Jake Sanderson Bio
Jake Sanderson (born July 8, 2002) is a Canadian–American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected fifth overall by the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, he is recognized as one of the foundational pieces of the team’s ongoing rebuild. After a standout collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, Sanderson transitioned to the NHL in 2022 and quickly established himself as a reliable two-way defenseman. In 2023, he signed a long-term contract extension that signals his central role in the franchise’s plans for the foreseeable future.
Early Life and Background
Jake Sanderson was born on July 8, 2002, in Whitefish, Montana, United States, to former NHL forward Geoff Sanderson and his wife Ellen. He grew up in a deeply hockey-oriented household, with his father having played in the NHL and family ties extending to his uncle Guy, who played for Clarkson University, and his father’s cousins Wade and Sheldon Brookbank, both of whom also played in the NHL. As his father moved between professional stops, Jake and his brothers relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, Buffalo, New York, and Columbus, Ohio, experiencing a variety of hockey environments from a young age.
In Whitefish, Sanderson competed for the Glacier Avalanche of the Glacier Hockey Association alongside his brother Ben from age eight to eleven. At the age of twelve, the family moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he joined the Springbank Rockies minor hockey association. Sanderson originally aspired to be a goaltender, even owning his own set of equipment, but he was eventually deterred by his father and committed to being a skater. He played a mix of forward and defense growing up before becoming a full-time defenseman at fourteen years of age.
Path to Professional Hockey
Sanderson earned stints with the Calgary Bantam AAA Flames and the Edge School Mountaineers Elite 15s while developing in Calgary. He was eventually selected in the fourth round of the Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft by the Kootenay Ice but chose to maintain his NCAA eligibility. He later joined the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP), where he was encouraged to graduate from high school early and play college hockey a year ahead of schedule. In his final season with the USNTDP, Sanderson recorded 29 points in 47 games and was ranked fourth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Before the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, he was named the winner of the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award as the most outstanding United States-born player in junior hockey.
Jake Sanderson Career
Collegiate Career (2020–2022)
Sanderson joined the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s ice hockey team for the 2020–21 season, playing in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) while majoring in kinesiology. As a freshman, he recorded two goals and 13 assists for 15 points through 22 games, including his first collegiate goal on December 4, 2020. He finished his rookie season with numerous honors, including selection to the All-NCHC Rookie Team, NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, and All-NCHC Academic Team honors. During the NCAA championship quarterfinals, he led the team in both shots on goal and blocked shots while logging nearly 53 minutes of ice time during a historic five-overtime game.
Returning to UND for his sophomore season as an assistant captain, Sanderson was named to the 2021 NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team. He continued to develop as a top defenseman in college hockey before deciding to conclude his collegiate career and turn professional.
NHL Career (2022–Present)
While recovering from a hand injury, Sanderson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on March 27, 2022. He made his NHL debut in October 2022 against the Buffalo Sabres and scored his first NHL goal on November 23, 2022, in a 4–1 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished eighth in scoring on the Senators during the 2022–23 season with 32 points in 77 games and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team at year’s end.
On September 6, 2023, the Senators announced that Sanderson had signed an eight-year, $64.4-million contract extension with the team. In 2023–24, he improved his scoring with 38 points in 79 games, including three assists in a 5–4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on April 13, 2024. During the 2024–25 season, Sanderson set new career highs with 11 goals, 46 assists, and 57 points. He reached his 200th NHL appearance on January 16, 2025, and recorded his 100th NHL assist and 100th NHL point during the same season.
The Senators qualified for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, marking their return to the postseason for the first time in eight years. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, Sanderson scored his first NHL playoff goal in overtime of Game 4 on April 27, 2025, to win 4–3 and keep Ottawa alive. The Maple Leafs ultimately eliminated the Senators in six games.
International Play
A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Sanderson has chosen to represent the United States internationally. As a member of Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he assisted the game-winning goal in the semifinals against Finland and led all team members in ice time during the gold medal game, a victory over Canada. He captained the United States at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, leading the team to the quarterfinals. Later that year, he was named to the U.S. Olympic hockey team for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, where the squad again reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Slovakia in a shootout. In February 2025, Sanderson was called up to replace an injured Quinn Hughes at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, scoring his first goal of the tournament in the final against Canada, which Canada won 3–2 in overtime.
Jake Sanderson Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in Jake Sanderson’s family. His father, Geoff Sanderson, was an NHL forward whose career took the family across North America, while his mother, Ellen Sanderson, supported the household through multiple relocations. His brother Ben committed to playing ice hockey at Colorado College, and his younger brother Sawyer played AA hockey. Extended family ties to the professional game include his uncle Guy, who played for Clarkson University, and his father’s cousins Wade and Sheldon Brookbank, both of whom had NHL careers.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Sanderson’s 2024–25 campaign was a study in perseverance. After a slow start during the season’s first three months, he steadily improved and finished with career highs across every major statistical category, including 11 goals, 46 assists, and 57 points. He also reached significant personal milestones, logging his 200th NHL appearance and recording his 100th NHL assist and 100th NHL point.
The Ottawa Senators qualified for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, ending an eight-year postseason drought, and Sanderson played a leading role on the blue line. In Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Ottawa facing elimination, he scored his first NHL playoff goal in overtime to win 4–3. Although the Maple Leafs closed out the series in six games, the postseason run reinforced Sanderson’s standing as a cornerstone of the franchise.
Looking ahead, the 27-year-old remains under contract with the Senators through the 2030–31 season, anchoring a young core aiming to establish Ottawa as a consistent contender in the coming years.