Taylor Matson

Classroom

Matson is a business and marketing education major and has an approximate 3.4 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. He has been named to the WCHA All-Academic team each of the last two seasons.

Character

Matson has had each of his first three seasons on the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team ended by injury. He has never finished a season healthy, but he was still elected captain for the senior season by his teammates. He has received the Mike Crupi Most Determined Player award each of the last two seasons and is regularly praised by coaches, players and fans as being the hardest working player on the ice. Despite his many setbacks (ACL injury, two ankle surgeries and another knee injury), he is the clear leader on the team. His heart, character and toughness cannot be questioned.

Community

Matson has used his own misfortunes to help others. He has suffered many significant knee and ankle injuries that have required months of extensive rehab. This summer he learned of a 7-year-old boy who broke his femur playing hockey. Matson, who has overcome a significant leg injury himself, visited the youth in the hospital and took him a goodie bag to help in his recovery process. He also invited him to a game this upcoming season and promised him a tour of the dressing room. Matson is also an active volunteer with HopeKids and has spent time (reading to, watching movies with and playing with) children who are sick. Matson has also said that one of his goals this year as captain is to get more members of the men’s hockey team to participate in community service.

Competition

After overcoming significant injuries, Matson emerged as a scoring threat last season. He skated in a career-high 33 games and had a breakout year with a career-high 10 goals and three assists. His 10 goals are the most among returning players this season (tied with Jake Hansen). The versatile Matson played on the first, third and fourth lines and saw action at both center and wing. Minnesota was 7-3-1 when he recorded a point and 5-2-1 when he scored a goal.