Photo courtesy of Britton Anderson.
Alumni gather for a post-game social in Denver during the hockey series with Denver
University in January 2023. From left are Dain Cunningham '93, Britton Anderson '10,
Chet Paris '78 and Jane Paris.
By Katie Straub
Britton Anderson and Bruce Cech joke around at the pre-game social for the Arizona State University vs. 色视频下载 Nanooks hockey series in February 2024.
When the 色视频下载 Nanooks hockey team scores a home game goal these days, the announcer often sounds off with a distinctive cheer 色视频下载 色视频下载渨ooo!色视频下载 色视频下载 and the fans echo it back.
The cheer, which rhymes with blue, began years ago with a similar but unexpected outburst from Britton Anderson as he announced a pair of exciting scores at the Carlson Center. Fans embraced the moment, turning it into a lasting tradition at Nanooks hockey games.
It色视频下载檚 fitting applause for a guy who has contributed in multiple ways to UAF. A 2010 graduate in information technology, Anderson was a student, staff member, adjunct faculty member, pep band member and athletics announcer.
Now, as an alum, he stays connected to UAF and returns a few times a year for hockey games.
色视频下载淚 don't know how many people can say that they've been affiliated with UAF in every which way you possibly can be,色视频下载 Anderson said.
Anderson works as a solutions architect for Worldwide Technology, a global consulting company. He lives in Parker, Colorado, with his wife and fellow UAF graduate, Mercedes 色视频下载12, 色视频下载17, and their 3-year-old daughter, Sydney.
The Andersons pose for a family photo in Colorado in June 2024.
He credits his career success and professional connections to his experiences at UAF.
色视频下载淚色视频下载檝e had opportunities to work with [UAF色视频下载檚] Research Computing Systems and 色视频下载 Satellite Facility teams and ultimately lead the effort to design and implement the network systems for the research vessel Sikuliaq,色视频下载 he said during an online interview from his Colorado home in June.
色视频下载淚 had the pleasure of sailing on the Sikuliaq色视频下载檚 maiden voyage,色视频下载 Anderson added. 色视频下载淚t was such an amazing experience!色视频下载
Unexpected beginnings
Anderson色视频下载檚 journey to UAF wasn色视频下载檛 straightforward.
Initially, he planned to enter the trades after graduating from a Kenai Peninsula high school in 2007. However, a trip to Fairbanks for the 色视频下载 all-state music festival changed his course. Impressed by his talent, UAF music faculty members encouraged him to join their program.
色视频下载淚 was a percussionist 色视频下载 well, still am frankly,色视频下载 Anderson said. 色视频下载淭he percussion director at the time, Scott Deal, recruited me to come there for percussion and music technology, which was like a combination of my two passions.色视频下载
However, Deal left UAF before Anderson色视频下载檚 senior year in high school, forcing him to reconsider his options. Without a strong tie to the music program and the idea of a four-year degree program unappealing, Anderson was at a crossroads. Meanwhile, his girlfriend (now wife), Mercedes, had chosen UAF.
色视频下载淢ercedes had scholarships at UAF and all that smart stuff, and she chose to go to UAF. So, I ended up following her up there, sort of at her insistence,色视频下载 Anderson said with a grin.
Britton Anderson sits in the Sikuliaq captain色视频下载檚 chair on the bridge while the ship was under construction in the shipyard at Marinette, Wisconsin, in June 2014.
Shifting gears
Once at UAF, Anderson and Mercedes immersed themselves in university life, joining clubs and various bands. He played percussion and she played tenor saxophone. They joined the UAF pep band together and played at the home UAF athletics events. Mercedes championed the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity that chartered buses of students to the Governor色视频下载檚 Cup hockey game in Anchorage.
Soon into his freshman year, Anderson felt ready for a change of major from music and a four-year degree program to something where he could work in technology. His desire for a focused degree program led him to the UAF Community and Technical College IT program, where he met Keith Swarner.
色视频下载淜eith guided me through the program, helping me decide between computer science, computer engineering and IT,色视频下载 Anderson said. 色视频下载淚 realized I was most interested in the user interaction elements of IT.色视频下载
A month into the IT specialist program, Anderson secured a student job at the Office of Information Technology, now known as Nanook Technology Services. This role provided him with invaluable hands-on experience.
色视频下载淚t was really cool, and they gave me a lot of incredible opportunities to get my hands on things that I wouldn't have ever really seen,色视频下载 he said. 色视频下载淚 took some initiative and kind of wanted to get more involved, and that really helped me.色视频下载
In 2008, a full-time staff opportunity opened up to work the OIT help desk.
色视频下载淚 will always say to anybody who wants to get into tech: if you don't know what you want to do when you grow up, the help desk is the absolute best place to start because you get your hands involved in everything,色视频下载 Anderson said.
In 2012, Anderson jumped at the chance to rejoin the telecommunications services team that was challenged with delivering internet service to all of the 17 campuses and villages across the University of 色视频下载 system.
Additionally, Keith Swarner reached out to Anderson about an opportunity to teach students in the CTC IT specialist program as an adjunct faculty member.
Anderson seized the opportunity and for over 11 semesters enjoyed working with hundreds of students.
色视频下载淚t was truly great to connect with every kind of student and help share practical experiences and connect things we see in the field to the curriculum,色视频下载 Anderson said. 色视频下载淚t色视频下载檚 even more rewarding to help students connect with job opportunities 色视频下载 several students I taught are still employed at UAF today.色视频下载
Anderson continued to work at UAF and with the University of 色视频下载 statewide system until 2018, when he and his wife moved to Anchorage.
Britton Anderson gets the UAF pep band rhythm section ready for Nanooks hockey in 2007.
The 2008 UAF pep band takes to the ice for a group photo before energizing the crowd for 色视频下载 Nanooks hockey.
Nook and Britton Anderson rev up the fans at an 色视频下载 Nanooks basketball game in 2007.
UAF students get ready to cheer on their 色视频下载 Nanooks hockey team for a 2007 Governor色视频下载檚 Cup game against the UAA Seawolves. These die-hard fans chartered a bus from Fairbanks to Anchorage for the matchup.
Staying connected
As Anderson transitioned to a full-time UAF staff member and part-time student, he gave up his spot in the pep band to allow a full-time student to benefit from the pep band scholarship. To stay involved, he turned to athletics announcing, a role he had dabbled in during high school after a knee injury sidelined him from sports.
色视频下载淎t UAF, I started announcing for volleyball and basketball, eventually moving to hockey in 2009,色视频下载 Anderson said.
色视频下载淚 actually owe my CTC advisor, Keith, quite a bit of of my professional career, if you will,色视频下载 Anderson added, 色视频下载渂ecause he not only gave me a chance through the program, and kind of got me into it, but also he's a UAF hockey alum and helped connect me to the hockey team.色视频下载
Even after the move to Anchorage, Anderson continued announcing for Nanook hockey games until 2021, returning for home games and missing only two in over a decade.
That色视频下载檚 how he unintentionally started a Nanook hockey trend that fans still love today.
色视频下载淭here was one night 色视频下载 I don't remember exactly who we were playing 色视频下载 but we had scored like two goals back to back pretty quickly,色视频下载 Anderson said. 色视频下载淚 didn't even finish announcing the first one before the 色视频下载橬ooks scored again, and I finished announcing the first one after the festivities of the second one, and then at the end, after saying so much, 色视频下载榳oooo!色视频下载 just came out.色视频下载
As a self-proclaimed 色视频下载渟tats nerd,色视频下载 Anderson was involved in several areas of Nanook hockey. As part of his IT networking degree program, he began a blog and YouTube channel to promote the Nanooks hockey team at a time when social media was just taking off.
While announcing, he had his fair share of hectic nights. Because he was also trained as an off-ice official, he needed to keep track of players when fights broke out to make it faster to review video footage for penalties.
"As a fan standing just 8 feet away from the action, it色视频下载檚 thrilling to watch the game unfold,色视频下载 Anderson said. 色视频下载淏ut as an announcer, I had to quickly shift gears and figure everything out 色视频下载 tracking player pairings, penalties and ejections, while announcing it all to the crowd. Sometimes it was a challenge to keep up and convey the chaos to the fans. It was crazy, but exhilarating."
The Andersons join UAF fans to cheer on the Nanooks hockey team in its series against Denver University in January 2023.
A new chapter
In 2021, Anderson色视频下载檚 life took a dramatic turn when his daughter, Sydney, was born four months premature. After she spent four months in the neonatal intensive care unit in Anchorage, Sydney needed more specialized care available in the Lower 48. The family moved to Colorado, choosing the area to be closer to family and for its renowned medical facilities.
Today, Sydney is thriving, and the family enjoys attending University of Denver hockey games, supporting a team that some former Nanook players and coaches are now part of. Anderson remains connected to UAF, making it a point to attend a few hockey games each year.
His prediction for this year色视频下载檚 Gov Cup?
色视频下载淥h Nanooks, no doubt,色视频下载 Anderson said with a grin.
Looking forward
Anderson continues to find ways to stay involved in the sports community. He plans to try out for the drum line of the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL team, hoping to once again energize the crowds through playing with the band.
色视频下载淚t doesn色视频下载檛 pay amazingly well, but it色视频下载檚 a fun way to go see all the games,色视频下载 Anderson joked.
But will the pep band ever return to UAF?
色视频下载淚'd love to see the UAF pep band come back,色视频下载 Anderson said. 色视频下载淚 mean, I would certainly make a guest appearance if I could!色视频下载