Getting to Know: Mason Kohn
Mason Kohn’s Ontario Hockey League career didn’t exactly start the way he’d hoped it would. When the public address announcer introduced him for the very first time to Rangers fans, the freshman forward enjoyed a bittersweet moment in the press box, sidelined by an injury that held him back for a few weeks to start the season. Still, the experience of seeing his face projected on the ice and hearing the crowd brought a broad smile to the rookie’s face. It might not have been the entrance to the league Kohn wanted, but it was definitely a learning experience for the youngster.
“It wasn’t good being injured, obviously, but I got to see first-hand how much it stinks to be out of the line-up,” he says, adding that he vowed to never sit in a suit again.
“I knew that once I got back, I was going to study the game and do everything I have to do to keep my body in shape so that I’m always ready, and to give myself the best chance to be in the line-up every night. I use that as motivation.”
At only 16-years-old, Mason is already familiar with that ‘whatever it takes’ mentality when it comes to his career. Playing minor hockey in Florida took a huge commitment from his family, including his dad, Steve, who took on the task of getting the winger to the rink for after-school practices.
“Every day after school, my dad would come pick me up. He’d show up, like, two hours early so we could be first in the car loop line to bring me to the rink, just so we would be on time. If it weren’t for my parents, I wouldn’t have skated,” the younger Kohn recalls with a fond smile. And once he was through middle school, the family had another important choice to make.
“In Florida, once you graduate from PeeWee AAA, when you go into ninth grade, everyone wants to get out of Florida. It’s not that it’s bad or anything! People just want to go to prep school,” he explains. And so, at the tender age of 14, he started applying to schools, eventually earning a spot at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, widely considered to be one of the premier prep school teams in the country. Of course, the opportunity came with a catch: Mason had to pack his bags and move the 1700 miles from his home in Davie to Faribault, MN.
“For the first month, I wasn’t homesick, but after that it hit me. I loved it, though, and I worked through that. It got easier as it went on,” he says, adding that the distance from home was a necessary sacrifice for him. He excelled at Shattuck, scoring 96 points in two seasons, including an impressive 24 goal campaign in 2012-13, and turned scouts’ heads in the process.
“I don’t think I’d be here now, if I hadn’t taken that step. I just wouldn’t have progressed with hockey in Florida.”
Leaving home at a young age for hockey also helped prepare Mason for life in OHL. Selected by the Rangers in the 10th round of the 2013 Priority Selection, he made a huge impression in training camp with his vision and skill set. Despite attractive offers to play college hockey closer to home, he decided that coming to The Aud was the logical next step in his hockey journey.
“I figured that Kitchener is such a great organization – players, coaches, training staff – and I knew it was the best chance for me to get drafted into the NHL. If it happens that would be great, and if not, well, I’ll work hard and make something happen. But this is my best chance, my best opportunity.”
The Rangers’ top scoring 16-year-old proved this season that he was a steal in the late rounds of the draft. And he says playing junior hockey as an underager is an advantage – an opportunity to spend an extra year developing the speed and strength that will get him noticed in his draft year.
“I just want to make sure I’m improving, being the best I can be and that means working hard every day. I guess my goal is to see how I progress – I’m trying to keep pace with my teammates and to keep on getting better,” he shares. And with the help of the Rangers’ coaching staff, he has a plan in place to make it happen.
“Keep working hard, hit the gym and try to execute more with my skill. When I work hard, I try to work hard for the right reasons, instead of working hard the wrong way. It’s about working smart.”
Confident in his decision to join the Rangers, he’s also enjoying the support of his family. The distance between them is just geography, says Mason, and they’ve been repeat visitors to Kitchener since he arrived.
“They’ve been up a few times. Pretty frequently to start the season, actually, but I think they’ll stop coming as much – they must be getting tired of me!” he laughs. All kidding aside, though, he’s grateful for the strength Steve, and mom Joy have given him in his young career.
“They’re supportive of my decision and they’re proud of me. And that’s all that matters.”
