Lalonde ‘excited’, Carter Mazur at World Cup

The game plan that Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur uses to become a productive hockey player dates back to ancient Greece, not the cold arenas of North America.

Know yourself.

It is an ancient Greek aphorism. Mazur really knows himself as a player. He boasts heavily about how he needs to play to be successful. That’s why he’s one step away from being ready for the NHL. That’s why he doesn’t look out of place playing for Team USA at the World Cup.

“Playing the way I play, I know I can get rewarded, especially in big moments, especially in this tournament where scoring is difficult,” Mazur said by cellphone from Tampere after helping the USA beat Austria 4-1. in the World Cup.

It was a big day for Mazur, who scored the game-winning goal with a well-placed shot from a high position. He was drafted by an Ontario Reign AHL player TJ Tynan giving USA a 2-1 lead with 1:40 left in the second period.

Mazur gets ice and a goal @Carter_Mazur | #Men’s Worlds pic.twitter.com/dql4bHs5eu

– USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 17, 2023

The Americans are 4-0 in the tournament. This is only the 5th time the USA has started the World Cup with four or more consecutive victories. The USA won the medal on the previous four occasions.

“Getting that one goal under my belt was also a huge momentum booster,” Mazur said. “But it’s more about the bigger picture. I want to win a gold medal. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. That’s the goal.”

Lalonde “Enthusiastic”

Mazur (70th overall steal in 2021) is playing 12-13 minutes per game and has two points and a +5 in four games. He will certainly show why the Red Wings expect him to bid to earn a spot on the Red Wings roster at some point next season. Mazur is one of their most coveted prospects.

It certainly helps Mazur that Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is an assistant coach for Team USA. He’ll be on the bench watching Mazur’s confidence continue to grow.

“Great goal,” Lalonde said of Finland. “I’m excited with what I’ve seen from Carter so far. Obviously a young player. One thing I really like about him is that he’s a straightforward player. He plays through checks, plays through the body, which is sometimes something you have to teach for little children when they come to our level.

Mazur played two years of college hockey in Denver and then signed with the Red Wings. He then began his professional career with six points in six games for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. Mazur has played confidently in college, in Grand Rapids and now also in Finland.

“He doesn’t look out of place in those situations because he plays through and inside the body,” Lalonde said. “That’s a good sign for him.”

The origin of trust

Mazur said playing in the 2022 World Youth Championship boosted his confidence.

“That’s when I kind of started to take off,” Mazur said. “And that’s when I continued my game and developed my game with the confidence that I know I can be a good player wherever I play. I like the way I play. That’s a big part of it.”

Mazur is all about playing hard and focused. He knows what he needs to do to be the best version of himself. This is a player who asked Red Wings Director of Player Development Dan Cleary to send him videos that would help him develop a better scoring ability.

It’s not easy for Mazur to discuss his individual game because he’s focused on the team’s success. The USA has not won a gold medal in this tournament since 1933.

“Without a doubt, we’re really happy where we are,” Mazur said. “A couple of tight games. It’s good to have them because when it gets to the quarterfinals, those games are tight, really competitive. It’s huge to build momentum and show we can win big games.