Sports

The new voice of Seawolves hockey: David Tuttle

David Tuttle knows he has big headphones to fill.

The longtime color analyst for UAA hockey radio and television broadcasts Wednesday was named play-by-play broadcaster for the Seawolves, who are nearing their 36th season. He becomes just the third person to hold that job.

Tuttle, 39, replaces Kurt Haider, who earlier this summer, after 19 seasons as the voice of the Seawolves, became the broadcaster and media relations director of the ECHL's Alaska Aces. Tom Miller worked the first 16 seasons of UAA hockey.

"I'm so thrilled. It's a huge sense of responsibility,'' Tuttle said. "Kurt set the bar extremely high. It's a lot to live up to. Kurt is one of a kind. My thing is, I've got to me myself.''

Tuttle spent the last 11 seasons as Haider's analyst for radio and television broadcasts of home games, and occasional road games.

UAA athletic director Keith Hackett, who announced Tuttle's hiring, said Tuttle was an obvious and well-qualified choice.

"I don't think we could have found anybody who has a greater love and passion for the program,'' Hackett said. "I think in Kurt we've had one of college hockey's best broadcasters. We wanted someone with Kurt's passion.

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"David was the obvious choice for us because of his long-standing commitment and what he's done over the years.''

Haider said he supported Tuttle as his replacement.

"I was in his corner,'' Haider said. "He's paid his dues. He earned his spot.''

Tuttle, who served more than six years in the U.S. Air Force, works as an avionics technician servicing C-17 airplanes for the Alaska Air National Guard. He said he'll take personal leave to broadcast UAA games in the Lower 48. The Seawolves of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in the upcoming season have 16 road games, four in Fairbanks and 12 Outside, including distant journeys to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Huntsville, Alabama.

Tuttle believes his most significant adjustment moving from color analysis to play-by-play is that he'll be the predominant voice of the Seawolves.

"I think the biggest transition is I'll be talking all the time instead of chiming in with the, quote-unquote, clever quip,'' he said.

Hackett said UAA still is developing plans to fill Tuttle's former position as color analyst.

Haider said he told Tuttle he's always available for advice and mentoring.

And the former voice of the Seawolves, and new voice of the Aces, had some tips for his successor on UAA broadcasts.

"Make sure you have the correct pronunciations for home and visitors before you go on the air,'' Haider said. "And say the score often.''

Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr

Doyle Woody

Doyle Woody covered hockey and other sports for the Anchorage Daily News for 34 years.

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