UND defender Mattson team’s top scorer

GRAND FORKS - It was mid-December and senior Nick Mattson had been a healthy scratch in exactly half of UND’s games. He had been in the stands for the last four.
“At that point,” he said, “I didn’t think there was much of a future left in the season for me.”
Mattson went back in the lineup that night, scored a goal, tallied an assist and was a key part in UND’s 3-1 win at the University of Denver.
Mattson hasn’t missed a game since.
The defenseman has turned into UND’s best scoring threat. He has 18 points in 19 games since that time, leading the team in scoring. Nobody else has more than 13.
Why the big turnaround?
Mattson said one key was doing mindful meditation.
“There’s a lady that works with the school,” Mattson said. “A couple of us started working with her. It’s kind of what Phil Jackson used to do with his old basketball teams.
“It might sound a little out there, but it’s not. It’s cool. I think that was a big part of it, for sure. It clears your mind.”
Mattson said it has helped him play without over-thinking things.
“I feel a lot more clear-headed out there, especially when you prepare for a game,” he said. “In the past, you’ll think, ‘Oh, I played terrible against these guys last series.’ That can kind of throw you off. Now, you can see those thoughts for what they are. They’re just distractions. I’m a lot more in the moment and able to see the game a lot more clearly and not be distracted.”
From the start of the season through Dec. 12, Mattson had two points and an even rating.
Since returning to the lineup on Dec. 13, Mattson leads UND in assists (14), points (18), power-play points (six) and plus-minus rating (plus-12).
Mattson had a goal, three assists and four points in last weekend’s sweep of Colorado College in the first round of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference playoffs. He also was named the NCHC defenseman of the week earlier this month for his three-point weekend against St. Cloud State, the team UND will take on at 4:08 p.m. Friday in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff.
If UND is to win its fourth conference playoff championship of the last six years, it will look to Mattson to continue his hot streak.
“I felt like I freed myself and started playing the way I can,” Mattson said. “Ever since then, things clicked.”