Jake Sanderson's 2020 continues to be one for the history books.
The Whitefish native qualified for the 25-man roster for the U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced on Saturday. Sanderson and his peers have been trying out for the team since Dec. 6.
The 6-foot-2, 186-pound Sanderson, a defenseman, will represent the United States and Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which runs Dec. 25-Jan. 5.
Team USA will face Russia in its preliminary matchup on Dec. 25.
Sanderson made history for the state of Montana earlier this year when he was drafted No. 5 overall by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Draft. Currently a freshman at North Dakota, Sanderson will become the first-ever Montana-born player to play in the NHL if and when he is eventually called up.
In three games at North Dakota, Sanderson has one goal and two assists to his name. He scored and added an assist on Dec. 4 against Denver and tallied his second career college assist against Western Michigan on Dec. 6.
North Dakota, the No. 1-ranked team in college hockey, is 3-2-1 on the year.
