Childhood dream becomes reality for Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur

DETROIT -- Carter Mazur was eight years old when he wrote that one day, he wanted to play hockey for his favorite team, the Detroit Red Wings.

But Mazur said he forgot he wrote his life's goal on a piece of paper until his mom shared it with him after the Red Wings selected the Jackson, Mich., native 70th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
"I honestly had no clue about that (letter)," Mazur said. "I knew I did something like that, then my mom found it, posted it (online) and gave it to my advisor. It's pretty special because I grew up loving the Wings."

And since being drafted, the 20-year-old has been living out a childhood dream.
"It still doesn't feel real to me," Mazur said. "It's something that I really can't put into words."
Growing up, Mazur, who is an alumnus of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, loved practicing at Joe Louis Arena and then at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena.
"Having that history, meeting players every day and having coach Kris (Draper) be my mentor in a way while he's bringing in people like (Niklas) Kronwall to skate with us was something you really don't have an opportunity to do when you're younger," Mazur said about his experience with Little Caesars. "But we did here and that was pretty special."
After playing seven games for USA Hockey National Team Development Program's (NTDP) under-17 team in 2018-19, Mazur was selected third overall in the 2018 USHL Phase I Draft by the Tri-City Storm. He tallied 13 points (6-7-13) in 47 games the following season with Tri-City, then was named captain for the 2020-21 season, notching 20 goals and 24 assists in 47 games.
This past season, Mazur concluded his freshman campaign at the University of Denver with 14 goals and 24 assists in 41 games, helping the Pioneers win the 2022 NCAA Championship in April and garnering NCHC Rookie of the Year honors.

When reflecting on his first year as a Division I student-athlete, Mazur evolved both on and off the ice
"I felt I grew a lot physically and mentally," said Mazur. "Especially studying and doing school with hockey. That added a lot to my mental game, so I think that had a really good impact on us."
Mazur took the next step in his professional hockey journey by participating in Detroit's 2022 Development Camp, which was like a trip down memory lane.
"The other crazy thing is that I used the same stall that I had while playing for Little Caesars, so that was awesome," Mazur said. "That was something that was special to me when I walked in. Then I saw No. 43, which was also the number I wore with Little Caesars."

Mazur said his favorite player growing up was Darren Helm, the longtime Red Wings forward who spent 14 seasons in Detroit before joining the Colorado Avalanche prior to the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
"I met him the weekend he won the Stanley Cup," said Mazur, who wears No. 34 with the Pioneers as an inverted tribute to Helm. "I got a good photo with him then. I also have a photo with him when I met him at Joe Louis Arena. He even called me when I got drafted. So to meet him again, and for him to remember (that he called me), was pretty special."
Mazur is excited for his sophomore season at Denver this fall.
"I feel like my game worked last year so I might as well keep it the same way and add other tools this season," Mazur said. "Things like my skating ability and other skills that I learned at camp."