When the Kimball Union Academy hockey team won its third consecutive New England Prep School Athletic Council Elite 8 tournament, it was perhaps a little more special for Tomas Mazura.
Mazura, a junior center, had a goal in KUA’s 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Salisbury in the championship game at a packed Sullivan Arena on the campus of Saint Anselm College.
In his third year at the school, this was his first season as a major contributor. After coming over to the United States from his native Czech Republic, he played on the school’s junior varsity team during the 2016-17 season. Last season, an injury derailed his sophomore campaign.
However, his game took off to a whole new level during the 2018-19 season. He led the Wildcats in scoring with 14 goals and 40 assists, and it all came to a culmination with a championship.
“Winning was pretty exciting because last year I was injured and I wasn’t on the team the year before. Contributing was pretty exciting. It was a good feeling because we weren’t doing as well as we wanted to at the beginning of the season. To come together as a team was pretty special,” Mazura said.
Going from a JV player to being one of the most productive players in prep hockey required a variety of different things to come together, but it was mainly due to his passion to get better on and off the ice.
“Part of it was just time and hard work. He came to us as a repeat ninth-grader. He was a late bloomer physically. He’s been tall for his age, but his body wasn’t ready to fill out until this last year,” explained Kimball Union head coach Tim Whitehead.
“He trained hard. Initially he trained hard, but wasn’t getting results. His body became receptive to the weight training. He was determined to put on weight. That gave him the opportunity to become successful,” added Whitehead.
Putting up well over two points per game in prep school hockey is no easy task. Mazura’s hockey sense and skill were key components to his game that allowed him to be so productive.
“He has exceptional vision. His ability to make passes through seams is exceptional. He’s unselfish with the puck and he makes others around him better. He’s the glue that kept his line together,” said Whitehead.
The big step Mazura took in his game also landed him a college commitment with Providence, now a perennial contender in Hockey East under Nate Leaman. He had hopes of playing for the Friars someday after watching the success of the program over the past few seasons.
“I’ve kind of always wanted to go there. I’ve always followed them. I had a friend who played for Northwood (School) and he went there. I didn’t know much about schools, but that was the first school to be serious about bringing me in,” Mazura stated.
“How they see the future and the program is always strong — results say a lot,” Mazura continued. “I had a great feeling about campus and the program. Coach Whitehead and I talked about it and he agrees with me.”
“He’s become a legitimate college and pro prospect. Providence made a wise move committing him. His upside is huge with his big frame, and he’s starting to fill it out,” added Whitehead.
Mazura values Whitehead’s influence on his past and future development, and for good reason. He hadn’t always enjoyed the same level of success back home, and it took a terrific coach who believed in him to bring out his true potential.
“He saved my career a little bit. I wasn’t having much fun playing back home. When he brought me to KUA, it was important. He shaped me into the player I am. He helped me learn to work out,” said Mazura.
Mazura always has had the ability to make plays and be a set-up guy, but Whitehead has pushed him to become a better all-around player.
“I was really offensive, but he’s helped me develop in the defensive zone, not taking penalties and being a better team player,” Mazura explained.
Part of being a better defensive player and not taking penalties was learning to stop and start instead of making circles. With his length, he doesn’t have to run around unnecessarily. It’s the fine details that Whitehead has helped him improve upon.
“He helps me a lot with not coasting around. He wants me to keep my feet moving, but he teaches me to stop. I don’t need to run around. I have a big stick. He tells me to not pick my own guy and cheat offensively,” said Mazura.
“He’s working hard to become more of a complete player. He’s never been a defensive specialist or a physical player. He made big strides to play as a center this year. He was conscientious defensively and he’s becoming good at face-offs,” Whitehead remarked.
Whitehead, who previously coached at Maine and UMass Lowell, has a wealth of experience and knowledge that few, if any, can match at the prep or high school level.
“I’ve never had coaching like that before. The amount of time and preparation he puts in is amazing. He cares about us a lot,” Mazura said.
While Whitehead certainly has been a huge reason for Mazura’s development, part of it is just the fact that he was a late bloomer who hadn’t grown up physically.
“I’m a late bloomer so I was a lot smaller and weaker than other guys. They all had facial hair and I hadn’t hit puberty,” said Mazura, who has found his way onto NHL Central Scouting’s list of top North American skaters eligible for the 2019 draft in Vancouver.
“Heading into the season I didn’t focus on anything like that. I just wanted to stay healthy,” he said.
“I was happy when I was on Central Scouting. I don’t worry about people watching me. I just try to play my game. It feels good to have a successful season after being injured. There are times I’ve thought about stuff and it’s pretty cool,” he added about the draft potential.
While many scouts will look for comparable players at the NHL level, Whitehead believes Mazura is different than most players he’s coached over the years because of his size.
“He’s tall and lanky. He has the skill and vision like (San Jose Sharks forward) Gustav Nyquist,” said the veteran coach.
Mazura has many interests that extend beyond the hockey rink. In addition to being an exceptional athlete on the ice, he’s also Kimball Union’s star tennis player. He excels in the classroom and has fit in well among his peers.
“He’s very bright. He’s fluent in three languages. He’s interested in school. He is a great kid to sit and chat with. He buys in to the community and the school at KUA. He’s been a great citizen. He comes from a great family. His mom, dad and sister are great people. They’ve sacrificed a lot to send him away, but it’s been great for his development,” said Whitehead.
Mazura will return to Kimball Union to make another run at a championship in prep hockey before playing a year of junior hockey in the USHL or BCHL.
“I want to develop and gain weight, so I’m going back to KUA. Coach Whitehead is best for my development. He will help me become more of a complete player. Next year, I’ll play in different situations. I didn’t play on the penalty kill this year, but next year I will,” he said.
With Mazura back, and the usual cadre of new recruits flocking to play for Whitehead, Kimball Union will again be in the mix in 2020 for collecting prep school hockey’s ultimate trophy.
