Chris
Mason
Object Name: Goalie Hockey Stick
Player: Chris Mason
Team: Atlanta Thrashers
Season/Year of Use: 2010–2011
Shot: Left
Manufacturer: Nike/Bauer
Model: Vapor
Material: Composite/Carbon Fiber
Country of Manufacture: China
Dimensions: Total Height: 64 in (162.6 cm), Shaft Length: 54 in (137.2 cm),././ Blade Length: 12 in (30.5 cm), Blade Height: 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Weight: 615 grams (1.35 lb)
Color: Silver, Blue, and White with Nike/Bauer branding (typical of model)
Signature: Yes. Black marker autograph on blade
Condition: Poor; apparent use with breakage mid-shaft, cracked in half and amateur repaired by previous owner using tape.
Provenance
Donated in 2012 by D.L. Wicker, who had acquired the stick through private means following Mason’s tenure with the Atlanta Thrashers. The stick was game-used and vborken in half during the 2010–2011 NHL season, the franchise’s final year before relocation to Winnipeg. Its distinct repairs and signs of use reflect extended play and post-career handling, adding a unique narrative of preservation and imperfection to the object’s lifecycle.
Description and Significance
This Vapor goaltender stick, used by Chris Mason during the franchise’s final season in Atlanta before relocating to Winnipeg, illustrates the durability challenges of early fully composite goalie sticks. The Vapor model was popular among goaltenders for its light balance and reinforced paddle, though prone to cracking under high stress.
Mason’s stick retains visible puck marks, tape residue, and the fracture line indicative of heavy gameplay. The amateur repair performed by a collector provides a record of its post-professional life, capturing the passion of fan-driven preservation in hockey culture. As one of few surviving pieces from the Thrashers’ final active year, this artifact carries both athletic and historical resonance.
Storage Information
Storage Area: Warehouse B – Goaltending Equipment Wing
Fixture (Rack / Cabinet): Racking Unit G3 (“Goalie Sticks – Hybrid / Composite Era”)
Shelf Level: Level 1 (Lower Shelf – Oversized Items)
Slot / Position Number: Position 09 (Labeled “MASON, C. – 2010–11 – Vapor – Thrashers”)
Container Type: Custom reinforced archival tray with foam supports and nylon straps for cracked segments
Environmental Controls: 18°C ± 2°C; 45–55% relative humidity
Handling Notes: Handle with nitrile gloves; support at fracture point; do not lift by blade or repaired area.
Cataloging Information
Catalogued By: RJ Umberger, Collections Registrar
Date of Entry: October 13, 2025
Last Condition Check: October 28, 2025
Reviewed By: Lars Eller, Senior Curator
Review Date: October 30, 2025
Notes / Comments: Stick remains fragile due to prior damage. Repair documented and photographed for conservation record. Future consideration for partial stabilization or brace fitting. Scheduled for re-evaluation in 2027.
