by Tom Reed, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH , The Columbus Dispatch

The inclusion of Nash, a member of the 2006 Olympic team and 2007 world championship team, was an obvious choice. Not so for Mason. His selection marks the latest achievement for a precocious 21-year-old who wasn't expected to play full time for the Jackets last season let alone be named NHL rookie of the year.

"I just plan to go there, work hard and hope to get my foot in the door," Mason said.

Team Canada invited five goaltenders, including Vancouver's Roberto Luongo, Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury, Carolina's Cam Ward and New Jersey's Brodeur. Mason's bedroom in his family's home in Oakville, Ontario, serves as a shrine to Brodeur, who became the league's winningest goaltender last season.

Getting a chance to meet Brodeur "was one of the first things I thought about when I got the call," Mason said.

Team Canada will take a 23-man roster into the 2010 Winter Olympics and carry just three goaltenders. Mason figures to be a long shot, but he also has a history of surprising his competition.

"It's never a bad thing to be an underdog; it motivates you," he said. "I'll be going in as the youngest goaltender and I just want to make the best of my opportunity."

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock, a Team Canada assistant coach, said the staff will use the first few months of the regular season to evaluate players on the bubble. Mason's chance to represent his country in Vancouver unlikely will be his last.

"I think he is the future of Hockey Canada," Hitchcock said. "The Brodeurs and Luongos aren't going to play forever and you need that backup plan. Mase is one of those guys who's going to really benefit from going through the camp this summer. ... Him getting to know these players and getting them to trust him is going to help down the line."

\ Line juggling

Two months before training camp, Hitchcock already is formulating forward lines. He said yesterday Derick Brassard will start training camp as the first-line center with wingers Nash and Kristian Huselius.

Hitchcock said he's not sure which winger will make the best fit for third-line center Sami Pahlsson, whom the team signed Wednesday. The team's glut of left wingers figures to make at least one expendable. He added that Derek Dorsett, Andrew Murray and Mike Blunden are among the candidates to center a fourth line.

\ Waiting game

General manager Scott Howson said the club plans to take a patient approach in trying to land an offensive defenseman. The Jackets acquired Pahlsson and backup goaltender Mathieu Garon on the first day of free agency.

Howson likely will wait to see who wants to move a defenseman or requires salary cap relief once the majority of big-name free agents are signed.

\ Pain game

Trent Vogelhuber, a Blue Jackets prospect and Dublin resident, suffered a sprained left knee and hairline fracture to his femur in development camp.

Vogelhuber has a history of knee injuries, but said this one is not as serious. A forward at Miami University, he expects to be skating within four to six weeks. He collided with Kelly Geoffrey, a camp invitee who has been rooming with Vogelhuber.

"He felt terrible about it," Vogelhuber said. "It was a complete accident."

treed@dispatch.com

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