As the University of North Dakota (UND) gears up for its 2027 freshman class, one standout is Carter Sanderson. This 6-foot-2, 196-pound center from Pierre, South Dakota, made waves at the World Junior Summer Showcase, finishing second in goals with four and third in total points with seven among 48 American players.
Sanderson's showcase performance caught the attention of U. S. World Junior team coach Adam Nightingale and his staff. Competing against top under-20 players, he admitted, “I was kind of nervous going into a camp like that. You want to make the team and play well. I think I left an impression.”
His path to this point is marked by leadership and resilience. Last season, as captain of the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL, Sanderson scored 17 goals and tallied 34 points in 54 games. He was second in the league for hits per game, highlighting his physical play. Muskegon reached the Clark Cup Finals, losing to Sioux Falls, but Sanderson felt the team exceeded expectations.
“We came together at the right time, ” he said. “Obviously, you want to win. But we did more than what people expected us to do.” His focus on team success over personal stats is a quality he believes will benefit him in college hockey.
Sanderson has already talked with UND's coaching staff about joining the team in 2027. He’s eager to make an impact, saying, “Getting more puck touches and playing some big minutes will really translate to college hockey. I hope I can come in and have an impact on the team right away.”
Instead of returning to Muskegon, Sanderson signed with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. “It won’t let me get comfortable, ” he explained. “Staying in Muskegon would have been really awesome, but I think expanding my horizons and going into a new organization will be awesome.”
As he prepares for UND, Sanderson's physical play is expected to complement the talents of his future teammates, including the Ruck twins, Liam and Markus, and Nolan Fitzhenry. The Ruck twins excel in playmaking, Fitzhenry is noted for his scoring, and Sanderson adds a much-needed physical edge.
“Bryn has talked to me about how my game will correlate with theirs and what the roster will look like my freshman year, ” Sanderson said. “I think the next couple of years, UND will be really good. Kudos to their staff for being able to pull guys together to make a run at a championship.”
