Copper Country Hockey History

The Birthplace of Organized Professional Hockey! 

Click here for Flyer for Celebration, Schedule, Pictures of Celebration:

Planning Committee

The Copper Country, in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula, is considered the Birthplace of Organized Professional Hockey and Home of the Worlds First All Professional Hockey Team!  

Celebrate the Pro Hockey Centennial September 23-26, 2004
in Houghton, Michigan

Logo & Flyer by Connie Julien and  by Betsy O'Leary of Graphics Creativity

Schedule as of  September 21, 2004:

HOUGHTON HOCKEY CELEBRATION WEEKEND

September 23-26, 2004

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2004

1 – 9 pm – Hockey Celebration Expo at the Dee Stadium in Houghton.  (Admission: $2 adults; $1 children under 14; free w/ticket to Sept. 25^th hockey game)

Includes exhibits and displays from the Hockey Hall of Fame, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, USA Hockey, local hockey teams (Michigan Tech Huskies, Finlandia U. and others), equipment manufacturers, and others. The MacNaughton Cup, and Gibson Cup will be on display Thursday through Sunday.
                        The Stanley Cup will be here Sunday, September 26th

10-11 p.m. Tech Alumni team practice at MacInnes Arena

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2004

10 am – 9 pm – Hockey Celebration Expo at the Dee Stadium in Houghton.

  9:30 am Calumet Walking tour: HOCKEY, HARD ROCK, AND HISTORY IN CALUMET: The Keweenaw National Historical Park invites you to join Park Ranger Gary Kaunonen on an interpretive walking tour of Calumet . The 90-minute tour will focus on Calumet's rich hockey history and how this sport influenced the citizens of Calumet by providing an important diversion from life on the industrial frontier. Tours will be offered Friday, September 24^th and Saturday, September 25^th. Face off (starting time) is at 9:30 am at the Keweenaw National Historical Park Headquarters building located on the corner Red Jacket Road and US 41, in Calumet. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk. Don’t sit this one out in the box!  

1 - 4 pm Hockey Books will be signed by the authors at the Hockey Expo in the Dee:
  James Coughlin, Author of Squaw Valley Gold
  Morey Holzman, Author of  Deceptions and Doublecross
  Roger Godin, Author of  Before the Stars - the St. Paul Athletic Club
  Oakie Brumm, Author of They Only Played Home Games

Gordie Howe will be signing his book, Mr. & Mrs. Hockey at the SDC/MacInnes Ice Arena starting at 5:30 on Saturday.

7 – 11 pm – Society for International Hockey Research (SIHR) Fall Meeting – in Grant Education Center, adjacent to MacInnes Arena, Michigan Tech campus  (SIHR web site:www.sihrhockey.org)

7- 11 pm – Portage Lakes Pioneers Reunion Dinner at MUB, Michigan Tech campus

10-11 p.m. Tech Alumni team practice at MacInnes Arena

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2004

8 am – 5 pm – Society for International Hockey Research (SIHR) Fall Meeting – in Grant Education Center  PUBLIC WELCOME!

10 am – 5 pm – Hockey Celebration Expo at the Dee

 9:30 am Calumet Walking tour: HOCKEY, HARD ROCK, AND HISTORY IN CALUMET: The Keweenaw National Historical Park invites you to join Park Ranger Gary Kaunonen on an interpretive walking tour of Calumet . The 90-minute tour will focus on Calumet ’s rich hockey history and how this sport influenced the citizens of Calumet by providing an important diversion from life on the industrial frontier. Tours will be offered Friday, September 24^th and Saturday, September 25^th. Face off (starting time) is at 9:30 am at the Keweenaw National Historical Park Headquarters building located on the corner Red Jacket Road and US 41, in Calumet. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk. Don’t sit this one out in the box!

3 pm – Portage Lake Pioneers vs. Calumet Wolverines Alumni hockey game at MacInnes Arena, on the campus of Michigan Tech.

7 – 9 pm – Detroit Red Wings Alumni vs. Michigan Tech Huskies Alumni hockey game at MacInnes Arena on the Campus of Michigan Tech University. After the 1st period, the Michigan Tech Pep Band will play the March Amphidrome, music that was written 100 years ago by Conrad Sagemiller of Laurium for the Worlds Champion 1904 Portage Lake professional hockey team, while our local figure skaters dance to this lively tune. Then Tony Locatelli will play (on the Big Organ) the Hockey March Two Step written 99 years ago by Hanna Engstrom from Calumet for the Champion 1905 Calumet Professional hockey team.  After the 2nd period, as a tribute to our local firemen, the Red Wings will face off against the Houghton Fire Department sponsored Mite Team.
Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe will drop the puck for the 1st period, then locals: Paul Coppo, US Hockey Hall of Famer, for the 2nd period, and Tony Bukovich (88 years old), former Red Wings player, for the 3rd period.

Tickets now available through Michigan Tech Central Ticket Office (906) 487-2073,
Reserved Seats – Adults: $15.00, Children Under 14: $7.00

Gordie Howe will drop the puck and be available to sign his new book starting at 5:30 pm in the MTU Sports Hall of Fame area of the Student Development Complex/MacInnes Arena and in the ice arena during the game.

9 – 11 pm – Public Reception in SDC Gym, adjacent to the MacInnes Arena
Everyone is invited to meet the Red Wings Alumni players, Michigan Tech Huskies Alumni and current players. Public Welcome! Cash Bar and Snacks.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2004

10 am – 5 pm – Hockey Celebration Expo at the Dee

The Stanley Cup will be here Sunday, September 26^th!

7 – 9 pm – MacNaughton Night at the Miscowaubik Club, in Calumet. James MacNaughton, who sponsored the Cup, was a local resident and businessman, he was also a  founding Father of the Miscowaubik Club. Public Welcome!

See you there!

If you have any questions about this event, Call the City of Houghton : 906-482-1700.

SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY RESEARCH

FALL MEETING        

                                    September 24-25, 2004

Grant Education Center , Michigan Tech University

Houghton , Michigan

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2004

7:00 pm             Registration at the Grant Education Center , adjacent to the MacInnes

            Arena, Michigan Tech campus

                        Meet and Greet

                        What’s On the SIHR Web Site Demonstration

                        Connie Julien, Chassell , Michigan

8:00 pm             The Copper Country and Hockey History

                        Bill Sproule, Houghton , Michigan

8:30 pm             Goal Scoring

                        Jerry Sullivan, Marquette , Michigan

9:00 pm             Special Guests: Members of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni team       

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2004

7:45 am            Registration

8:00 am            Welcome to Houghton and Michigan Tech

                        Rick Yeo, Athletic Director, Michigan Tech

8:05 am            Business Meeting

                        Len Kotylo, President, Toronto , Ontario

            PRESENTATIONS

9:30 am            Doc Gibson Put the Eye in the IHL

                        Bill Fitsell, Kingston , Ontario

10:00 am                      Refreshment Break

10:20 am          Newspaper Coverage of Early Professional Hockey

                        Dan Mason, Edmonton , Alberta

10:50 am          IHL Players and How to Find Them

                        Ernie Fitzsimmons, Fredericton , New Brunswick and James Milkes,

Gatineau , Quebec.

11:20 am           How the IHL Affected the Stanley Cup

                        Morey Holzman, Escondido , California

11:50 am          Moe Roberts – A Career in Bookends

                        Roger Godin, St. Paul , Minnesota

12:20 – 1:20 pm            LUNCH at the Grant Education Center

1:20 pm             An Introduction to Game Worn Jerseys

                        Richard Lomax, Tuscaloosa , Alabama

1:50 pm             The Virtual Hall of Fame

                        Morey Holzman

2:30 pm                         Refreshment Break

2:45 pm             The First Miracle on Ice – the 1960 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

                        Jim Coughlin, St. Paul , Minnesota

3:15 pm             The Hockey Injury of Wilbur Wright – How Hockey Affected Flight Ed Grenda, Kingston , Ontario

3:45 pm           Special Hockey Guest: Paul Coppo (former Michigan Tech player and

                        newest member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame)

4:15 pm             Tour of John MacInnes Student Ice Arena Complex

Host: Chris Roy, Assistant Manager

5:00 pm                         Supper  – own arrangements

7:00 pm             Detroit Red Wings Alumni vs. Michigan Tech Huskies Alumni hockey game at the MacInnes Arena , Michigan Tech campus

9:00 pm             Reception in SDC Gym, adjacent to MacInnes Arena

                        Everyone is invited to meet the Red Wings Alumni players, Michigan Tech Huskies Alumni and current players

Or check on line at:

www.birthplaceofprohockey.org


Buy your book that Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe has signed
at the Houghton City Office or 
MTU University Images at the ice rink and Center Ice in Houghton.

On Saturday, Sept 25th, Keweenaw Excursions, is offering a beautiful Fall Color Boat Tour around the Keweenaw Peninsula, cruising past 10 Light Houses, starting at 8am until 6pm to the first 149 people to sign up. 
The boat leaves from the Dock just outside the Dee Hockey Ice Rink.
Check their webpage for pricing and reservations: www.keweenawexcursions.com  
 
This web site is dedicated to the First All Pro Hockey Teams who formed the Worlds First Professional Hockey League in 1904.
If you have any photos, or memorabilia that could be photographed for this website, or donated or loaned to the Hockey Museum in the Dee Stadium, please contact the webmaster.

This website is under construction!

The Original Amphidrome 1902-1927:

If you have pictures of local teams, please contact the webmaster, we would love to include them on this web site!

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 Contact webmaster if you have any suggestions/corrections/additions/questions about this web page.