The University of Maine’s men’s hockey program has lost one of its greatest supporters.
Anne Dubraska Britt, a former president of the Friends of Maine Hockey organization, died on Sept. 13 following a long illness.
She was 82.
Britt and her late husband, Andrew, who died on Jan. 16, 2024, were season-ticket holders dating back to 1983 and they rarely missed a home game. They also followed the team on the road including trips to the NCAA Tournament and the Frozen Four.
They became regulars at the Frozen Four even when UMaine wasn’t involved.
Their daughter, Mary, and son, Richie, were also big UMaine hockey fans. Richie went on to become the team’s equipment manager.
Richie Britt died tragically in a home accident during the 1998-99 season and the team dedicated their season to him. There was always a jersey with his name on it on the UMaine bench during games.
The Black Bears went on to win the national championship that season.
The Britt family became an integral part of the UMaine hockey family over the course of several decades.
Mary Britt said her parents’ involvement with the hockey program, including her mother’s stint as the president of Friends of Maine Hockey “helped keep the memory of my brother alive.”
Britt said her parents cherished being involved with UMaine hockey.
“They loved meeting all the players and their families and they became good friends with a lot of them,” Britt said. “My parents were givers.”
She also said her parents remained close to the players and their families from that 1999 team and they would always be invited to the team’s reunions, which occur every five years.
“That ‘99 team is special,” said Mary.
Ben Guite was a player on that championship team and eventually became an assistant coach at UMaine. He was briefly the interim head coach after the passing of coach Red Gendron in 2021.
In all that time, he came to know Anne and Andrew Britt well.
“They were very, very special people. They were always ready to help and never asked for anything in return,” Guite said about the Britts.
He is currently the head coach of the Bowdoin College men’s hockey team.
“You don’t find many people like that in the world. They gave and gave and gave and were always there,” Guite said. “They had bottomless generosity and great hearts. Win, lose or draw, they always supported us.”
Current UMaine assistant Alfie Michaud was the goalie on that 1998-99 team and was chosen the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
“They were wonderful people,” Michaud said about the Britts. “They thought highly of the program and the people around it, and they were always there to support us in any way they could.”
Michaud said the program obviously went through some lean years, but the Britts were still always traveling to away games at schools like Northeastern or Boston University to cheer the Black Bears on.
The Britts would also entertain players for meals and they got to know the players’ families.
“Maine hockey put a real smile on their faces and vice versa,” Michaud said. “They did a lot for us.”
In addition, the Britts became involved in the formation of Bangor’s John Bapst High School hockey program. Richie Britt wound up playing hockey for the Crusaders.
“They worked tirelessly to raise the funds for the program,” said Cherie Damon, who was also instrumental in the fundraising along with husband Doug, and is a long-time UMaine season ticket-holder.
“We had to raise $17,000 each year for seven years before the school put it into their budget,” said Cherie Damon.
Mary Britt said her parents donated some of their own money to get the John Bapst program started.
A celebration of life gathering will be held on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the The Overlook at the Lucerne Inn in Dedham according to the obituary in the Bangor Daily News.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support the UMaine men’s hockey team in honor of Richard Britt.
