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Mason Gudridge is from Greenwood Village, Colo., and for the Gudridge family, hockey was a nightly routine. His mother said they played almost every night in the basement, with Mason as the goalie.
Gudridge said: “I grew up playing hockey with my brother, and as an older brother does, he wants the younger brother to stay in the net, so I kind of got stuck in the net and loved it.”
Last season, Gudridge had the opportunity to come up and play 14 games for the Shamrocks after starting his season in AAA. This jump affected him as a player and as a person, he said.
Mason Gudridge laughs during an interview. Photo by Sarah Cooper, Watertown Shamrocks.
“It was a huge jump, and it was awesome. I’m really fortunate for the coaches to believe in me,” he said. “I mean, that jump kind of changed me as a person, and it showed me what community service and playing at this level really takes.”
This season, Gudridge is posting a 2.68 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Like any other player, he is always trying to adapt.
“I think there’s a bit that’s been changed,” he said, “like technically and mentally. So just only improving from there.”
In terms of mentality pregame, that’s also changed for him.
“I try to keep it more mellow this year. I used to get really hyped up for the games, so I just keep it a little bit more mellow.”
Throughout the year, both Mason and his brother Jordan have been at the top of the team’s community-service hours. When it comes to giving back and its importance, Gudridge said: “I mean, so much, these people are so great, and I think it’s just awesome that we can give back, that’s what we’re here for, just to give back.”
Following that question, Gudridge elaborated on just what this community means to him.
“These people have been so great to us. Yeah, it means to the world.”
The full interview with Mason Gudridge will be played in-arena this weekend, January 17, and will be posted on the Shamrocks’ Instagram and YouTube on January 19.
