Some young hockey players dream of one day scoring the winning goal in the Stanley Cup Final.
Others believe simply being on the roster of a successful team in a Winter Olympics gold medal game would be just as thrilling.
For Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim, either one would be great and he might just get a chance at the latter when Canada takes part in the 2026 Games at Milano, Italy in February.
The Canada roster won’t be announced until the beginning of next month but Sanheim says he’s already starting to think about this elite competition.
Many media projections have him either in the top six or one of two spares on the squad.
“It’s definitely a dream,” Sanheim said. “It’s one that you think is pretty farfetched. I think first and foremost you want to make the NHL and that’s your ultimate goal.
“But actually I think the Olympics are kind of on the next level. That’s the best against the best and being able to represent your country. So definitely something that a lot of kids dream about.”
How cool would it be to skate in a game for all the marbles? Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal in overtime for Canada at Vancouver in the 2010 Games and said that rated right up with his three Cup titles.
“Just to be able to play at that level, play against the best players in the world and play with the best players in the world, just that experience alone would be something that’s very valuable,” Sanheim said.
As for comfort level, Sanheim could be competing for his Flyers coach, Rick Tocchet, who will serve as one of Canada head coach Jon Cooper’s assistants and that should make things a bit easier.
Sanheim already played for Tocchet in last winter’s 4-Nations Face-off Tournament.
“Having played 4-Nations, you kind of build those relationships up,” Sanheim said of the entire Canada staff for Milano. “If I get the chance to do it, it would be a huge honor. And it would be something I’m really excited about.”
Technically, Sanheim could be working directly with Canada assistant and defense boss Peter Deboer, a coach with plenty of NHL experience who is rumored to be a replacement if Toronto or Edmonton decide to change coaches this season.
No doubt Deboer will want to take advantage of Sanheim’s skating speed, his ability to make quick decisions on the fly plus his top conditioning to log large ice-time minutes.
“It’s an ability to play a 200-foot game, to play against top guys,” Sanheim said. “And yet still contribute offensively, make plays with the puck. That’s something I’ve really worked hard at to get better at. It’s nowhere near perfect but being to make plays under pressure can really help.”
Tocchet believes Sanheim has the right stuff to make his country’s elite squad.
“I think it’s huge to make the Olympic team,” Tocchet said. “Everyone wants to make money and all that sort of stuff. But when you put on a Canadian jersey or an American jersey or whatever, it is special.”
Tocchet said Cooper was really impressed with Sanheim’s play at 4-Nations, so that could be a deciding factor on his playing status.
“I know he (Sanheim) is definitely in the mix,” Tocchet said. “There’s a lot of hockey left. But he’s one guy who has the length, the speed – that’s the sort of attributes that we’re looking for.”
That said, Tocchet will have some input into Canada’s final roster.
All members of the coaching staff will make out a list of eight defensemen and submit that to general manager Doug Armstrong, Cooper and the like. No doubt Sanheim will be on Tocchet’s list.
“We’ll go through a process,” Tocchet said. “I think they value everyone’s opinion. I’ll have a list, hand it in and then they make the call. I think he (Sanheim) has a good chance.”
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