BOSTON – Sophomore defenseman Jake Sanderson has been named to the AHCA/CCM All-America West First Team on Friday night, as announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association on NHL Network.
This marks the third straight season that North Dakota has had at least one player named to the first team, with Sanderson joining Shane Pinto (2020-21) and Jordan Kawaguchi (2019-20). It is the first time since 1997-00 that the program has gone at least three consecutive years with a first team honoree.
Despite playing only 10 league games, Sanderson was dynamic along the blue line to be named to the All-NCHC Second Team for the first time in his career. He tallied 12 points on four goals and eight assists while finishing with a plus-4 rating. The two-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week showed his top-end ability in a weekend sweep at Miami on Nov. 12-13, scoring six points (3g, 3a) in the pair of wins.
Prior to heading to the Winter Olympics, the Whitefish, Mont., native scored the tying goal against St. Cloud State on Jan. 29 in what ended up being his final regular season appearance. He was named a finalist for the league’s top defensive defenseman, an award won by his blueline partner, Ethan Frisch.
Sanderson returned from injury in the NCHC Quarterfinals, scoring a goal in Friday’s win before adding an assist on Riese Gaber’s game-winning goal on Saturday. In the finale against the Tigers, the defenseman played the final 2:18 to help North Dakota secure the sweep and advance in the postseason but suffered a season-ending injury during those final minutes.
Overall, Sanderson finished the season with eight goals and 18 assists in 23 games to sit third on the team with 26 points.
The Whitefish, Mont., native was also the first sophomore-or-younger assistant captain since Brock Boeser in 2016-17 and youngest defenseman to earn the honor since Ian Kidd in 1986-87.
The first-round pick by the Ottawa Senators finishes his North Dakota career with 41 points in 45 games over two seasons. As a team, UND finished 31-13-1 when Sanderson was in the lineup.
Sanderson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Senators at the end of the 2021-22 season.
*Alec Stocker Johnson, UND Athletics
