Jake Sanderson and Derek Sanderson are two hockey players who share a common last name, but are they related? This is a question that many fans have wondered, especially since Jake Sanderson was drafted fifth overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Derek Sanderson, on the other hand, is a former NHL player who won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins in the 1970s. In this article, we will explore the possible connection between these two hockey stars and reveal the truth behind the Sanderson family name.
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Who is Jake Sanderson?
Jake Sanderson is a 21-year-old American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on July 8, 2002, in Whitefish, Montana, U.S. to former NHL forward Geoff Sanderson and his wife Ellen. His uncle Guy played for Clarkson College while his father’s cousins Wade and Sheldon Brookbank both played in the NHL
Jake Sanderson started playing hockey at a young age and moved around with his family as his father played for different teams. He eventually settled in Calgary, Alberta, where he gained dual-citizenship with Canada and the United States. He played for various minor hockey teams before joining the U.S. National Development Team (USNDPT). He was ranked fourth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final ranking and won the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award for most outstanding United States-born player in junior hockey
He joined the North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s ice hockey team for the 2020–21 season while majoring in kinesiology. He recorded 15 points in 22 games as a freshman and helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on April 13, 2021, and made his NHL debut on May 8, 2021. He scored his first NHL goal on October 16, 2021, against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Who is Derek Sanderson?
Derek Sanderson is a 75-year-old Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played for several teams in the NHL and the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1965 to 1978. He was born on June 16, 1946, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada to Harold and Lorraine Sanderson. He had two brothers, Gary and Glenn, who also played hockey
Derek Sanderson started playing hockey at a young age and was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 1965 NHL Amateur Draft. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1967-68 and became a fan favorite for his flashy style and charismatic personality. He was part of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1970 and 1972 and set up the iconic overtime goal scored by Bobby Orr that clinched the championship in 1970. He also played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union
He left the Bruins in 1972 to join the Philadelphia Blazers of the WHA, signing a record-breaking contract that made him the highest-paid athlete in the world at that time. However, his career soon declined due to injuries, substance abuse, and financial troubles. He returned to the NHL briefly with the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks before retiring in 1978. He struggled with addiction and homelessness for several years before turning his life around with the help of his friends and family. He became a broadcaster, author, motivational speaker, and financial advisor after his recovery
The short answer is no. Jake Sanderson and Derek Sanderson are not related by blood or marriage. They just happen to have the same surname, which is fairly common in English-speaking countries. According to Ancestry.com , Sanderson is an occupational name derived from “son of Sander”, where Sander is a short form of Alexander , a personal name of Greek origin meaning “defender of men”
There are many other famous people with the last name Sanderson, such as actors William Sanderson , Catherine Mary Stewart , and Pamela Sue Martin , author Brandon Sanderson , musician John Sandford , and politician Scott Sandford . However, none of them are known to be related to either Jake or Derek.
The only connection between Jake and Derek is that they both play or played hockey at a high level and have achieved success in their respective careers. They also both have ties to Canada, as Jake has dual citizenship and Derek was born and raised there. However, they have never met or interacted with each other, as far as we know.
Therefore, we can conclude that Jake Sanderson and Derek Sanderson are not related, but they are both part of the hockey community and share a common passion for the sport.
