I kind of keep my eye on the University of Denver Pioneers more than most teams because they’re the Frolunda Indians of NCAA Hockey–they’ve got three Red Wings prospects on the team in sophomore defenseman Antti Tuomisto, freshman defenseman Shai Buium and Jackson, MI native and freshman forward Carter Mazur.
Mazur was named the NCHC Player of the Week last week, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses Mazur’s play of late in his daily hockey digest:
Detroit Red Wings draft pick Carter Mazur has wasted little time adjusting to NCAA hockey. The Denver Pioneers left-winger has scored seven goals in 12 games. That gives Mazur a share of the NCHC freshmen lead in goals with his Denver teammate Massimo Rizzo.
Netting his seven goals on 37 shots, Mazur is showing a 18.9% shooting percentage. With 7-3-10 totals, he’s averaging 0.833 points per game.
Born in Jackson, Michigan, Mazur grew up a Red Wings fan. His favorite player as a kid was Darren Helm. In youth hockey, one of his coaches was Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper.
“Being drafted by an organization like the Red Wings is unreal feeling and so surreal to me,” Mazur admitted, recalling the atmosphere when he heard the Wings calling his name 70th overall on draft day.
Duff continues, also discussing Jonatan Berggren’s surge in Grand Rapids; I got to meet Mazur and Buium at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, MI last summer, right after I got my gallbladder out, and you couldn’t meet two more grounded kids.
Buium’s parents are Israeli, so he’s had the first-generation-American-immigrant’s experience, and Mazur’s just this plucky kid that is delighted to be a pain in the ass.
