LANDON LOWDOWN
Anas ’11 Signs with the Minnesota Wild
S
am Anas ’11 has wanted
that dream when he signed a two-
hockey player since his
Hockey League’s (NHL)
to be a professional ice
second birthday, when his father gave him a hockey stick as a
year contract with the National Minnesota Wild.
Anas, a forward, will compete
present and the two spent the day
for a spot on the Wild’s NHL
Anas edged infinitely closer to
September, but realizes he will
playing in the kitchen. In April,
roster at training camp in
Playing in the NHL is what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s getting closer and closer now — but there’s still a lot of work to be done.” – Sam Anas ’11
likely have to prove himself with
Conference championships, as
League affiliate the Iowa
Prep Hockey League state title —
the club’s American Hockey
well as the 2011 Mid-Atlantic
Wild first — a challenge he
wholeheartedly embraces, and one for which Landon prepared him. “One of the biggest influences
and was named 2011 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year. After graduation, he played
junior hockey for two years and
[Landon varsity ice hockey
in 2013 enrolled at ice-hockey
coaches] Chan Gammill and
power Quinnipiac University.
Hans Farnstrom had on me was
Anas topped Quinnipiac in
cutting me freshman year,” Anas
scoring each of his three years
laughed. “It was a bit of a blow to
there and, in 2016, led the team
me, but it was really a blessing in
to second place in the NCAA
disguise because it taught me to
Division I Frozen Four national
work harder, appreciate what you
championships.
have, and never get complacent.
Anas earned his degree from
When I did make the team
Quinnipiac in May and opted to
values of teamwork and hard work
eligibility to sign with the Wild.
sophomore year, they taught the and how that all pays off.”
Pay off it has. Sophomore
through senior year, Anas led the
Bears to three Interstate Athletic
forego his final year of NCAA
“Playing in the NHL is what I’ve
always wanted to do,” he said. “It’s
getting closer and closer now — but
there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
From Landon to Team USA
P
atrick Giles ’18 will forgo
his junior and senior years
at Landon to become one of
22 members of the U.S. national
under-17 hockey team, known as the USA Hockey National Team
Development Program (NTDP),
which prepares players for success
in college and beyond. That “beyond”
includes the National Hockey League
(NHL) — 12 NTDP players were drafted into the NHL this June.
Giles, who led Landon to two straight Interstate Athletic Conference
and Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League state titles in 2015 and 2016, is already committed to Boston College and will attend Plymouth High
School in Massachusetts while he trains and competes with the NTDP.
While he is excited for the next chapter, he is also sad to say goodbye to the land of the White Rocks.
“Leaving Landon was a tough decision. I had to make it,” he told
The Washington Post. “Nothing is more fun than playing in big games for Landon.”
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LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016