party and barbecue outside the Edgeworth Centre, where he will be signing
autographs. CAM FM 98.1, the official radio station of the Camrose Kodiaks, will be broadcasting live from
the tailgate party and will have interviews with Raymond and Kodiaks fans prior to puck drop.
Tickets to the game, which begins at 7:30 p.m., are available by phoning the Kodiaks office at
780-679-2603.
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