Former Chaska Hawk hockey defenseman Nick Mattson is still ahead of the game.

Mattson was the only Minnesota player selected to the roster of the 2008-09 U.S. National Under-18 Team.

The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based team is part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. The U-18s took the bronze medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s U-18 Championship earlier this year in Russia.

Mattson, 16, was a member of the U.S. National U-17 team last year and led defenseman in scoring with one goal and 22 assists.

Mattson played one season for the Hawks as a freshman, before moving to Ann Arbor to attend school and join the NTDP. He has verbally committed to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota.