PHOTO: Former NHL goaltender Chris Mason has a sweet Iron Maiden-themed mask

After an 11-year NHL career with the Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets, former NHL goaltender Chris Mason left North America last season to play in the Italian league. He dominated, posting a .927 save percentage in 36 regular season appearances, then raising his game in 17 postseason appearances with a ludicrous .951 save percentage.

This summer, Mason signed with the Augsburger Panthers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. A new team means a new mask, and Mason's is a doozy.

Designed and drawn by Steve Nash of EyeCandyAir, Mason's mask is Iron Maiden-themed and includes Iron Maiden character "Eddie the Head" on each side of the mask. On the left side Eddie carries a Canadian flag (a tip of the hat to Mason's heritage), and on the right side a Trooper version of Eddie carries a German flag (to represent where the Panthers play).

In addition to the Iron Maiden iconography, Mason's backplate features a drawing by his children (increasingly a popular option among family men puck-stoppers), and the top of the mask is adorned by a Panther not unlike the one the Panthers sport on their sweaters.

Here are some images courtesy InGoalMagazine.com: