Faatumu le fuaiupu lenei: A o iai ma le au Islanders, na tautino Sanford e taalo i le hockey i le kolisi mo le Boston College Eagles tane hockey i le Division I o le National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ia Mati 2013. I le taimi o lona tausaga muamua o le NHL draft e agavaa ai, na amata mai ai Sanford i le tulaga 83 i totonu o tagata taaalo a Amerika i Matu e le NHL Central Scouting Bureau ae na vave ona siitia lona tulaga i le 60th atoa. E leʻi leva ae filifilia o ia i le 2013 NHL Entry Draft i le taamilosaga lona lua, 61st atoa e le Washington Capitals. Ina ua uma ona filifilia lona 61 i le Draft i le
2013 NHL Entry Draft e le Washington Capitals, na auai Sanford i le Waterloo Black Hawks o le United States Hockey League.