Michigan Tech defenseman Jack Anderson poses with Winter Carnival Royal Majesty Ramie Sussex (left), mascot Blizzard T. Husky, and Betty and Scott MacInnes (right) after winning the Most Valuable Player award after a game Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Senior defenseman Jack Anderson is having the time of his life. It makes sense, given that he was just named CCHA Defenseman of the Week for the second straight week after also being named CCHA Defenseman of the Month for January, and NCAA Defenseman of the Month for the same time period.

He has enjoyed every moment of his final collegiate season from the moment he arrived in Houghton.

“Obviously, all that stuff’s fun, and that’s awesome, but I was having fun the first day I got here,” he said. “Just like the first game against Ferris State, you go out to warmups, and the place is packed to the brim. It’s just like that, that was the first day I had fun.”

Anderson fell in love with the game he plays all over again.

“I was like, ‘Alright, I’m playing a game that I’ve loved my entire life, and now I’m doing it on a stage in front of the people of Michigan Tech,'” he said. “It’s just the community. I feel like every time I go on the ice, I have a smile on my face and I feel like I just want to appreciate so much of what I’m doing here.

“The people, the community, the fans, after each win, I want to go around, thank everyone, because it’s just so cool to me that I get to play in a place like this, and in front of people like this, too. It’s been so much fun, and I’ve just enjoyed every moment.”

The St. Louis, Missouri, native is playing his final season of college hockey after playing three seasons at Lindenwood, which is located in his hometown.

However, when new Huskies head coach Bill Muckalt was announced as the next head coach at Michigan Tech, Anderson jumped in the portal, which gave him a chance to reunite with Muckalt in Houghton.

“The academics were huge, Michigan Tech, academically, is amazing, and that was a big (reason I came here),” Anderson said. “Then also, just Michigan Tech hockey, I mean, the name is huge. One of the best things that you can be able to do for college hockey is to come to Michigan Tech-type of school. That’s what I wanted to do.

“The first three years I wasn’t able to. Bill came here, and I saw the opportunity to go on the portal and I did, and Bill decided to make a call to me when I did. So, that was just a very awesome situation that happened. Michigan Tech, it’s just been unbelievable. I can’t explain how happy I am to be here.”

His game is busy proving what his words fail to. In three seasons with Lindenwood, Anderson scored four goals and 25 points in 90 games. This season, he has scored eight goals, including the game-winner Saturday in a win over then-No. 15 Augustana, and 19 points in 28 games. He has three goals and six points in his last three games.

“I have my identity, and I played to it pretty well, which is a good defensive defenseman,” he said. “That’s my goal. That’s my role. I don’t try to go out of my way to score a goal or anything, but, I think, sometimes the puck just goes in your favor. You just start shooting the puck, and you get a little bit more confidence after you score one goal. It’s like, ‘Alright, well, maybe I can shoot it again, and maybe have a little bit more time.’ It’s just kind of how it’s been going. I think it’s not anything I’m changing. I’m not changing the way I’m playing. I think I still am a defensive defenseman, but it’s more just the opportunity and chances are kind of coming right now, and it’s just kind of going in, and that’s a great thing.”

For Anderson, it is important to remember that moments like this are fleeting at the same time. There is a much bigger goal in mind.

“It was right after Anchorage, when I scored the three goals, the coaches were like, ‘Alright, is anyone satisfied here? Is anyone satisfied with how many goals they have on the season?’ Everyone’s like, ‘No, we’re not satisfied.’ I’m sitting there like, I’m not satisfied either. But, he looked at me, he was, ‘Alright, ‘Ando’, you might be satisfied.’ I was like, ‘No.’ But, my first three years, the most goals I’ve had were two goals in a season.

“Now it’s, I think, eight, which is way (more). You know what? Anything I get more is just awesome. It’s great. But, it’s all about winning. Getting those two goals this past weekend, at pretty crucial times was (important). If those were my two only goals of the season, I’d be happy, because you get to win those games. That’s what matters is us getting to the tournament, winning a national championship, and bringing one back here to Tech. That’s the main goal.”

Anderson comes from a family of athletes. His mother played softball at Kansas and Winthrop. His father played baseball at Clemson. His uncle played football at Missouri, and his cousin played baseball for Missouri as well. His two older sisters both played hockey as well, with one playing for Adrian. Anderson said that while his parents did not know anything about hockey before he and his siblings started playing, they have been avid supporters, getting to nearly every game this season. They have also enjoyed seeing the MacInnes Student Ice Arena full of hockey fans cheering their son on.

Anderson, and former Lindenwood teammates-turned Huskies teammates Joe Prouty and Owen Bartoszkiewicz are loving every moment of the experience this season. They are also making sure to let their younger teammates know that they should be thankful for the support they get at Michigan Tech.

“Where I came from, it wasn’t like this,” he said. “This is something special that you only get at places like Michigan Tech, and the select few (others). This is probably one of the top five best places to play hockey in an atmosphere like this. They all know that, and they are super appreciative of that, too.”