Gulls A-Z Profile: Josh Mahura
Sep 1, 2019Young talent from prospects was an easy theme to the 2018-19 San Diego Gulls season. However, a bulk of that came from the forward corps with such a veteran-heavy blueline. Enter, Josh Mahura.
The rookie defenseman was entwined with the young forward group having spent several Development Camps with his now teammates. This enabled the group, as the Anaheim Ducks have envisioned, to grow together and form seamless chemistry on each sides of the ice. Pair that with the veteran guidance of early season defenseman partner and captain Jaycob Megna and the St. Albert, Alberta native was sure to develop on the fast track.
Mahura posted outstanding numbers in his junior career totaling 41-90=131 and a +44 rating in 186 Western Hockey League games between the Red Deer Rebels and the Regina Pats. During that span, his resume included a CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team nomination and a WHL (East) Second All-Star Team nomination. This gave the 21-year-old confidence moving into his first professional season.
"Being out in California here for the season is pretty nice," said Mahura. "I’m definitely fortunate for that and like I said, now that I got the first year going, it makes that excitement much higher coming back next year."
Not only did Mahura mature in the AHL but he dressed in 17 NHL games with the Ducks. Mahura made his NHL debut on Nov. 18 and posted 1-4=5 points. With the Gulls, the defenseman tallied 1-18=19 points in 40 games played and proved to be an integral factor of the man advantage. This shapes well as he embarks on his second professional season with already keen knowledge of what to expect from competing in the two highest levels of professional hockey.
SanDiegoGulls.com highlights each player from A-Z heading into the 2019-20 season, breaking down the roster and what's to come from each individual.
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