This season Travis Sanheim has found himself competing against players he grew up watching on his parents’ television set in Elkhorn.
The son of Kent and Shelly Sanheim is in his rookie NHL season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 21-year-old said that early on it was a challenge playing against familiar foes.
“You are playing against guys you grew up watching on TV. Now you got to go and battle against them every night,” Sanheim said. “That is something I’ve definitely learned from. I can’t let that be a factor in my game. No matter who I go up against I got to battle them the same way. I enjoyed watching those guys growing but now that I’m here, it’s a new challenge.”
Sanheim made his NHL debut on the road against the Los Angeles Kings. He acknowledged there were definitely some butterflies on “a day I’ll never forget”.
“Obviously early on, lots of nerves. You are playing in the best league in the world. It felt early on that I needed to find my game. I thought, over the game I started to get better.”
The 6-foot-3, 181-pound Sanheim has earned a spot in the Flyers lineup for 17 games through Sunday. The rookie defenceman had two assists and eight penalty minutes.
“Overall, Sanheim’s ability to roll with the punches and adjust quickly to a new level of hockey is what has impressed me most this season,” said Ryan Gilbert, an editor of the Sons of Penn website, which covers the Flyers and its top affiliate.
Earning a spot on the NHL squad’s roster was a big accomplishment for a player just one season out of the Western Hockey League.
“Coming into training camp, he was less experienced than the defencemen he was battling with for a roster spot, but he kept pushing and eventually won that spot,” Gilbert said.
Not only has he won a roster spot, but Sanheim has continued to earn a place in a competitive lineup. Sons of Penn’s David Catti wrote on the website (Nov. 16) that Sanheim has played very well as the season has progressed.
“He’s been very good getting the puck into the zone and has been doing everything to score his first NHL goal, even getting into the dirty areas.… He’s been more reliable in his own zone, stepping up into plays and disrupting passes before a chance even generates.”
Sanheim developed a passion for hockey while growing up in Elkhorn. He is quick to praise his family for their support. In addition to the backing of his parents, Sanheim is also supported by his twin brother Taylor, sisters Kali and Shondalee, and other relatives.
When asked about his family’s support, Sanheim said, “It has been huge. It only seems to grow. Now that I’m in the NHL as well, I’ve got lots of family supporting me and watching games back home. Obviously, there is going to be lots coming to Winnipeg as well (when the team played there last week). They’ve been making trips to Philadelphia and talking to me lots on the phone. The support has been huge. It’s something that, with it being my first year, that I’ve definitely needed.”
He was in the lineup last week when the Flyers visited the Jets. Sanheim got a shot on goal in a 3-2 shootout loss.
Sanheim played two seasons with the regional Yellowhead Chiefs midget AAA team before departing for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen as a 17-year-old. He developed his skills with the Hitmen for three seasons. In two of those years, he was teammates with his brother Taylor.
Sanheim also has had the honour of representing his country. He played for Canada at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was part of Canada West at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. In 2014, Sanheim turned heads and raised his NHL draft stock as he led all defenceman in scoring at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships and helped Canada win bronze.
A 2014 first-round draft pick, 17th overall, of the Flyers, Sanheim played his first full pro hockey season last winter. He accumulated 10 goals and 37 points in 76 games for the Leigh Valley Phantoms. The Allentown, Penn. team is the top affiliate of the Flyers and competes in the American Hockey League. How important was it playing a season in the AHL?
“Huge. Junior is a huge difference from pro hockey. It felt like that pro year allowed me to play against men and grown guys, and compete and battle against those guys. The speed was definitely faster as well. It just prepared me to make that step to the NHL.”
