Jake Sanderson to make Olympic hockey debut with Team USA in Beijing
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (BVM) 鈥� Jake Sanderson wasn鈥檛 expecting an invite to the USA Olympic team when John Venbiesbrouck pulled him aside to talk, but that鈥檚 what he got.
鈥淚t was right after the World Juniors was canceled so I was in Red Deer and John Vanbiesbrouck, the GM of our team, who is the GM of the Olympic team, too,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淗e pulled aside me, Matty Beniers and Brock Fabor and told us that we were going. We were kind of just so excited, so shocked and just jumping up and down hugging each other.鈥�
Sanderson is one of 15 college players that will be on the roster for Team USA and is a part of the youngest USA Olympic hockey team since 1994. He also is one of five teenagers on the team that are the first teenagers to play for Team USA in 30 year.
鈥淭o be given the opportunity at such a young age,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淵ou never know if it’s the last opportunity you鈥檙e going to be given in this situation so it kind of was something for us that we had to do.鈥�
He and the rest of the team know how special this moment is and the team is ready to make the most of it. They鈥檙e young but talented and ready to prove that.
鈥淲hen I saw the roster I was like, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 a pretty good team,鈥� even though we鈥檙e young, some very good players on the roster,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to meet some of the guys I haven鈥檛 met yet and play with them. I know it might take a couple days to build some chemistry but I鈥檓 not worried.鈥�
Luckily for Team USA, Sanderson and some of his teammates have plenty of experience putting on the 鈥楻ed, White and Blue.鈥� Last year, the defenseman helped lead the USA Junior National team to a gold medal at the 2021 World Championships.
鈥淚 think just being on that winning team,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淏eing with a lot of good players and a lot of great leaders, too, kind of helped shape what me and Matty kind of do.鈥�
Sanderson has already implemented what he learned last year to the rink while playing with the University of North Dakota this season. The Fighting Hawks are one of the best teams in the nation. Sanderson is one of the team’s leaders in goals, assists and points.
His play has been great so far at the collegiate level and UND has found success in part because of Sanderson鈥檚 play. Team USA will also need that level of play out of Sanderson for them to have success at Beijing.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 asked to do that I鈥檒l be ready,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of something I鈥檝e done my whole hockey career. I鈥檝e been given situations and opportunities to do things and I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have great people alongside of me to do that. I鈥檒l be ready.鈥�
Growing up, Sanderson was able to watch his dad, Geoff, play in the NHL. Although his dad never forced the sport on Jake or his brothers, they all were naturally drawn to the sport. Jake played other sports throughout his childhood but none compared to hockey.
鈥淚 just have so much love for the game of hockey,鈥� Jake said. 鈥淚 love going to the rink everyday just being able to practice with my best buddies everyday. I think it鈥檚 the best job in the world.鈥�
Jake played wherever he and his family lived. And it was during his time living in Canada that he got recruited by North Dakota. They were the first and only college to recruit him and the effort they put in to visit him in Western Canada made all the difference to Jake.
Their recruiting of him was the first thing that ingrained them with Jake and then once he visited campus, it was over. He verbally committed to the Fighting Hawks in high school and has loved his decision ever since. The facilities, community and fans have made his time in North Dakota amazing.
鈥淣orth Dakota is the only team that actually recruited me,鈥� Jake said. 鈥淚 was playing in Western Canada at the time and not a lot of college coaches will go out there to scout but the coaches at North Dakota did.鈥�
鈥淚 wish I could stay here forever.鈥�
From Western Canada, Jake went on to go to high school in Plymouth, Michigan and played for the U.S. program. His time playing with some of the best players in the nation, learning from some amazing coaches, helped Jake realize he could have a long hockey career.
It was also during his time in Michigan that he found a whole new appreciation for the sport of hockey and developed the talents he would need to be selected fifth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators.
鈥淚 think just being with the U.S.A. program really shaped my love for the game and the work ethic that I have,鈥� Jake said. 鈥淚 was lucky enough to have some amazing coaches there that I鈥檓 still in contact with today so it鈥檚 a special world over there.鈥�
Jake is thrilled about his future with the Senators when he is called up to the professional ranks but for now he鈥檚 focused on the present. That means helping UND win a national championship and even sooner than that, helping Team USA.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of Olympians on the earth but there鈥檚 fewer gold olympians,鈥� Jake said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something Coach Quinn said to us the other day and that kind of stuck with me and I鈥檓 pumped up.鈥�
Team USA hasn鈥檛 made the podium since 2010 in Vancouver when they took Silver; that鈥檚 the end goal for Jake and his teammates. However, Jake will also be taking in the whole experience, watching and learning from those around him and enjoying every moment that he gets to represent his country.
鈥淚t鈥檚 special, every time I get to represent my country I鈥檒l always do it and to do it at the Olympic stage is even more of an honor,鈥� Jake said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to get over there, can鈥檛 wait to throw on that sweater.鈥�
