After COVID ‘nightmare,’ Sanderson joins Workforce USA at Olympics

Jake Sanderson awoke every morning in Los Angeles and checked his cellphone to search out out his newest take a look at consequence.

After testing constructive for the coronavirus at USA Hockey’s pre-Olympic camp, the following 4 outcomes all got here again the identical. Lastly, Sanderson started testing destructive and obtained the 5 in a row he wanted to journey to China.

The College of North Dakota defenseman handed his take a look at on the airport and skated along with his U.S. teammates Friday. After a longer-than-expected keep in LA, Sanderson may play in opposition to Canada on Saturday or Germany on Sunday and is able to transfer previous his “nightmare” and on to hockey.

“I used to be very dissatisfied and upset with all of it,” Sanderson mentioned. “Simply a whole lot of ready and a whole lot of hoping I’d get right here. … It was a curler coaster and up and down feelings, however on the finish I’m right here, and that’s all that issues.”

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Sanderson took half in a single observe stateside earlier than he examined constructive for what he mentioned was the primary time. Frustration set in for the 19-year-old whereas the remainder of the U.S. males’s hockey workforce flew to Beijing and he waited out the clock for greater than 120 hours to construct up sufficient destructive COVID-19 exams.

Bodily, he felt high-quality. Sanderson had no signs, so he rode the stationary bike and labored out as a lot as doable. By the tail finish of his time in virus protocol, he was even in a position to get on the ice a few instances to maintain his conditioning degree up.

“It was extra mentally grueling for him than bodily,” coach David Quinn mentioned. “It’s been a troublesome stretch for him right here. Any time you’re put within the scenario he’s in, it’s not enjoyable, for a wide range of causes.”

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Sanderson prepared Ryan Vacation’s “The Each day Stoic” ebook and a little bit of the Bible. He spoke with family and friends, notably his dad and mom, and tried to remain in good spirits.

His teammates additionally tried to assist in that division. Captain Andy Miele mentioned gamers have been texting Sanderson to test in and ask how he was doing.

“We might textual content one another each now and again, and he was hanging in there,” shut pal and fellow defenseman Brock Faber mentioned. “He saved his hopes up, and clearly it labored out.”

Sanderson mentioned he prayed and had others praying for him to get cleared. He thanked USA Hockey for serving to him care for the required steps to make it to the Olympics, a event during which he was anticipated to have a serious position.

There’s nonetheless that likelihood for the native of Whitefish, Montana, who was the No. 5 general decide within the 2020 NHL draft by the Ottawa Senators. The knockout spherical is subsequent week, and the U.S. is rather more of a medal menace with an elite, 6-foot-2 puck mover like Sanderson on the blue line.

“You by no means know in these tournaments what can occur,” Miele mentioned, singling out Sanderson’s confidence as a component of his recreation that stands out. “Somebody with that form of confidence can all the time soar in and make an affect straight away. We’re glad to have him right here. His depth his big for us, so it makes our workforce that a lot better.”

Faber expects Sanderson to be able to go straight away. Even when the teaching employees eases Sanderson again into the quick tempo of Olympic hockey, he’s energized and feeling good about what he can add for the Individuals.

“I’m so pleased to be out with the fellows, and that’s only a enhance of power in itself,” Sanderson mentioned. “I’m going to profit from my alternative.”