Brody Sannes started skating when he was just two years old.

Now some 16 years later, the Aurora native is starting his rookie season of junior hockey with the USPHL’s Minnesota Mullets.

Sannes said the adjustment to the junior level has been positive to date.

“The group of guys here on the Mullets are great,” said Sannes. “The team is like a family and being a rookie, it is exactly what I need. The league itself seems like a great league. There is a lot of competition, and it is going to be a great year. The opportunity was given to me through my adviser Daniel Pitman. Coach (Chris) Walby saw my information from Mr. Pitman and reached out to me. 

“It means everything to me to be in a league that moves so many players to college hockey. Ever since I was little, all I wanted to do was play college hockey and being on a team with a coach like Walby who strives to place his players in college is a dream come true. The league will help prepare me for when I’m done with juniors and hoping of playing college hockey somewhere.”

Growing up, Sannes joined the Arapahoe Warriors when he was four and became the latest member of his family to play hockey, joining his three older brothers and his dad.

“Hockey has always been my passion and I wanted to pursue it ever since I first got on the ice,” Sannes said. “The Avs played a huge role in me playing hockey. Having a team in my home state that is as good as the Avs helped grow my passion for the game. Going to the Pepsi Center (now Ball Arena) when I was younger and watching the Avs play just made me fall in love with the game.”

From Mites to Bantams, Sannes played for Arapahoe and then moved on to high school hockey with Regis Jesuit.

“Some coaches that have been positive influences to me would have to be Randy Murphy, who I did private skates with, Tim Shay, who taught me how to play hockey since I was a Mite, Sean Leonard, who was my Bantam AA coach and taught me how to play at a faster pace, Coach Sunny, who taught me to skate, and then my Regis coaches Dan Woodley, Grant Woodley and Ian Rawley,” said Sannes. “Also, my summer coaches Shannon Valerio, who has helped with my skating, and Marc Popovic, who has made me prepared for junior hockey.”

With the Mullets, Sannes is teammates with other Colorado natives, including Jackson Szmul (Castle View), Matthew Brooker (Mead) and Jake Stordahl (Centennial).

“It is going to be a blast,” said Sannes. “Having that hometown connection and being able to have something in common is awesome. It’s great to be able to see Colorado hockey grow and prepare players to elevate their games to the next level.”

Down the road, Sannes mentioned his reachable goals, on and off the ice.

“My short-term goals for hockey are to have a standout season and become stronger and faster this year,” Sannes said. “My long-term goal is to play collegiate hockey and, hopefully, pro hockey after that. For school, I want to be able to go to a school with a solid hockey team and a great academic program.”

— Matt Mackinder

(September 21, 2021)