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Jake Sanderson to make Olympic hockey debut with Team USA in Beijing
Sanderson was drafted fifth overall to the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Draft. (Photo Credit: North Dakota Athletics)

Jake Sanderson to make Olympic hockey debut with Team USA in Beijing

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (BVM) – Jake Sanderson wasn’t expecting an invite to the USA Olympic team when John Venbiesbrouck pulled him aside to talk, but that’s what he got.

“It 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,” Sanderson said. “He 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.”

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.

Sanderson is one of the headliners on a USA team that is young and full of talent. (Photo Credit: North Dakota Athletics)

“To be given the opportunity at such a young age,” Sanderson said. “You never know if it’s the last opportunity you’re going to be given in this situation so it kind of was something for us that we had to do.”

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’re young but talented and ready to prove that.

“When I saw the roster I was like, ‘That’s a pretty good team,’ even though we’re young, some very good players on the roster,” Sanderson said. “I’m very excited to meet some of the guys I haven’t met yet and play with them. I know it might take a couple days to build some chemistry but I’m not worried.”

Luckily for Team USA, Sanderson and some of his teammates have plenty of experience putting on the ‘Red, White and Blue.’ Last year, the defenseman helped lead the USA Junior National team to a gold medal at the 2021 World Championships.

“I think just being on that winning team,” Sanderson said. “Being with a lot of good players and a lot of great leaders, too, kind of helped shape what me and Matty kind of do.”

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’s play. Team USA will also need that level of play out of Sanderson for them to have success at Beijing.

“If I’m asked to do that I’ll be ready,” Sanderson said. “It’s kind of something I’ve done my whole hockey career. I’ve been given situations and opportunities to do things and I’ve been lucky enough to have great people alongside of me to do that. I’ll be ready.”

UND is one of the top teams in the nation this year and Sanderson is a big part of that. (Photo Credit: North Dakota Athletics)

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.

“I just have so much love for the game of hockey,” Jake said. “I love going to the rink everyday just being able to practice with my best buddies everyday. I think it’s the best job in the world.”

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.

“North Dakota is the only team that actually recruited me,” Jake said. “I 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.”

“I wish I could stay here forever.”

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.

Sanderson has played for the U.S. Junior National team for two years. (Photo Credit: North Dakota Athletics)

“I think just being with the U.S.A. program really shaped my love for the game and the work ethic that I have,” Jake said. “I was lucky enough to have some amazing coaches there that I’m still in contact with today so it’s a special world over there.”

Jake is thrilled about his future with the Senators when he is called up to the professional ranks but for now he’s focused on the present. That means helping UND win a national championship and even sooner than that, helping Team USA.

“There’s a lot of Olympians on the earth but there’s fewer gold olympians,” Jake said. “That’s something Coach Quinn said to us the other day and that kind of stuck with me and I’m pumped up.”

Team USA hasn’t made the podium since 2010 in Vancouver when they took Silver; that’s 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.

“It’s special, every time I get to represent my country I’ll always do it and to do it at the Olympic stage is even more of an honor,” Jake said. “I can’t wait to get over there, can’t wait to throw on that sweater.”