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Although both of these guys are very elite players and possibly the two best in the state, after watching them play today it seemed to me that Pitlick was the better of the two. I was just curious to see what you guys think about which is better now and who has a brighter future etc.

every time these players touched the puck i thought "uh oh what are they gonna do?" it seemed as though they were playing at a different speed but had full control. mattson seemed more physical with a scorers touch. pitlick looked like he had more speed and had some very pretty goals today, lots of skill. i am going to have to go with pitlick also.

TheNightman wrote:Although both of these guys are very elite players and possibly the two best in the state, after watching them play today it seemed to me that Pitlick was the better of the two. I was just curious to see what you guys think about which is better now and who has a brighter future etc.

Nightman, you better pick Pitlick seeing as you are from the land of the Bears, but I have to dis-agree. Yes Pitlick has some speed, but you need to be all-around and as posted in the previous post Mattson has that physical edge. When Danny needs to be, he is fast and can get up and down the ice with the best of them. Danny is not about scoring, although I wish he was, he is a player and is not selfish. He will give the assist most of the time.
By the way, I am the biggest homer on this board and will say when my player is the best. Danny is that player.

Zamman wrote:

TheNightman wrote:Although both of these guys are very elite players and possibly the two best in the state, after watching them play today it seemed to me that Pitlick was the better of the two. I was just curious to see what you guys think about which is better now and who has a brighter future etc.

Nightman, you better pick Pitlick seeing as you are from the land of the Bears, but I have to dis-agree. Yes Pitlick has some speed, but you need to be all-around and as posted in the previous post Mattson has that physical edge. When Danny needs to be, he is fast and can get up and down the ice with the best of them. Danny is not about scoring, although I wish he was, he is a player and is not selfish. He will give the assist most of the time.
By the way, I am the biggest homer on this board and will say when my player is the best. Danny is that player.

If you dont think pitlick is physical then you didnt watch the game yesterday because i counted him lay people out about 4 times and they were hard hits. They got absolutely dropped. But staying on topic here I would have to say Pitlick. From what I saw Mattson had very good hands though.

Both very good players, Pitlick though i'd have to say. He's got it all

LetsPlayHockey22 wrote:Both very good players, Pitlick though i'd have to say. He's got it all

Pitlick going to Minnesota State?

Dog_Log17 wrote:

LetsPlayHockey22 wrote:Both very good players, Pitlick though i'd have to say. He's got it all

Pitlick going to Minnesota State?

Ya i dont know what his recruiting status was with the U but im pretty sure he wouldnt have had good enough grades to get in there

King of the Pond wrote:

Zamman wrote:

TheNightman wrote:Although both of these guys are very elite players and possibly the two best in the state, after watching them play today it seemed to me that Pitlick was the better of the two. I was just curious to see what you guys think about which is better now and who has a brighter future etc.

Nightman, you better pick Pitlick seeing as you are from the land of the Bears, but I have to dis-agree. Yes Pitlick has some speed, but you need to be all-around and as posted in the previous post Mattson has that physical edge. When Danny needs to be, he is fast and can get up and down the ice with the best of them. Danny is not about scoring, although I wish he was, he is a player and is not selfish. He will give the assist most of the time.
By the way, I am the biggest homer on this board and will say when my player is the best. Danny is that player.

If you dont think pitlick is physical then you didnt watch the game yesterday because i counted him lay people out about 4 times and they were hard hits. They got absolutely dropped. But staying on topic here I would have to say Pitlick. From what I saw Mattson had very good hands though.

I've seen both players develop over many years and this is my take:

Since Bantam "A"'s Pitlick has improved enormously...largely due to a growth spurt that occurred in 10th grade and seems to continue to this day. At one time in youth hockey he was an undersized player (sort of like Derek Stepan)..always had the skill and finishing ability (like Derek) then the growth spurt occurred...and his game really took off to another level. Tyler is more a pure scorer than Mattson, an excellent shooter, a very good but not exceptional skater and with increased size, he is physical. Because his long body has not filled out the way it will in time... and he can really finish..he has even more upside down the road and will go high in the 2010 NHL draft.

At this stage, Mattson is arguably the best all-around player in the state IMO...he can do it all...an amazing passer who truely makes whoever plays on a line with him significantly better...very creative...a very good shooter, an exceptional skater who has that burst when he needs it...very strong on his skates with excellent balance...his game really flows...doesn't have the over-all size of a Ben Hanowski (or Pitlick's height), Ben and Danny are the best, most unselfish passers in the State IMO but Danny is a better skater than Ben (and Pitlick). Danny will also be selected high in the 2009 NHL draft (so will Ben)

As of 12/30/08...the answer to the question above is Mattson...ten years from now, who knows?

I feel that Mattson will be a better player for the Sioux than Pitlick will be for the Mavericks.

That is if the work ethic stays at a high level. Both of these players are good for different reasons, but I'ld say Mattson has the game in the palm of his hand. He's got speed and hands and that is so dangerous when both of those are working together.
However, Pitlick has the physical aspect down and really is a nice hard nosed player.

I didn't know Mattson was going to UND next year. I would have liked to see him with the maroon and gold. Did Lucia recruit him?

Yea i would have liked to see him at the U but I heard from a few people that the grades aren't there

runninman wrote:I didn't know Mattson was going to UND next year. I would have liked to see him with the maroon and gold. Did Lucia recruit him?

They recruited Mattson. Offered him a scholly. He just went with a different school. Doesn't happen often to the Gophers but it happens.

They were interested in Pitlick but academics was the stumbling block preventing that from happening.

Gopher Blog wrote:

runninman wrote:I didn't know Mattson was going to UND next year. I would have liked to see him with the maroon and gold. Did Lucia recruit him?

They recruited Mattson. Offered him a scholly. He just went with a different school. Doesn't happen often to the Gophers but it happens.

They were interested in Pitlick but academics was the stumbling block preventing that from happening.

can I have both players?

Why would mattson choose UND over the U? he better go pro then because a UND degree isnt worth anything unless your a pilot.....

gophermadman wrote:

Gopher Blog wrote:

runninman wrote:I didn't know Mattson was going to UND next year. I would have liked to see him with the maroon and gold. Did Lucia recruit him?

They recruited Mattson. Offered him a scholly. He just went with a different school. Doesn't happen often to the Gophers but it happens.

They were interested in Pitlick but academics was the stumbling block preventing that from happening.

can I have both players?

Why would mattson choose UND over the U? he better go pro then because a UND degree isnt worth anything unless your a pilot.....

Why would you even say that? The slip of paper is all you need from any school. All the WCHA schools are good.

I remember reading an article about Danny choosing UND. He liked the atmosphere and tradition of hockey at the school. UND also has a couple thousand less students attending there...

Danny Mattson is the best player in the state...Period. Sometimes kids choose schools that family members have gone to in the past, family tradition thing, could be the case in him choosing UND.

Pitlick showed why he is one of the top candidates for Mr. Hockey this tournament. He got 8 points in 3 games against some of the top competition in the state.

HappyHockeyFan wrote:Danny Mattson is the best player in the state...Period. Sometimes kids choose schools that family members have gone to in the past, family tradition thing, could be the case in him choosing UND.

You may be right on the tradition thing. I did some internet research on the topic. Apparently, his Dad and Grandpa use to stop at the Flying J Truck Stop in Grand Forks on the way to their annual week of eel pout fishing. The folksy warmth in the truck stop made an impression.

HappyHockeyFan wrote:Danny Mattson is the best player in the state...Period.

That is just not true, Mattson is very good but you can't say he is the best player in the state period. Leddy is probably better. If you count Budish as in the state, he is probably better, also.

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You are viewing returning leaders from Winter 07-08. Leaders must have at least 0 games played.
Goals (G) Complete List

1. Marshall Everson - Jr Edina (MN) 43
2. Tyler Lapic - Jr New Prague (MN) 37
3. Seth Ambroz - Fr New Prague (MN) 36
4. Ryan Walters - So St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, MN) 36
5. Ben Hanowski - Jr Little Falls (MN) 35



Assists (Asst) Complete List

1. Danny Mattson Jr Academy of Holy Angels (Richfield, MN) 41
2. Ryan Walters - So St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, MN) 39
3. Zach Budish - Jr Edina (MN) 37
4. Blake Schammel - Jr Red Wing (MN) 35
5. Jordan Lovick - So Centennial (Circle Pines, MN) 34



Points (PTS) Complete List

1. Ryan Walters - So St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, MN) 75
2. Danny Mattson Jr Academy of Holy Angels (Richfield, MN) 72
3. Tyler Lapic - Jr New Prague (MN) 71
4. Seth Ambroz - Fr New Prague (MN) 68
5. Marshall Everson - Jr Edina (MN) 68

Those are last years stats

PITLICK

Pitlick is sick! He's got a scolly to Kato. He's going to the show after that for sure.

I have seen Pitlick play 4 times and Mattson play just 1 time in person. Both have it all, but if I could only have 1 on my team, I am more impressed with Pitlick!

As a defenseman who has played against both many times. Mattson is sick Pitlick is easy just get in his way and he won't move the puck.

Buddish is big and strong but does not have near the puck skills of Mattson. Watch the Edina, BSM game again and you will see how both Zierke and Bergland would exploit his inability to protect the puck. Just don't let him get a good shot and you should be ok.

scoreboard33 wrote:

HappyHockeyFan wrote:Danny Mattson is the best player in the state...Period.

That is just not true, Mattson is very good but you can't say he is the best player in the state period. Leddy is probably better. If you count Budish as in the state, he is probably better, also.

I can say what I want and I say Mattson is the best player in the State...Period.