GLENS FALLS — Rookie Mike Szmatula’s selection to the ECHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 21 is naturally based on what the forward has done on the ice.

It was off-ice doings, however, that he credits for putting him in a good mental state. For the first time in a couple of years, Szmatula was able to go home to Commerce Township, Michigan during the summer and work out there.

“I think that kind of took my mind away from hockey, in a sense, and I was able to kind of just enjoy being with my parents and my friends and my cousins,” Szmatula said. “That was probably the biggest thing for me, mentally, coming in refreshed and happy. Obviously I trained pretty hard, too.”

Szmatula, a 26-year-old forward, is tied for the most goals on the Thunder this season with 14. He also has 10 assists. The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder has a wide range of skills. He’s one of the team’s top puck handlers and can score from anywhere, but this season he’s shown a fantastic touch around the goal.

Szmatula began his time with the Thunder in the final six games of the 2017-18 regular season after completing his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota. He only had two assists then, but blossomed in the 17 playoff games, notching five goals and three assists. He said he learned from the established veterans such as Mathieu Brodeur and Mike Bergin, who’ve since left, but was also glad to see some of those veterans return this season.

“I was comfortable, I knew some of the guys,” Szmatula said to his feeling starting this season. “Just being able to start like that was a help. Obviously, getting the opportunity to play a little more, your confidence just grows. I’m just trying to do the best I can with the opportunity and enjoy it.”

Thunder coach Alex Loh looked to Szmatula to be one of the team’s offensive leaders, and he’s met that expectation.

“We knew he’d be fighting for time in the American league, which he’s gotten a little of this year. This is as expected — he’s a great human being, great kid, just a good hockey player,” said Loh, who also noted that a switch to center helped Szmatula.

“(We did that) after a couple of weeks because he felt more comfortable there, and once he got into that position, he really blossomed and was able to generate more offense,” Loh said.

Szmatula said he was both ecstatic and a bit surprised at his selection to the all-star classic.

“There could be a handful of (teammates) that were picked for that,” he said. “I’m just fortunate for the opportunity. It’s a huge tribute to my teammates and coaches. There’s no way I’d be in that position without them.”