By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Former Tampa Bay Juniors USPHL Premier All-Star Defenseman Jack Anderson, who also played in the NCDC with the Twin City Thunder, has committed to the NCAA’s Gustavus Adolphus College for 2023-24.
Anderson skated for the Juniors in 2020-21, and posted a line of 8-18-26 in 44 games. During that season, a vast majority of the USPHL – including all of the NCDC – played a majority of its January and February games out of the Juniors’ home rink, AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Fla. For his efforts that season, the 2002-born native of Orono, Minn., was named a USPHL Premier Florida Division All-Star.
“I can’t say enough good things about Coach [Garrett] Strot and the organization as a whole. With that year being my first year of junior hockey, it was the perfect fit and from a development standpoint, it was awesome to learn from a knowledgeable hockey mind in Coach Strot,” said Anderson. “All in all, I made some friendships that will last a lifetime and I’m extremely grateful to have been a part of such a great organization.
“I could say that my game as a whole developed but to be specific, I thought the positional part of my game (gaps, spacial awareness) improved significantly that year, along with blue line work,” Anderson added. “One of the main goals that Coach Strot aimed for was improving speed. Whether it be skating speed, stick handling speed, or mental speed (decision making), that was probably what developed the most.”
From there, he went on to play 44 games with the Thunder in the NCDC, for his first of two Tier II seasons, the second spent outside of the USPHL. He put up a 1-9-10 line on the Thunder blue line and finished with 101 Tier II regular season games. Not surprisingly, Gustavus Adolphus was interested in this three-year junior veteran joining their own blue line.
“I’m excited to begin my journey at Gustavus and continue to get better in the game of hockey. I have known a lot of the guys on the team for some years now and that makes it easy coming in as a freshman, as there are already good relationships and a good locker room to feed off of,” said Anderson. “I am confident that we are going to have a good year with the coaching staff we have, along with a great new training facility that will benefit everybody.
“ As education is something I strongly value in my life, Gustavus felt like the perfect fit due to the fact I will be able to receive a fantastic education. Overall, I couldn’t be more excited to begin my next chapter at such a prestigious school!” Anderson said.
He is also getting ready for a hard-working summer of preparation for NCAA hockey with Gustavus Adolphus.
The USPHL congratulates Jack Anderson, his family, the Tampa Bay Juniors, Twin City Thunder and Gustavus Adolphus College for his commitment.
