Michigan Tech defenseman Jack Anderson keeps an eye on the puck during a game this season against Ferris State at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies senior defenseman Jack Anderson has been named the CCHA Defensive Defenseman of the Year the league announced on Wednesday. Anderson was also named to the All-CCHA First Team.

Anderson learned early that Michigan Tech was a fun place to play.

“Obviously, all that stuff’s fun, and that’s awesome, but I was having fun the first day I got here,” said Anderson. “The first game against Ferris State, you go out to warmups and the place is packed to the brim. That was the first day I had fun. It was just like, ‘I’m playing a game that I’ve loved my entire life, and now I’m doing it on a stage in front of people of Michigan Tech and it’s just the community,’ and 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.

“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.”

Anderson, who serves as an alternate captain, played in all 26 conference games for Michigan Tech this season, averaging 23:07 minutes per game, which ranked fifth among CCHA defensemen. His 48 blocked shots ranked seventh and he was a plus-11, which was second-best.

Scoring six goals and dishing out 11 assists for 17 points, he had a five-game goal streak, which is the second longest in the nation in over 20 years. He blocked at least one shot in 20 games and had five blocks in a game twice.

“He’s got a tremendous shot,” said Huskies coach Bill Muckalt. “It’s heavy. It’s hard. He shoots at 100 miles an hour, and he’s got confidence. I think anybody that’s been around the game, when you have a player that has confidence, it’s a really good thing.”

Anderson transferred to Michigan Tech after playing three seasons at Lindenwood. He has appeared in 128 career NCAA games and has 49 points, scoring 15 goals and adding 34 assists. As an alternate captain this season, he has skated in all 38 games and has tallied 11 goals and 13 assists. He ranks fourth in the nation in goals by a defenseman and 16th in blocked shots (65).

Anderson was named the National Defenseman of the Month for January and the CCHA Defenseman of the Month for January and February. He earned four CCHA Defenseman of the Week honors.

“It’s been amazing past seven months, I would say, of being here,” Anderson said. “Everything has been like wow. I’m here is because of the coaching staff. The staff that they just are incredible. Then you have teammates that we have here at Tech. Every guy is a great guy, and you’re playing with the best players.”

Voting for the 2024-25 All-CCHA Teams and year-end awards was conducted by the nine head coaches at each CCHA member institution, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.