When it comes to sports and recreation, Montana is now the land of fly fishing, hunting and elite hockey development.
The hockey part of that statement is an exaggeration, or premature projection, but Whitefish, Montana native Jake Sanderson’s selection by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 5 pick of Tuesday’s NHL draft is a reminder of how hockey’s footprint has expanded in America.
“We’ve benefited from the NHL expansion,… USA Hockey executive John Vanbiesbrouck said. “But people are growing the sport. It’s a people growth initiative. We just have so many volunteers.…
It’s believed USA Hockey established a new draft record when players from 21 different states were chosen over the NHL’s two days of drafting. American hockey has come a long way from the days when the country’s hockey belt was primarily Minnesota, Michigan and the East Coast.
Over the past decade, the number of states represented in an NHL draft has ranged from 16 to 18.
Former NHL goalie Vanbiesbrouck, now USA Hockey’s assistant executive director for hockey operations, said the organization is proud of the still-expanding American program.
“We’ve been telling everyone you don’t have to be a first-round pick, or playing in one set program. You can even play multiple sports,… Vanbiesbrouck said. “But ultimately, if you love the sport and have an opportunity, go for it.…
Center Brendan Brisson, son of NHL agent Pat Brisson, was raised in Southern California and was drafted late in the first round by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Thomas Bordeleau, a Houston native, was selected in the second round (No. 38) by the San Jose Sharks. Another second rounder, Tyler Kleven, taken by the Ottawa Senators at No. 44, is from Fargo, North Dakota. He is now the highest-drafted player ever from North Dakota.
The previous highest North Dakota draftee was Lee Broduer who was drafted 65th by the Montreal Canadiens in 1984.
Sanderson, a two-way defenseman now at North Dakota University, launched his career in Montana’s Glacier Hockey Association. He wasn’t the first Montana player drafted: Big Fork native Bill Lindsay was drafted in the first round by Quebec. He played 771 games for six different NHL teams.
In the recent NHL playoffs, 27.9% (144 of 516) players were American.
When Vanbiesbrouck was growing up in the 1970s, the American growth was in the Chicago area, and some quality players were coming out of Pittsburgh.
“New York and New Jersey were starting to boom,… Vanbiesbrouck said. “They were raw, but they scared the daylights out of you from the competitive standpoint because they had such great athletes.…
Today’s growth comes in the middle of the country, and out west. Toronto Maple Leafs’ star Auston Matthews, drafted No. 1 in 2016, grew up in Arizona. Today, top players routinely come out of California.
“Now in New Mexico we have junior teams,… Vanbiesbrouk said.