Anderson has game and grades

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This article was published 31/03/2021 (1983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TYLER Anderson is a good hockey player but he may be a even better student.

Given the chance to do both, the 24-year-old Winnipegger has excelled in the classroom, juggling a demanding course load in biomedical sciences with a 3.94 GPA while also playing defence for the St. Cloud State University Huskies men’s hockey team.

Soon, he’ll be in a position to fulfill some major hockey and academic goals.

On Monday, Anderson and his teammates fly to Pittsburgh, site of the NCAA Frozen Four men’s championship where they’ll face the Minnesota State Mavericks in national semifinal action April 8. Win that game and they’ll play for a title on Saturday.

A month later, he expects to hear if he has gained entry into the University of Manitoba’s medical school for the fall term.

“It’s been a lot of work,” said Anderson by phone from St. Cloud, Minn., Wednesday. “There’s times where it was really stressful but I’m really glad I did it because I feel like it made me better as a person to learn how to manage two things at once — trying to be the best athlete I can be and then being a good student as well.”

The 6-2, 210-pounder has dealt with some hard luck on the ice.

He joined the Huskies program in 2017-18 after two big seasons with the MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons but never experienced a significant uptick in ice time until his senior season. Anderson’s sophomore season was a write-off, ruined by a broken arm in his first game and a torn posterior knee ligament at mid-season just as he was preparing to return to the lineup.

But now, having played in 13 of the club’s 29 games and locking down the No. 7 defenceman’s job, he’s found a level of contentment. Anderson played in Saturday’s 6-2 regional semifinal win over Boston University and a 4-1 win in over No. 3-ranked Boston College in the regional final a day later.

“I came to St. Cloud because I thought it would be my best opportunity to win a national championship,” said Anderson. “To be here my senior year and to finally have the opportunity is great. I obviously wish I had more of a role. I kind of suffered through injuries early on in my career but I’ve always kept the same mindset of if I just keep working, things will work out. This year, I just kind of found that role where I just try to help the team in any way possible.”

The Huskies carry nine defenceman but only seven dress, which makes practice a highly competitive environment. Huskies associate head coach Dave Shyiak said Anderson has more than earned his keep.

“He does everything the right way in terms of habits, being a great teammate and just coming to work in practice every day to get better,” said Shyiak. “He doesn’t get a lot of minutes — he’s the seventh D — but he knows and understands his role. I think the biggest compliment that I could give him is on top of being a great teammate, it’s like having another coach on the bench.”

The NCAA has granted all athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the pandemic. Anderson would consider returning for a fifth season but getting accepted to medical school would be impossible to refuse.

He took the Medical College Admission Test in August, interviewed remotely with U of M representatives before a road game in February and is set to graduate with a B.Sc. this spring. Medical school would be the logical next step.

“For him to persevere as long as he has and have this great attitude — mind boggling isn’t the right word because he’s the type of guy he is — but regardless of the ice time, he’s getting into games and he’s living his dream,” said Steve Anderson, Tyler’s dad. “He’s making best friends and going places that he would never go, doing what he’s supposed to be doing in the college life. So for that, we’re super grateful.”

The pandemic hasn’t been easy on college athletes and there’s an added stress as the season rolls to its conclusion. Each player receives four tickets for each game but it appears Steve and his wife, Kim, will be unable to attend in person due to pandemic travel and quarantine restrictions.

“I think the toughest part for me is I’m in a different country and I’m so used to having my parents drive down for almost every home game,” said Anderson. “I haven’t been home since July, so that’s been the toughest part. But we have such a good culture, our team is a family and we’re at the rink every single day together and we all feel like we’re sacrificing and in the same boat.”

 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.cann

Twitter: @sawa14