Nov. 2, 2015
By Maria Canales, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - While Penn State men's hockey has strong ties to the Edmonton area through head coach Guy Gadowsky, another Nittany Lion has taken residence in Alberta's capital city.
Shaun Mason, who holds both a master's and undergraduate degree from Penn State in engineering, is the Project Director for ICON Venue Group, which is leading the development and construction of the $606.5 million Rogers Place Arena, future home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. ICON has managed the development of home venues for the NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and many other professional sports teams.
The Altoona native grew up following Penn State Athletics and while attending Penn State had friends on the men's club hockey team. Mason explained that he never thought that the popularity of the program would grow and develop so quickly like it has during the past four years.
Mason, a former Lion Ambassador, has brought his love for Penn State to all the cities he's lived in since graduating a decade ago, including Chicago and Pittsburgh. While his company worked on the construction of CONSOL Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mason further developed his love for hockey and became a self-proclaimed "diehard" fan of the sport.
When Mason's company got contracted to start development on another hockey arena, this time in Canada, Mason was excited for another new opportunity. And when Penn State men's hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky was hired in 2011 Mason put two and two together and had an idea.
"When I learned Gadowsky had been hired a few years ago and learned he was from Edmonton, I thought maybe I should reach out to him and introduce myself," said Mason.
And introduce himself he did. In 2014, with plans for Rogers Place Arena developed and construction finally underway, Mason reached out to the Edmonton native.
"He told me he was working on Edmonton's new arena," said Gadowsky "He said if I was ever in Edmonton he would love to show me around, so I thought that was really cool."
The plans of touring the new arena came to fruition a few weeks ago when Gadowsky was on a recruiting trip to the Edmonton area.
"I was obviously extremely impressed with what he was doing and I had to go up there recruiting so I jumped at the chance for him to show me around," said Gadowsky.
Mason gave Gadowsky the grand tour of the arena that is set to open in September of 2016. Rogers Place Arena includes an 18,641-seat NHL arena, climate-controlled Winter Garden event venue, and is the first LEED Silver-certified NHL facility in Canada. Gadowsky was impressed with the scale of the project as well as the innovative design of the arena.
"I think it's going to be phenomenal," said Gadowsky. "What [Mason] showed me is happening, I don't think there will be an arena in the world, anything close to this when it's done. It's probably going to be a catalyst for a number of others that are trying to duplicate it or take things from it, but it's going to be one of a kind."
The building of Rogers Place has already sparked the re-development of downtown Edmonton, with many other businesses taking up residence around the construction site.
"I'm very happy about it," said Gadowsky. "I'm also happy for Edmonton because that's where I grew up. This is going to do wonderful things for Edmonton and bring people to the downtown area. I know Edmonton is going to love it."
Another stop on the tour during Gadowsky's visit was Mason's office, which held a special surprise for the head coach.
"I walked into his office and the first thing I saw mounted on his wall were his tickets from the Pegula opener and I thought that was really cool," said Gadowsky.
Mason and his wife, Julie, who graduated from Penn State in 2005, attended the first hockey game in Pegula Ice Arena on Oct. 11, 2013 when Penn State men's hockey hosted Army.
"I was very fortunate that ICON was involved in that project as well," said Mason. "One of the senior executives of the company, knowing how die-hard my wife and I are, he mentioned that if we were going to be back that way he could get us tickets."
During his first visit to Pegula Ice Arena, Mason was thoroughly impressed by the building, but also the atmosphere the arena created.
"Seeing the building that was really built just for hockey and nothing else makes it stand out so much more," said Mason. "Just the way the sound reverberates off the ceiling was incredible."
As for Gadowsky, he is thrilled that Penn State pride stems across countries, connecting Penn Staters of all kinds.
"Everywhere we go, to see people that are excited about Penn State University and Penn State hockey and to see someone in such a prominent position with something that's very important to my hometown, it was pretty cool," said Gadowsky.
With his work in Edmonton keeping him busy, Mason doesn't have plans currently to return to watch his Nittany Lions in person any time soon. He hopes to be able to visit his beloved school soon, and once again cheer on his Nittany Lions from the stands in Pegula.
"That's been one of the biggest challenges being so far from home," said Mason. "I grew up on Penn State and being within reasonable distance of the school for so many years. I'm just itching to get back."