| Carter Mazur | Tri City Storm | USHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 170 | Denver | 2021 | Detroit, MI | 2002 | 2019-2020: C |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, March 2021: Carter’s just an ultra competitive kid. He plays hard from whistle to whistle and then some. As a scouting staff we’ve watched him for a long time and he’s always been a player who has found a way to impact a game. Last year he got his feet wet in the USHL and by the end of the season he was a hard nosed winger who made the other team’s top players keep their heads up. This year he’s showing more poise with the puck and is putting up points as well as continuing to build on his abrasive style. I like him and I have for a long time. I don’t think he’s going to get drafted, but I do think he’s a player to keep an eye on while he’s gaining size and strength in college because he’s got the track record and mentality to play professional hockey.
USHL: Waterloo vs Tri-City, March 22, 2021: Mazur is a competitive, smart, physical player for the Storm who plays with some bite in his game. The Denver commit registered two assists in this game, showing his abilities to make offensive plays with the puck, but he was also extremely effective when the puck wasn’t on his stick. When he was in control of the puck he showed good skill, vision, and instincts around the net. On multiple occasions Mazur circled the zone with the puck on his stick, protecting from defenders and showing patience until a suitable option opened up. On one of his assists he did just this, circling the zone before finding a lane to the net and driving the puck to the crease hard, where his teammate finished an easy rebound. Without the puck Mazur is relentless and aggressive. He consistently finished his checks and his energy and physicality were the catalysts for Tri-City whenever the play began to even out. Overall, Mazur is a competitive, intelligent, detailed hockey player that exhibited why he is the captain of his team through his play. Grade: A
USHL: Tri-City Storm vs Omaha Lancers, February 3, 2021: Mazur had a good game for Tri-City, registering an assist on the game-winning goal. He did his best work at the offensive net front in this game where he battled for space and competed for loose pucks. On his assist he established himself in front and relentlessly tried to finish a rebound chance, getting two quick shots on net before his teammate finished the play. Mazur also did a good job of finding quiet space in the slot during this game, twice getting grade-A scoring chances by getting open for short passes from below the goal line. Overall, he has good instincts at the net front and isn’t afraid to fight for space. Grade: B+
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, March 2020: Carter is a maximum effort player who took a little time to adjust to the USHL. But during our last few viewings of the season Carter was very noticeable, playing well and having a positive impact. First off he is hard to play against. It does not matter who you are because Carter is coming at you and playing in your face. He finishes checks on the “stars” and talks to them on the way to the bench. He jams for rebounds and expects the extra contact that comes with it. Carter has the skill of putting his stick in places that his opponents don’t want it and a lot of times he just keeps it there. He forechecks like his life depends on it creating chaos and turnovers by having an active stick in passing lanes or by finishing his checks repeatedly and making defenders get the yips. Carter has a quick first step and he looks more powerful. He can withstand body contact while cycling the puck and we’ve noticed that he looks dramatically stronger while fighting for net front positioning when trying to be a screen. Again, keep an eye on Carter because we think he is physically growing into the player he has mentally always been ready to be.