Joey Anderson Bio
Joseph Thomas Anderson (born June 19, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He shoots right and plays the right wing position. Anderson was drafted 73rd overall in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils and has also spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs before joining the Blackhawks organization.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 192 pounds, Anderson has built his reputation as a hard-working, defensively responsible forward. Across his professional career he has been recognized for his forechecking ability and his steady two-way play, traits that have allowed him to remain in the NHL even when bouncing between affiliates.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Thomas Anderson was born on June 19, 1998, in Roseville, Minnesota. He grew up in a family with a strong athletic tradition. His father, Gerry, played college hockey at the College of St. Scholastica, and his grandfather also played for the Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs. His mother, Dana, was a professional racquetball player, giving the household a rich sporting culture.
Anderson followed his family into hockey at an early age. He attended Hill-Murray School, where he posted 50 points in a single season and caught the attention of USA Hockey. That production led to his commitment, on April 3, 2014, to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He later graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School while continuing his development with the national program.
Two of Anderson’s siblings also pursued hockey at high levels. His younger brother, Mikey, was drafted 103rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2017 NHL Draft, and his sister, Sami, played for the College of St. Scholastica. Joey and Mikey even represented Team USA together at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Path to Hockey
After being drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2016, Anderson chose to continue his development at the collegiate level with the Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). In his rookie season, he played in the 2017 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game and scored the game-winning goal to give the Bulldogs their first conference title over the University of North Dakota. He was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team and the NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team.
The following season, Anderson helped Minnesota–Duluth capture the 2018 NCAA Tournament championship. On the international stage, he won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, becoming the first Bulldog to take gold at that event. In 2018, he served as Team USA’s captain at the World Juniors and led the squad, alongside his brother Mikey, to a bronze medal.
Joey Anderson Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
On April 15, 2018, Anderson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils. He opened the 2018–19 season with the Devils’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton before earning his first NHL call-up. Anderson made his NHL debut on October 27, 2018, in a 3–2 win over the Florida Panthers, and recorded his first NHL goal on November 15, 2018, in a 3–0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
In his second professional season, Anderson again began in Binghamton before being recalled by New Jersey in February. He registered 15 goals and 34 points in 44 AHL games prior to his recall and added four goals and six points in 18 NHL contests before the league suspended play on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2020–2023)
On October 10, 2020, Anderson was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Andreas Johnsson. He signed a three-year contract with Toronto on October 30, carrying an annual average value of $750,000. He spent most of the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season with the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, recording seven goals and 11 points in 20 games, and made his Toronto NHL debut on January 26, 2021, in a 4–3 win over the Calgary Flames.
During the 2021–22 season, Anderson led the Marlies in goals with 26 in 56 games. In 2022–23, he appeared in 14 NHL games with the Maple Leafs and posted 3 points but struggled to lock down a regular forward role. As an alternate captain with the Marlies, he added 27 points in 30 games. On February 27, 2023, he was traded, along with Pavel Gogolev and future draft picks, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, and conditional picks.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2023–Present)
After joining the Blackhawks late in 2022–23, Anderson played 24 games with Chicago, scoring four goals and six points on a line with Jujhar Khaira and Boris Katchouk, and also suited up for the Rockford IceHogs. In the offseason, he signed a one-year, two-way deal with Chicago after impressing the front office with his forechecking. After clearing waivers to start 2023–24, he was recalled on November 25 following injuries to Andreas Athanasiou and Taylor Hall.
Anderson went on to appear in 55 games with the Blackhawks that season, scoring five goals and 17 points while playing strong defensive hockey. Although the team did not issue him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent, Anderson signed a two-year contract with Chicago on July 1, 2024, the first day of free agency. He has continued to split time between the Blackhawks and their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Anderson is best known as a two-way, forechecking winger who takes pride in defensive responsibility. He wins pucks along the boards, kills penalties effectively, and brings a physical edge to bottom-six forward lines. His steady work rate has made him a trusted depth player for his coaching staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Anderson’s career include his NHL debut win over Florida, his first NHL goal against Philadelphia, an NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship-winning goal, the 2018 NCAA Tournament championship, and a gold medal at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was also named captain of Team USA at the 2018 World Juniors, leading them to a bronze medal.
Joey Anderson Career Wins
Joey Anderson has collected several team championships across the amateur and junior levels of hockey. His biggest trophies include the 2017 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship, the 2018 NCAA Tournament championship, and a gold medal at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. At the professional level, his wins have been measured in regular-season and playoff victories rather than major trophies.
NCAA and Junior Highlights
At Minnesota–Duluth, Anderson captured the program’s first NCHC Frozen Faceoff title as a freshman in 2017, scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game against North Dakota. The next year he lifted the NCAA national championship trophy. On the international stage, he became the first Bulldog to win gold at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2017.
Joey Anderson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Anderson comes from a deeply hockey-oriented family. His father, Gerry, played for the College of St. Scholastica, his grandfather suited up for the Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs, and his sister, Sami, also played hockey at the College of St. Scholastica. His younger brother, Mikey Anderson, was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2017 and has pursued a professional hockey career of his own.
Personal Life
Joey Anderson married Sami Schneider on July 9, 2022, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His mother, Dana, was a professional racquetball player, and the family remains closely connected to sports. Anderson’s marriage and strong family ties are well-known parts of his off-ice life.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Anderson is in the second year of his two-year deal signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2024. He continues to provide experienced depth on the wing, capable of moving between Chicago and the Rockford IceHogs as needed. His forechecking and defensive reliability remain his calling cards, and he is expected to play a similar role as a trusted bottom-six forward.
The Blackhawks’ ongoing rebuild gives Anderson an opportunity to serve as a steady veteran presence in the locker room. His ability to play both NHL and AHL games without complaint makes him valuable to the organization as management evaluates younger prospects.
Anderson’s outlook for 2025 centers on consistency, special-teams contributions, and continuing to deliver the responsible two-way play that has defined his professional career to this point.
