Evergreen native, Thunderbirds, RoughRiders alum Sandquist finding home in ’24-25 with NCDC’s Jr. Comets
Anderson Sandquist began the 2024-25 season playing junior hockey in Wisconsin but has since moved to New York to continue his season.
Sandquist, an Evergreen native, started with the NAHL’s Wisconsin Windigo. He is now starring for the NCDC’s Utica Jr. Comets.
“After some things didn’t work out in Wisconsin, I went home before my advisor got in contact with the Comets,” Sandquist said. “I was home for about 2-3 weeks before finding a team. Juniors is a stressful time, but you have to realize that you are wanted somewhere and it takes time to find that home.
“This is my first year in the NCDC, which I’m new to. I was in the NAHL last year with the Maine Nordiques and it’s quite different. The East Division that I’m in with the Jr. Comets is great. You can play a team like the South Shore Kings who are very skilled but also play a team like the Northern Cyclones who are a bigger team. They have two different play styles. My team is pretty skilled with young and veteran talent. The creativity is very strong with my coach, Lou Educate. He lets guys have creativity within our structure and I think the guys like it a lot.”
Off the ice, Sandquist’s season has been a roller coaster as well.
“This season for me took off on a rough journey,” said Sandquist. “Once arriving here in Utica, I had to get an appendectomy which took me out of the lineup for a few weeks. Coming back from the injury, I’ve had five points in my last seven games, so I’m trying to make the most of the rest of this year before my final year of junior hockey. Having Lou as a coach has been fun. I’ve gotten to branch out a bit compared to last year where I have more freedom and less stress on the ice with the Comets. I’m hoping to finish the year strong after a bumpy start. The group I have in Utica is very supportive and our facility is unreal.”
Sandquist said he started playing hockey prior to his family’s move to Colorado.
“I started playing hockey because of my older brother, Cal Sandquist, when we lived in Chicago,” Sandquist said. “Hockey was basically the sport of the town, so most kids ended up playing it. Chicago is a political spot for hockey, but it’s very competitive there and it’s a lot of fun with team rivalries.”
Once Sandquist arrived in Colorado, he played 11U-13U AAA for the Colorado Thunderbirds and then Rocky Mountain RoughRiders for his 14U AAA year year before going to Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
“I’d say Cam Clemenson and Paul DePuydt were the best influences on me,” said Sandquist. “I’ve been doing skills sessions with Cam for numerous years now and he’s always been there for me. He’s pushed me for years to become a better and smarter player. He’s always believed in me, which has helped a lot. I had Coach DePuydt my 14U year with the RoughRiders and he let me be creative as well. He believed in me and helped me grow as a player, which eventually led to me leaving to play in Minnesota (for Shattuck).
“Those two coaches helped me develop a lot.”
Looking ahead, Sandquist has short-term and long-term goals in both hockey and school.
“My short-term goal would be to finish the year strong and have a great age-out year regardless of where that is,” Sandquist said. “You want to play somewhere where you feel valued and that has a good community. Even though hockey is a team sport, your career is at stake, so you have to pick the best path possible for yourself to grow as a player. I think long term, that goes with what I just said. I want to end up at a college that I’m valued and will play at. Academics is huge for me as well, so hopefully I end up at a college that I can find a balance of good hockey and good education.”
Photo/Grace Korovaynyk/@photographybygraciek
— Matt Mackinder
(February 2, 2025)