When Patrick “Patch” Anderson was 4-years-old, his first hockey practice on the ice found himself mostly on his rear end. Not to mention, a KOMO 4 news photographer from Eric’s Little Heroes filming his every fall. Since that first time at Castle Ice in East Renton, Anderson has found his stride and is now well on his way to becoming an elite hockey player.
Now 14, Patch, as his dad calls him is in his final semester at Liberty High as a freshman. Come next semester he will transfer to the Insights Schools of Washington (state online learning). This will allow him to focus 100 percent on hockey, including the upcoming May Bantam Draft. The draft allows Western Hockey League (WHL) teams (including the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips) to protect players on the 50-man roster. If Anderson is drafted he would be under a team’s umbrella, but not able to play games until he is 16-years-old.
If Anderson is drafted, for every year he plays in the WHL, the team pays for one year of schooling. “Am good at math and writing, but I haven’t given it much thought,” he said.
“If the draft doesn’t happen, I hope a college will notice me especially Michigan State,” he said. “I want to play in a game where people are there to see me play. There is just something about it that makes me play better.”
One thing going for Anderson heading into the draft is his height and weight, standing six-foot-two and 210 pounds. His early growth along with his parents’ love for hockey were a perfect match. After his mite hockey team won state, it was then that he wanted to dedicate his time to hockey.
Anderson’s size is perfect for his position at center, “someone like me doesn’t have to have amazing stick handing or a high scoring percentage. Am going for penalty time and hits to open the field up for my wingers to get the puck,” he said. This is his first year playing at center for the Sno-King Junior Thunderbirds Bantam Tier 2 AA team. The team has other elite players who are also eyeing for a draft pick.
Besides the countless hours of practice, Anderson travels nearly every weekend with trips to Portland, all over Washington state and into Canada. Most of the time his dad, TJ, drives, unless flying is required.
"The car has lots of miles on it,” his dad said. “It's what he wants and we support that.”
Anderson admits if he could not play hockey again for some reason, he would stay with the sport. Even if it's teaching young kids how to skate without falling, or at least falling with grace.
Favorites
Food – V8 (it's delicious)
Movie – Iron Giant
Music – Classical or Techno
Subject in School – Physics
Number - 15 despite wearing the number 16 jersey (first number he choose).
Color – Purple
Book – Room in the Sea of Stories
NHL team - Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers
NHL player – Boston Bruins Zdeno Chara 6'9" and 260 pound defenseman (tallest in the NHL)
Find out what's happening in Rentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
To see the video from Eric's Little Heroes click here.
For more information on Sno-King Hockey click here.
