Mattson to UND

[TTpuckster]

See Grand Forks Herald article:

UND MEN'S HOCKEY: Sioux land Holy Angels star
By Brad Schlossman, Herald Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Danny Mattson grew up listening to a household debate.

On Sunday night, he settled it.

The 16-year-old Minneapolis resident, whose mother is a UND graduate and father had been a Minnesota fan, gave a verbal commitment to play hockey for the Sioux beginning in 2009 or 2010.

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“I felt at home there,” said Mattson, who also had scholarship offers from Minnesota and Wisconsin. “It's just a great atmosphere, a perfect-sized school and everything just seemed to fit right.”

His style of play will fit well at UND, too, his coach said.

Mattson, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound center, is a highly dynamic forward. He led 26-1-1 Academy of Holy Angels in scoring as a sophomore, racking up 68 points (19 goals, 49 assists) in 28 games last season. His team didn't lose until the section championship.

“He's got the kind of skills that you are born with - you can't learn them,” Holy Angels coach Greg Trebil said. “He puts up a lot of points. He's a good hockey player, a good old-fashioned hard worker and he combines that with a lot of skill.”

Earlier this month, he was selected to represent Team USA at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in the Czech Republic. In five games, he tallied two goals and two assists.

At July's Select 17 camp - which features 12 teams of the top 1990-born American players - Mattson tied for a tournament-high five goals in five games.

“He's a top-notch kid who comes from a great family,” Trebil said. “North Dakota is getting the whole package with him.”

Note: Mattson is of no relation to his former Holy Angels teammate and Minnesota recruit Taylor Matson (last names are spelled differently).

Good Luck to Danny!!

[flatontheice]

Congrats to Danny...could not have happened to a better kid. Now all the Sioux need is Nick Mattson and they will have the M&M boys.

[boblee]

Congrats Danny. Second best choice he could have made

But seriously, UND has a great campus and a top-notch venue. Should be a great place for him.

[breakout]

Momentum going to UND for upper echelon Minnesota kids?

From what I hear, Lucia wanted Fink and Mattson. Both are heading north.

Congratulations to Danny!

[Can't Never Tried]

Once they get a look at the facility and then how much easier in general getting around is...it's hard to decline.
Best of luck to both..........

[Gopher Blog]

Momentum going to UND for upper echelon Minnesota kids?

From what I hear, Lucia wanted Fink and Mattson. Both are heading north.

Congratulations to Danny!

You act as if it is unheard of for UND to land some quality MN talent. Ever heard of Parise, Bochenski, Oshie, Lee, etc.

In other words, its not as if it is groundbreaking for the Sioux to get some good players from MN.

The other factor you need to recognize is Gophers already had most of their next two classes taken care of before this summer even began. They haven't been out there offering a bunch of scholarships in the last four to six months. The Sioux had a different situation and had much more need to be aggressive lately. It only stands to reason that they will look like they have momentum given the circumstances. Mattson was really the only recent commitment where each program offered the same player.

[stickboy1956]

Momentum going to UND for upper echelon Minnesota kids?

From what I hear, Lucia wanted Fink and Mattson. Both are heading north.

Congratulations to Danny!

What about Kristo, Fienhage and Gleeson, too? The Twin Cities pipeline is now wide open to UND, along with the SSM pipeline (Ben Blood/David Towes).

[BIAFP]

Momentum going to UND for upper echelon Minnesota kids?

From what I hear, Lucia wanted Fink and Mattson. Both are heading north.

Congratulations to Danny!

What about Kristo, Fienhage and Gleeson, too? The Twin Cities pipeline is now wide open to UND, along with the SSM pipeline (Ben Blood/David Towes).

And the Fightin Susie's can have all the gopher rejects

[oldguy]

Congrats to Danny (maybe?)

Why would someone pay $9,000/year (or $30,000/year in the case of Shattuck) to get a top notch private high school education; only to "elect" to attend a "less then average" (third tier academic rank) college?

[BIAFP]

Congrats to Danny (maybe?)

Why would someone pay $9,000/year (or $30,000/year in the case of Shattuck) to get a top notch private high school education; only to "elect" to attend a "less then average" (third tier academic rank) college?

Maybe because you can't make it at a first tier college hockey program like Minnesota?

[Dazed&Confused]

There is absoulutley nothing wrong with UND. Other than there is nothing to do but Drink ^%&#&$ and watch TV. Its in the middle of nothing cold as hell and everyone talks funny.

[breakout]

Momentum going to UND for upper echelon Minnesota kids?

From what I hear, Lucia wanted Fink and Mattson. Both are heading north.

Congratulations to Danny!

You act as if it is unheard of for UND to land some quality MN talent. Ever heard of Parise, Bochenski, Oshie, Lee, etc.

In other words, its not as if it is groundbreaking for the Sioux to get some good players from MN.

The other factor you need to recognize is Gophers already had most of their next two classes taken care of before this summer even began. They haven't been out there offering a bunch of scholarships in the last four to six months. The Sioux had a different situation and had much more need to be aggressive lately. It only stands to reason that they will look like they have momentum given the circumstances. Mattson was really the only recent commitment where each program offered the same player.

The Gophs have everything sewn up for 09 & 10? The Sioux didn't need to be any more aggressive to go after 09 & 10 kids than the Gophs.

Heisenberg's report shows both schools are about even in getting younger (2009 & 2010) commitments.

Fink may not have been offered. However, that is a matter of semantics. He was a tenth grader. As you know, a tenth grader must approach a presumably interested coach or have his "advisor" do that. Fink may have not been as far along in the process. However, you know there was strong interest in Fink by the gophs. I know people that saw Lucia watching Fink at H.S. games. WCHA head coaches don't go to watch Hopkins (sorry Hopkins) if there isn't great interest in a player.

[breakout]

Congrats to Danny (maybe?)

Why would someone pay $9,000/year (or $30,000/year in the case of Shattuck) to get a top notch private high school education; only to "elect" to attend a "less then average" (third tier academic rank) college?

Didn't some kid from Thief River Falls go to that same third tier College and end up donating a $104 million dollar hockey facility to that same college late in his life?

[toomanystitches]

Good one Breakout

[Gopher Blog]

The Gophs have everything sewn up for 09 & 10? The Sioux didn't need to be any more aggressive to go after 09 & 10 kids than the Gophs.

The next two classes are 2008 and 2009. Not 2010. The Gophers still have a few things to take care of but the bulk of their needs were taken care of heading into this past spring (especially in regard to 2008). Anything left for '09 will be deferral situations (commit for 2010 but potentially come in 2009 if needed). They have to cover their butt with a few extra guys in case of pro departure (which is what Mattson would have been for the Gophs).

The other program mentioned had more holes to fill in 2008 (mostly defense) and 2009. That is why you see one program being much more active than the other in the last half a year. You called it "momentum" but it is mainly a matter of need leading to more offers extended by one program.

(edited the above for clarity)

Heisenberg's report shows both schools are about even in getting younger (2009 & 2010) commitments.

If each team had the exact same needs as their opponents every year, your comment on how many each team has recruited would have merit. But each team does not have the same make up every year and does not have the same needs.

[breakout]

First of all, I am guessing you don't know all the needs of each team. Certainly, speculation can be done.

2nd, Fink and Mattson are 2009 or 2010 players (they graduate from HS in 2009) for which ever team they ended up on. Their arrival to the college scene would be dependent on need of team (loss to pro, etc.) and need of development at the JR level.

The fact is, Fink and Mattson were wanted by the gophs. I don't believe that can accurately be denied They got away, that's recruiting. Gophers win a lot of the recruiting battles. They did not win those two.

[Gopher Blog]

First of all, I am guessing you don't know all the needs of each team. Certainly, speculation can be done.

It doesn't take much work to do a break down each team's depth chart and project needs. Obviously I know a lot more on one team than the other but you can't deny the fact that there is a reason one team hasn't made many scholarship offers in the last six months while the other team has. Plain and simple... one team had a lot more work to do and offers followed (or your term "momentum" ). If you look deeper, it is rather easy to see why your remark was a bit short sighted.

The fact is, Fink and Mattson were wanted by the gophs. I don't believe that can accurately be denied They got away, that's recruiting. Gophers win a lot of the recruiting battles. They did not win those two.

Never disputed anything on Mattson. The other name can be debated for reasons I won't delve into on here.

[Zamman]

This is great for Danny. This kid goes out and plays big all the time. Last year after AHA beat Osseo, where Danny had points I can't remember how many, he put on a stick handling show that was fantastic. Danny deserves this and he will do well.
Congrats Danny!!

[oldguy]

Didn't some kid from Thief River Falls go to that same third tier College and end up donating a $104 million dollar hockey facility to that same college late in his life?

Perhaps that money would have been better spent on improvement of the overall academic strength of the institution instead of a hockey facility???

Every university can point to specific individual alumni who have done "well";

HOWEVER, the national academic ranking status of UND (Again, THIRD TIER) is based on the total success of ALL its graduates (and drop-outs).

At last glance, the average graduation rate from UND is less than 50% of the total student body....

[suntzu]

Didn't some kid from Thief River Falls go to that same third tier College and end up donating a $104 million dollar hockey facility to that same college late in his life?

Perhaps that money would have been better spent on improvement of the overall academic strength of the institution instead of a hockey facility???

Every university can point to specific individual alumni who have done "well";

HOWEVER, the national academic ranking status of UND (Again, THIRD TIER) is based on the total success of ALL its graduates (and drop-outs).

At last glance, the average graduation rate from UND is less than 50% of the total student body....

Let's call a spade a spade - the Mattson boy will be majoring in HOCKEY at the University of North Dakota. Over the past 30 years the earning status of that program's graduates has been better than that of the University of Minnesota.

Are we really going to debate acedemics when it comes to kids with professional hockey aspirations? COME ON!!!

[breckblake]

Joshua Birkholz, a Junior at The Blake School, has committed to the University of Minnesota.

[ACTUALFORMERPLAYER]

Didn't some kid from Thief River Falls go to that same third tier College and end up donating a $104 million dollar hockey facility to that same college late in his life?

Perhaps that money would have been better spent on improvement of the overall academic strength of the institution instead of a hockey facility???

Every university can point to specific individual alumni who have done "well";

HOWEVER, the national academic ranking status of UND (Again, THIRD TIER) is based on the total success of ALL its graduates (and drop-outs).

At last glance, the average graduation rate from UND is less than 50% of the total student body....

That's because of all the early departures to the show from the hockey team, and UND didn't have Clem Haskins running their tutoring program.

[Hockeyguy_27]

Another great player going to the Sioux Good for Mattson, he's a stud.

[oldguy]

That's because of all the early departures to the show from the hockey team, and UND didn't have Clem Haskins running their tutoring program.

Re: your reference to "the show",... you did mean Ringling Brothers Circus didn't you? Your right, it is billed as "the greatest SHOW on earth".

Re: Clem Haskins tutoring ...exactly my point...one more so called STUDENT athlete at the college level that can't cut the mustard. We need more of them....

[breakout]

First of all, I am guessing you don't know all the needs of each team. Certainly, speculation can be done.

It doesn't take much work to do a break down each team's depth chart and project needs. Obviously I know a lot more on one team than the other but you can't deny the fact that there is a reason one team hasn't made many scholarship offers in the last six months while the other team has. Plain and simple... one team had a lot more work to do and offers followed (or your term "momentum" ). If you look deeper, it is rather easy to see why your remark was a bit short sighted.

The fact is, Fink and Mattson were wanted by the gophs. I don't believe that can accurately be denied They got away, that's recruiting. Gophers win a lot of the recruiting battles. They did not win those two.

Never disputed anything on Mattson. The other name can be debated for reasons I won't delve into on here.

Unless you are Lucia, Guentzel or Hill you have opinions like anyone else.

Again, a Head Hockey Coach from a WCHA team does not spend many a night watching Hopkins hockey (no offense Hopkins). There was only one reason Mr. Lucia was in the stands.

Both Mattson and Fink have been proven goal scorers throughout their young hockey careers. It's obviously tougher every step up. However, you can never have enough goal scorers.

If it makes you feel any better, I would take Jordan Schroeder before either any day of the week.