INCH's A to Z: RIT's Al Mazur

INCH's A to Z:  RIT's Al Mazur

Click here to read Ken McMillan's story on the Inside College Hockey website.

We continue INCH A-Z with three players whose last names all begin with the letter M. That's just about where the similarities end. They play in three different conferences and the group is comprised of a point-producing defenseman, a well-rounded centerman and a high-scoring power winger. We'd take 'em all on our team.

AL MAZUR

Rochester Institute of Technology

Sr. | D | Burnaby, British Columbia

Key Statistics: Mazur was a good point-getter in juniors, and he carried that into his rookie season at RIT. He ranked fourth in team scoring with 29 points (six goals) in 29 games and led the squad with a plus-19 rating along the way to Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year and third-team all-league honors. Nagging injuries caught up to Mazur the past two seasons, with three scratches in each campaign. He managed to put up 23 points as a sophomore and junior. He dropped to a minus-four as a sophomore but rebounded to put up a plus-three last season. Five of his eight goals came during the playoff push over the final 13 games, and he scored once in a semifinal loss to Mercyhurst. Seven of his eight goals came on the power play. In 98 career games with RIT, Mazur has 19 goals (15 on the power play) and 56 assists. Mazur put up tremendous offensive numbers for the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League, with 34 goals and 117 assists in 166 games over three seasons. He led all BCHL defensemen in scoring in 2005-06 with 15 goals and 55 assists in 52 games.

What He Does: Don’t let the offensive numbers fool you – Mazur is not a Brian Leetch-type who is constantly rushing up the ice. He has a tremendous shot from the point, and is a very effective playmaker, especially on the power play. He is not a sniper but he is someone that opponents have to respect. Mazur has a good feel for where everyone is on the ice, he is patient and he knows when to shoot and when to pass. Defensively, Mazur rarely gets beat, he is not afraid to block shots and he does a good job of clearing the puck. Coach Wayne Wilson says Mazur plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, a tiny edge that works to his advantage.

The Bigger Picture: Mazur is one of the graybeards in the league, turning 24 on Sept. 5, but that maturity helps his game. Last season Mazur played a lot with classmate Dan Ringwald and the two standouts have played separately as well, something that should be expected this season. Mazur has worked a lot this summer on weight training, his skating and trying to improve his flexibility, all of which should improve his game. Wilson is convinced Mazur has pro potential but he hopes his senior plays within himself and doesn’t try to do too much.

RIT coach Wayne Wilson on Mazur: “He’s been a real pleasure to coach, someone who goes about his own business and does it very effectively. The guys look up to him and respect what he does. He is not vocal whatsoever, which may be a good thing with younger guys. I know he demands a lot of himself but he’s not going to go out and really put pressure on any of the young guys or anyone else – he wants to win as bad as anyone, but that is not his personality.”