Recruit Profile: Mitchell Mattson

Photo: Elite Prospects

Current Team:  Grand Rapids (MN-HS)
Arrival at UND:  2016/2017
Position:  Forward
Birthday:  January 2nd, 1998
Hometown:  Grand Rapids, MN
Height:  6'2"
Weight:  168
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:

• MN Hockey Hub: 2013-14 Profile/Stat Page
• Elite Prospects: Profile/Stat Page
• Schlossman Blog: Mattson Commits to UND (Apr 2014)
• Grand Rapids HS Hockey: Mattson Commits to North Dakota (Apr 2014)
• SBN College Hockey: Mitchell Mattson Commits to North Dakota (Apr 2014)
• Duluth News-Tribune: Mattsons Forge a Path in Division I (Apr 2014)
• Selected in the 1st Round (9th Overall) by the Bloomington Thunder during the 2014 USHL Phase 1 (Futures) Draft.

2014-15:

• Will skate with the Grand Rapids High School Thunderhawks.
• He was selected to take part in USA Hockey's Select 16 Player Development Camp in July of 2014.

2013-14:

• Spent his sophomore season playing for Grand Rapids (MN High School), where he was the team's third leading scorer in what was his first season of high school varsity hockey. He produced 39 points (11G, 28A) in 27 games in helping lead the Thunderhawks to the Section 7AA semifinals.
• In July of 2013 he took part in USA Hockey's Select 15 Player Development Camp, where USHR had him ranked among the top 24 forwards at camp after producing four points (1G, 3A) in five games. USHR's analysis of his performance: Has the look of baby deer on ice -- tall, gangly, and somewhat weak. There is a lot to like here, however, because the crafty center has good hands, vision, and solid skating form. Once he fills out and adds some power to his legs he will be a prospect with a lot of eyes on him.

Recruit Profile: Zach Yon

Photo: MN Hockey Hub

Current Team:  Fargo Force (USHL)
Arrival at UND:  2015
Position:  Forward
Birthday:  December 30th, 1995
Hometown:  Roseau, MN
Height:  5'11"
Weight:  185
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:

• USHL: 2014/15 Profile/Stat Page
• Elite Prospects: Profile/Stat Page
• Schlossman Blog: Yon Commits to UND (Feb 2014)
• Roseau Hockey: Zach Yon, Mr. Hockey Finalist and UND Commit (Feb 2014)
• Let's Play Hockey: Zach Yon Piling Up the Points For Roseau (Feb 2014)
• Fargo Force: Forward Zach Yon Signed as Tender (May 2014) 
• Bismarck Tribune: Yon Stepping Up For Bobcats (Apr 2014)
• Ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the #169 North American skater in their 2014 NHL Draft Final Rankings.

2013-14:

• Spent his senior season playing for Roseau (HS-MN), where he led the Rams in scoring with 86 points (41G, 45A) in 31 total games on his way to being named a finalist for the prestigious Minnesota Mr. Hockey award.
• Following the Minnesota high school season he joined the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL), notching five points (2G, 3A) in eight total games.
• In the fall he participated in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, where he registered 12 points (6G, 6A) in 18 games for Team Great Plains.

2012-13:

• During his high school junior season, he recorded 62 points (34G, 28A) in 27 games as the leading scorer for Roseau High (MN).
• Played for Team Great Plains in the Upper Midwest HS Elite league, notching ten points (5G, 5A) in 17 games.

2011-12:

• As a sophomore at Roseau HS, he produced 53 points (26G, 27A) in 27 games.
• In 18 games with Team Great Plains of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League he notched seven points (5G, 2A) in 17 games.

Recruit Profile: Hayden Shaw

Photo-USHL.com

Current Team:  Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Arrival at UND:  2015/16
Position:  Defense
Birthday:  June 5th, 1996
Hometown:  Woodbury, MN
Height:  5'10"
Weight:  180
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:

• USHL 2013-14 Profile/Stat Page
• Elite Prospects Profile/Stat Page
• Schlossman Blog: D-Man Shaw Commits to UND (Jan 2014)
• Waterloo Press Release: Shaw Commits to North Dakota (Jan 2014)
• SB Nation: Hayden Shaw Commits to North Dakota (Jan 2014)
• Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: Shaw Almost the One That Got Away (May 2014)

2013-14:

• Playing for Waterloo (USHL), he has registered 17 points (6G, 11A) in 24 games thus far for the Black Hawks as the USHL's top 1996-born point producing defenseman (current as of 1-9-14).
• The rookie blueliner was named the USHL Co-Defenseman of the Week during Week 5.
• In June/July he participated in USA Hockey's Select 17 Player Development Camp, producing three points (1G, 2A) in five games for Team White.

2012-13:

• As a sophomore, he recorded 12 points (9G, 3A) in 24 games for Woodbury High (MN).
• Played for Team Northeast in the Upper Midwest HS Elite league, notching six points (1G, 5A) in 14 games.

2011-12:

• Played his freshman season for Woodbury High, producing nine points (3G, 6A) in 26 games.

Recruit Profile: John Simonson

Photo-USHL.com

Current Team:  Lincoln Stars (USHL)
Arrival at UND:  2014
Position:  Forward
Birthday:  June 15th, 1993
Hometown:  Grand Forks, ND
Height:  5'10"
Weight:  170
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:

• USHL 2013-14 Profile/Stat Page
• Elite Prospects Profile/Stat Page
• Lincoln Journal-Star: Strong Start Helps Simonson Achieve College Dream (Jan 2014)
• Schlossman Blog: Simonson Commits to UND (Dec 2013)
• Post-Bulletin: Simonson Headed Home for College (Dec 2013)
• Austin Daily Herald: Simonson Performs On and Off the Ice (Apr 2013)
• Post-Bulletin: Bruins' Simonson Leading at a Higher Level (Jan 2013)
• MN Hockey Hub: Grand Forks' Simonson Savoring the Moment (Nov 2010)
• Was a teammate of current UND freshmen Luke Johnson and Paul LaDue on Grand Forks Central's 2009-10 North Dakota high school state championship team.

2013-14:

• Serving as co-captain for Lincoln (USHL), he leads the Stars with 22 points (11G, 11A) in 30 games. His 11 goals also lead all Stars, as do his five power play goals (as of 1-9-14).

2012-13:

• He was one of the top point producers for the NAHL's Austin Bruins, recording 57 points (27G, 30A) in 59 regular season games and seven points (4G, 3A) in eight postseason contests. His 27 goals were the second most on the team while his +21 rating was tied for the highest among all Bruin forwards.

2011-12:

• He recorded 38 points (18G, 20A) in 59 regular season games for the Austin Bruins (NAHL). His 18 goals tied for the team lead while his +18 rating led all forwards. He also added three goals in eight postseason games.

2010-11:

• As a senior at Grand Forks Central (ND-HS), he led the Knights with 50 points (31G, 19A) in 26 games in helping them to a 4th place finish at the state tournament.
• His 31 goals tied for the most in the state, helping him earn All-State and All-Conference honors. He was also selected as a co-recipient of the East Region's Outstanding Senior Athlete Award. 
• In the fall he participated in the Upper Midwest HS Elite League, where he registered 17 points (8G, 9A) in 18 games for Team Great Plains.

2009-10:

• As a junior at Grand Forks Central he produced 43 points (14G, 29A) in 27 games while helping the Knights to a 24-3 record as North Dakota state champions. 

2008-09:

• Tallied 30 points (16 G, 14A) in 26 games for Grand Forks Central during his sophomore season, helping the Knights to a 3rd place finish at the North Dakota state tournament.

Recruit Profile: Danys Chartrand

Photo: SJHL.com

Current Team:  Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
Potential Arrival at UND:  2015
Position:  Defense
Birthday:  January 17th, 1994
Hometown:  Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Height:  6'2"
Weight:  190
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:

• SJHL 2013-14 Profile/Stat Page
• Elite Prospects Profile/Stat Page
• Schlossman Blog: Winnipeg D-man Commits to UND (Nov 2013)
• Flin Flon Bombers: Chartrand Commits to North Dakota (Nov 2013)

2013-14:

• Playing for the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL, he has recorded six points (1G, 5A) through 15 games as of mid-November.

2012-13:

• Played for the SJHL's Flin Flon Bombers, producing four assists in 37 regular season games and four assists in 11 postseason contests.
• Earned Flin Flon's Patty Ginnell Memorial Fund Award as the team's Most Improved Player.

2011-12:

• Spent the majority of the season with the Winnipeg Wild of the Manitoba Midget Hockey League, notching 22 points (3G, 19A) in 44 regular season games and four assists in nine postseason tilts.
• He went pointless in three games played with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL.

2010-11:

• Playing for the Winnipeg Wild (MMHL), he produced 12 points (3G, 9A) in 44 regular season games and two assists in seven playoff games.
• Played two games with the Winnipeg Saints of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Friday Morning Post

• UND senior captain Dillon Simpson was named one of twenty candidates for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award.
• Freshman Gage Ausmus has settled into the role of the physical, stay-at-home defenseman early on in his UND career.
• The Dakota Student says sophomore forward Drake Caggiula bounced back nicely from the neck injury he sustained in the exhibition win over the NTDP U-18 team.
• After a one year hiatus, North Dakota and Wisconsin will resume their long-standing rivalry next season with a weekend series in Madison.
• Those who are unable to make it to Omaha for this weekend's series against Nebraska-Omaha can watch UNO's webcast of the games through a UND Insider subscription.
• TJ Oshie is off to the best start of his NHL career, and part of his success may be the result of him becoming more of a student of the game.
• Drew Stafford and Buffalo have struggled out of the gates this season, but the Sabres winger hopes to reverse the slow start.
• The achievments Chicago Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews have made a big impression on President Obama.
• Sioux alum Travis Zajac is off to a bit of a slow start this season for the New Jersey Devils and on Halloween a trick-or-treater told him as much.
• The voting for the AJHL's All-Time Top 50 players continues, and up for vote this go-round are Sioux alums Dixon Ward, Garry Valk, Geoff Smith, Teeder Wynne and UND head coach Dave Hakstol.
• The Sioux City Journal published a great feature on recruit Trevor Olson (Sioux City-USHL), detailing the hip injury he's played through this season. Following this weekend's games he will undergo surgery in order to be fully prepared for his freshman season at UND next fall. The Musketeer captain is well-respected amongst his teammates and he sounds like quite the gamer. In a best-case scenario Sioux City, which is 9-0 with Olson in the lineup and 1-2 without him, could get their captain back towards the end of the season.
• Women's Four Nations Cup: The Lamoureux twins and Team USA will wrap up pool play tonight when they face Michelle Karvinen and Susanna Tapani's Finland squad at 6:00 CST. The Americans are 1-1 after their 4-2 defeat at the hands of arch-rival Canada. Finland is also 1-1 in pool play. Johanna Fallman and Team Sweden will be looking to pick up their first victory of the tournament when they play Canada this afternoon at 2:30 CST.
• World Junior A Challenge: UND's recruits playing in the World Junior A Challenge will resume play today when the semifinals get underway. Rhett Gardner and Canada West will take on Russia at 2:00 CST while Team USA, featuring recruits Nick Schmaltz, Ryan Mantha, and Austin Poganski, will take on Switzerland at 6:00 CST. Through two games, Schmaltz is tied for the tournament lead with six points (2G, 4A) and has earned the praise of NHL Central Scouting's Carl Edwards. Gardner, meanwhile, has yet to find the scoresheet, but his defensive efforts on the penalty kill have helped thrust Canada West into the semifinals.

Wednesday Morning Post

• UND forward Colten St. Clair suffered a leg injury this past weekend against St. Cloud State and is expected to be out at least until the semester break. St. Clair's game contains an element of gritty hustle and his presence will be missed as an energy guy who plays a big role on the team's penalty killing unit.
• Drake Caggiula's slick first period goal against SCSU Friday night was chosen as NCAA hockey's top goal of the weekend.
• Sioux alum Dave Tippett became the all-time winningest coach in Phoenix Coyote franchise history last weekend.
• Chris Porter became the ninth Sioux alum to skate in the NHL this season when he made his season debut for St. Louis this past Saturday.
• The Hartford Courant says Danny Kristo has emerged as the Hartford Wolf Pack's most productive forward this season.
• Through 13 games Corban Knight leads Abbotsford (AHL) in points (12), assists (8), and +/- (+6).
• Mike Commodore recently did a good deed for a British Columbia charity. 
• Women's Four Nations Cup: Team USA defeated Sweden yesterday 10-0 with Sioux alums Jocelyne Lamoureux (1G, 1A) and Monique Lamoureux (0G, 2A) each posting a multi-point game for the Americans. Team USA's next action comes today against arch-rival Canada at 6:00 CST while UND defenseman Johanna Fallman and Sweden will take on Finland today at 2:30. Finland, featuring current UND forwards Michelle Karvinen and Susanna Tapani, dropped a tight 3-1 decision to Canada yesterday.
• World Junior A Challenge: Canada West and UND recruit Rhett Gardner earned the top seed out of Group B by going 2-0 in group play. They have advanced to Friday's semifinals where they will take on Group A's second seed. Team USA, featuring UND recruits Austin Poganski, Nick Schmaltz, and Ryan Mantha, opened group play last night with an 8-3 thrashing of Russia. Schmaltz scored two goals and assisted on two others and now has 12 points (7G, 5A) in his last five games of international competition dating back to August's Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Team USA's next game comes today at 6:00 CST against Canada East.
• NTDP Four Nations Tournaments: Recruits Shane Gersich and Christian Evers will be participating in a pair of Four Nations tournaments this week. Gersich and the NTDP Under-18 team will be in Finland while Evers and the Under-17 team will be in Slovakia. Both teams will play pre-tournament games today with regulation action beginning Friday. Check out USA Hockey's Four Nations info page for full schedules and notes for both teams.

Friday Morning Post

• For a good look at this weekend's action, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading and USCHO's weekly NCHC picks.
• SCSU's Nick Oliver, a Roseau High alum, is excited to be heading to Grand Forks this weekend as he expects to see plenty of familiar faces in the stands.
• Dave Tippett earned his 165th win as head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes last night against Nashville, tying him with Bob Francis for the franchise record. Tippett also has the fifth highest point percentage (.613) in NHL history among coaches who have been behind the bench 500 or more games. Tippett's outstanding coaching resume tends to fly under the radar considering he doesn't lead one of the league's more ritzy franchises, yet he continues to put highly competitive teams on the ice year in and year out. What's interesting is to compare the careers of Tippett and Detroit head coach Mike Babcock. They're both in their 11th season as head coaches, with Babcock having coached 799 games to Tippett's 800. Babcock has 452 career victories to go along with a .635 points percentage while Tippett has notched 436 wins on his way to his .613 points percentage. Tippett's squads have missed the playoffs just twice in the past ten seasons, while Babcock's have done so only once. Tippett has never experienced a losing season percentage-wise, with his lowest single-season point percentage (.506) coming in 2008-09, his last season in Dallas. Babcock had a point percentage of .463 in 2003-04, his final season as head coach of Anaheim. The numbers do tilt towards Babcock, particularly considering his Detroit squad won the Stanley Cup in 2007-08. But considering the stark contrast in franchise stability between Detroit and Phoenix, Tippett's coaching numbers stack up quite nicely to Babcock's.
• On Saturday night Jonathan Toews will play his first regular season NHL game in his hometown of Winnipeg, and he's pretty pumped for the occasion.
• Toews has been named a finalist for Sportsnet's Canadian Athlete of the Year.
• Andy Strickland of True Hockey wonders, is TJ Oshie playing the best hockey of his career right now?
• St. Louis has had a couple of forwards go down with injuries recently, leading them to recall Chris Porter from Chicago (AHL).
• And here's the latest edition of Through These Doors:

Thursday Morning Post

• Senior forward Michelle Karvinen was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week following her strong performance in UND's road sweep of St. Cloud State. Karvinen picked up five points (4G, 1A) on the weekend and her seven goals on the season lead the nation.
• Karvinen will not be in the lineup when UND travels to Bemidji State this weekend. UND will also be without freshman forward Susanna Tapani and junior defenseman Johanna Fallman as all three will be preparing to compete in the women's Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, NY, November 5-9. Tapani and Karvinen will represent Finland, while Fallman will skate for Sweden. Also competing at the Four Nations will be Sioux alums and Team USA standouts Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux.
• The UND men's hockey Twitter account Tweeted yesterday that sophomore forward Drake Caggiula practiced without limitation. This is most certainly a positive sign for Caggiula, who took a nasty head-over-heels spill during Saturday's exhibition game against Team USA. Hopefully we will see him in the lineup this weekend against St. Cloud State.
• UND freshman defenseman Keaton Thompson was featured in his hometown newspaper yesterday.
• The coaching staff of the BCHL's Penticton Vees will be in Grand Forks this weekend to watch a number of their former players take to the ice at Engelstad Arena.
• Danny Kristo continues his strong play to start the AHL season. Last night he picked up a goal and two assists in Hartford's 5-3 win over Bridgeport, giving him twelve points (7G, 5A) in ten games. While Kristo's performance thus far is impressive, Blue Seat Blogs stresses the importance of patience in letting prospects develop at the proper level.
• Corban Knight notched a goal and an assist, including the overtime game winner, in Abbotsford's 5-4 win over Utica last night. He now has nine points (4G, 5A) in ten games, putting him right up there with Kristo among the AHL's top rookie scorers.
• The Ottawa Sun says Hockey Canada would do right in naming Jonathan Toews captain for the 2014 Winter Olympics, going so far as to call him "the best all-around player in the world."
• TJ Oshie is off to the best start of his career for the St. Louis Blues, having notched ten points (2G, 8A) in ten games with a +8 rating. The creative and relentless Oshie has helped drive the Blues towards the top of the Central Division with a refreshing dose of class.
• North Dakota recruit Rhett Gardner (Okotoks-AJHL) was named to Canada West's roster for the 2013 World Junior A Challenge. Gardner, part of UND's excellent class of 1996 birth-year commitments, was one of 13 forwards selected out of the 36 invited to camp.

Wednesday Morning Post

• Last Saturday's matchup with the NTDP Under-18 team might not have counted in the standings, but it was certainly more than just an exhibition game for UND.
• Mario Lamoureux has signed a Professional Try-Out contract with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL). Lamoureux began the season with the ECHL's Ontario Reign, where he produced three goals in four games.
• Jonathan Toews notched his third career hat trick last night in helping lead Chicago to a come from behind victory against Ottawa. Here are the goals:

• Sioux alum Ryan Johnson was named Player Development Consultant for the Vancouver Canucks.
• Rangers Unlimited checks in to see how top NYR prospect Danny Kristo is faring in Hartford, with video of all six of Kristo's goals this season. Kristo has nine points (6G, 3A) in nine games thus far, second most among AHL rookies.
• Fox Sports West produced a really nice video featuring LA King winger Matt Frattin. Frattin discusses his move to southern California, his locker room banter with former Cornell goaltender Ben Scrivens, and his line dancing abilities. Check it out: 

• UND recruit Trevor Olson scored a pair of goals this past weekend as he's making the most of what's left of his USHL career. Olson, who will suit up for North Dakota next fall, is set to undergo season ending surgery in mid-November.
• Defenseman recruit Tucker Poolman scored his first goal of the season Sunday afternoon in the second period of Omaha's 6-5 win over Muskegon. He added two more in the third period for his first career USHL hat trick.
• A pair of exhibition games will get The World Junior A Challenge rolling this weekend, with pool play commencing next Monday. Team USA's entry will feature three North Dakota recruits in Ryan Mantha, Austin Poganski, and Nick Schmaltz while Rhett Gardner is currently battling for a roster spot at Canada West's selection camp.