USHR News

6’3”, 190 lb. late ’94 LW Zach Sanford of the Middlesex Islanders (EJHL) has committed to Boston College for the fall of ’14.

A year ago, Sanford, who made his final choice from between BC and UNH (after also visiting Cornell, UMass, Northeastern, PC, Harvard, and Brown), was a relative unknown playing for Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire.

Middlesex Islanders Head Coach Sean Tremblay, who was familiar with Sanford from seeing him at Pinkerton, as well as at New England district camps, is not surprised by the progress he’s seen in his forward this season.

“Zach has an NHL stick with an NHL shot,” Tremblay says. “He protects the puck really well -- when he gets his big body between the puck and the defender no one is getting it away from him. He also sees the ice tremendously well.” 

Tremblay says Sanford is a quick study. “I don’t think he had a point for the first 20 or so games, but he has just blossomed over the last couple months.”

“He is still growing too. He has to be 6’4” now. He will gain strength throughout the summer and next season. He’s going to be so powerful when he steps in at BC in ’14. He’ll be playing in the top six there.”

Sanford, who visited the Heights this morning (Thurs.) and gave the Eagles’ staff the thumbs up, will return to the Islanders for his second season in the fall.

A true senior in high school, Sanford says he tries to model his game after Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin. The Auburn, NH native also says that his first year in the EJ began with a period of adjustment. “It was a huge leap from high school hockey to the EJ this fall,” he says “It took me awhile to get to that compete level and get adjusted to the speed. At least a month or so.”

Sanford says he sees his strengths as “protecting the puck, passing, a quick release, and size.” He also says he tries not to get caught up in the steadily-increasing amount of interest in his game from NHL scouts and teams. “I really just have to go out and try to improve and play my game,” he says.

In mid-January, Sanford was ranked #83 among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season Rankings. 

With the Islanders, Sanford, a left-shot left wing, is skating on a line with Yale recruitsChris Izmirlian (ex of Westminster) and Michael Doherty (ex of Groton). In 37 games, Sanford has a 12-24-36 line with 22 penalty minutes. He projects to be among the league leaders in points next season.