THANKS, DAD!

The Flames are slated to pick 19th in the first round of the NHL draft on Oct. 6. CalgaryFlames.com's Ryan Dittrick profiles some players who may be on the board when that selection rolls around.
His father, Geoff, was one of the fastest men on ice.
The agility.
Acceleration.
The staggering straightaway speed.
If there was one of dad's attributes that 2020 draft prospect Jake Sanderson was lucky enough to inherit, he's glad it's the wheels.
"I'm a unique player, because I can play that hard-nosed, defensive-style game, but also use my skating, my skill and my hockey sense up the ice as well," he said.

Just like pops.
Even if he's doing it from the blueline.
"The one thing I remember about him during his playing career was that he was a great skater, very talented on the offensive side of the game and a great goal-scorer," Jake said. "If I'm drafted ahead of where my dad was, maybe I'll give it to him a little bit.
"But I have too much to thank him for.
"He's been there for me every step of the way."
Geoff grew up in Hay River, N.W.T., was drafted 36th overall by the Hartford Whalers, and scored 700 points (355G, 345A) in 1,104 career games with the Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers.
He also won three World Championships as a member of Team Canada, celebrated a WHL and Memorial Cup title with the Swift Current Broncos, and won the AHL's Calder Cup during a (very) brief stint in Springfield, Mass.
Jake, meanwhile, was born in Whitefish, Montana - growing up there at a lakeside property the family retreats to every summer.
The proximity to the Alberta border led Jake to play his bantam hockey with the Flames Under-15 Triple-A program in Calgary, before moving on to play at the Edge School, and finally, landing in Plymouth and representing the red, white and blue with the U.S. National Development Team Program.

Now, he's about to make history, etch a new chapter in the Sanderson family adventure, and potentially become the first-ever Montana-born player to skate in the National Hockey League.
"I describe myself as a two-way defenceman," Sanderson said. "I'm someone you can put in all different situations on the ice, whether it's the powerplay or penalty-kill, and can really thrive.
"Something I've really been working on, as well, is my one-timer. As a defenceman, having a bomb of a one-timer and keeping it consistent and having good aim with it is a really good asset."
Indeed.
And it's only one, of many, in the sizeable, Sanderson playbook.
The 6-foot-2, 185-lb. blueliner handles the puck and moves it exceptionally well in transition. He defends with confidence and isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. His vision, poise, and hockey IQ in all three zones resemble that of a pro beyond his years.
And, naturally, his mobility and speed off the rush can transform the attack.
As the fourth-ranked North-American skater by NHL Central Scouting, Sanderson enters the draft as the top American-born D prospect, and the second-best blueliner, overall, behind Jamie Drysdale.
He had nine goals and 43 points in 66 games last year, and has committed to the University of North Dakota for the upcoming campaign after honing his craft with one of the hockey's best development centres.
For a U.S. program that - in recent years - has cultured the likes of Noah Hanifin, Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy and others, Sanderson has left many in awe.
"Sandy is right in that mix of the top three guys I've coached here, if not the top guy," Nick Fohr - the associate coach with the U.S. NTDP - told Mike Morreale of NHL.com. "That's still to be determined based on how he develops and where he goes, but this is something we've been talking about since last year. Somebody asked me last season where he'd fit, and I said he's already in my top five and that was as an Under-17player."

In theory, Sanderson is unlikely to be there when the Flames make their pick at No. 19 on Tuesday. But in a draft where nothing is certain outside of the Top 3, and where trades could possibly impact the selection order, anything is possible.
"Obviously, I'm not sure what team it's going to be yet, but I'm going to be very excited and very grateful that that team wants me," he said.
"When you start playing hockey, you do it for fun. But as you get better and better and older and older, it becomes more like a job and that's something my dad really emphasized with me this year."
Sounds like a player ready for his next challenge.
Sure, it's been a long and winding road for this well-traveled prospect.
But by no means is this the end point.
He's hungry for more.
"My dad's been awesome in helping me approach this whole thing," Sanderson said. "He's been here every step of the way in my life and helping me in my hockey career. He just tells me to enjoy the moment. 'This only happens once in your life,' and that getting drafted is the easy part.
"What comes after that - and what you do with it - is the most important thing."