Get to Know Mason Klee
3/4/2024 10:00:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Mason Klee was bound to be in the world of hockey from the day he was born. He started playing when he was five years old, following in his father's path. His father, Ken, played professional hockey, so Klee was always around a hockey rink, falling in love with the sport when he was very young.
Growing up, Klee's favorite player was his father, who he loved watching both on TV and in person. However, he did not have a favorite team as a kid. Klee would be a fan of whichever team his father was on at that time, but enjoyed watching his father on the Toronto Maple Leafs the most.
Klee loved his time playing hockey during his childhood, and especially enjoyed being able to meet many new people. He moved around frequently and shared that he enjoyed having new coaches and new teammates to learn from. Klee currently looks up to Mattias Ekholm, who plays for the Edmonton Oilers. Klee explained, "He is a solid defenseman who can also make offensive plays" as to why he tries to model Ekholm's game.
At age 15, Klee began to play for the Colorado Thunderbirds, where he spent two seasons before beginning to play junior hockey. He then moved to Lincoln, Neb., to play in the USHL for the Lincoln Stars and spent a season and a half there. Following the Stars, Klee spent the second half of his season with the Sioux Falls Stampede in South Dakota where he won the Clark Cup.
After two years of junior hockey, Klee went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to play hockey as an undergraduate. He played three years of hockey at RPI, with one season canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He earned his undergraduate degree at RPI and transferred to Ohio State as a graduate student.
Currently, Klee is getting his master's degree in business analytics. On balancing school and hockey, he said, "It's definitely something you have to learn how to do." Klee explained that at first it was difficult to succeed in both simultaneously, but as he continued to play hockey alongside academics it became much easier.
During the off-season, Klee enjoys spending time outdoors and being with his friends and family. He likes to snowboard, spear fish and surf during his free time and over the summer. Klee also likes going to Costa Rica and spending as much time as he can enjoying the nice weather.
Klee was born with hockey in his blood, but he wouldn't have gotten to where he is today without the hard work and dedication it takes to be an elite hockey player. In addition to moving around for his father's career, Klee also had to move as a teenager to play at higher levels. His passion for hockey is apparent and he wants to keep the sport in his life in any way possible.
