With the 2022 World Junior Championship’s “second take” upon us on Tuesday, MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings prospect and Team USA forward Carter Mazur, whose competitiveness and work ethic should shine for the Americans in Edmonton:
Mazur, the Red Wings’ fourth pick in 2021 (70th overall), had a strong freshman season [at the University of Denver], scoring 14 goals and tying for fifth on the team with 38 points. It was capped with an NCAA championship, when the Jackson native picked up a pair of assists in a 5-1 victory over Minnesota State in the title game.
“You don’t expect to come in and make such a big difference on a team,” Mazur said. “And then I went in and was expecting a lot of myself. I felt I grew a lot physically, I felt I grew mentally, especially doing school with hockey.”
Mazur, 20, is eying another big title this month as a key part of the U.S. World Junior Championship team. The event, which was postponed shortly after it began in December due to COVID-19, starts Tuesday in Edmonton. Red Savage, the Red Wings’ fourth round pick in 2021 (114th overall), who is coming off his freshman season at Miami University, also made the team.
Mazur, in addition to his offense, also displayed a gritty element at Denver.
“I was always playing two years up, so I felt like having an edge to my game … you kind of have to,” Mazur said. “You’re going against bigger people. You might as well try to get under their skin. Doing that is more fun for me. Having them come after me gets them off their game. I’m drawing penalties and having fun in hockey.”
The edgier he plays, the more scoring opportunities he gets.
“I usually find myself scoring net-front and that’s where everyone is to start scrums and all that,” Mazur said. “And then I would say playing edgier really does bring a different element to my game. It makes me become more open in some spots where other people might not want to come.”
Continued; Mazur’s one of those players you love to have on your team, and absolutely despise playing against. Every NHL team needs one of those kinds of players on their roster at some point.
