Copper Country Hockey Legends last name beginning with ...

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W

Randy Wakeham, born 19-- in -- a native of nearby Atlantic Mine, played goalie with Michigan Tech 1992-93.  need picture etc here

John (or George Wanhainen and Peter) Wanhainen born 19-- in --, graduated from Jeffers HS, then played hockey for Michigan Tech 1950-51. need picture & info etc here

Wally Washburn, born 18-- in -- from ... played on the 1900-01 Portage Lake team....

Tim John Watters, "Muddy" was born 1959, in Kamloops, BC; he played 3 seasons for Michigan Tech 1977-1981. He also played  for the Canadian National Team 1979-80 in the 1980 Olympics and again in the 1988 Olympics. While a player at Michigan Tech, he had the most points by a defenseman in a season (50), most assists by a defenseman in a season (38), he was NCAA West All-American First Team, WCHA All-Star First team, received the MTU Gitzen-Loutit Award for Outstanding Defenseman, and Team Captain in 1980-81, and the NCAA Tournament All-Star First Team in 1981.  He was selected by the Winnipeg Jets round 6, #124 overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Tulsa Oilers CHL 1981-82 and was on the team that won the bronze medal in the 1983 World Championships.  He then played 7 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets NHL 1981-88 and the Canadian National Team again in 1987-88 when they placed 4th in the 1988 Olympics. He played 7 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings 1988-1995, missing most of the 1995 season with an injury. Tim retired from NHL play and became an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins 1995-96 and then returned to Michigan Tech to coach for 3 seasons 1996-2000. Tim was inducted into the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Watters is still involved in hockey, coaching his sons youth teams; his family makes their summer home here in Houghton County.

Tim Watters   Tim Watters coach of MTU  1996-2000

  "Mutch" Melvern Weir, (19-- to 200-) a Calumet native, he played hockey for Michigan Tech 1950-51. He was seriously injured when the team bus was in an accident on their way home from Michigan State games. Another player and the team manager were killed in that accident. Weir was unable to play hockey again.

Doug Wessa, born 19-- in -- a Jeffers High School hockey player, played for the local Finlandia University Hockey Team and now plays for the Portage Lake Pioneers.

C. Ernest Westcott, born 18-- in -- one of the early Portage Lake players, he played wing for ? seasons with the Portage Lake team 1902-03, 1903-04, 1904-05, . 

N. Fred Westcott, born 18-- in -- one of the early Portage Lake players, he played wing for ? seasons with the Portage Lake team 1903-04 and on later amateur Portage Lake teams. 

John Whittaker, born in Calumet (1913-1955) "Whitey" played hockey on the Calumet-Laurium team when they won the MacNaughton Cup in 1938. He also played hockey for teams in Baltimore and Chicago and earned all-star honor for Chicago's Midwest League champions in 1934. A 1959 local news article called him the "greatest star ever to grace the Armory ice... he played for the Calumet Radars.... he scored 174 goals and 176 for 350 points in his 1936-1954 hockey career with 25 goals and 37 points in playoffs. One of Whittaker's best performances came against the Eagle River Falcons in the 1947-48 season when he scored 6 goals, the Radars winning 13-5." He was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame in 1998.

Richard Whitten, born 1968 in Denver, Co. Rich played 3 years for Houghton High School 1983-86 where he held the school record for goals in a season (37 in 1985-86.)  He played for Team Michigan at the Chicago Showcase in 1986, leading the team in scoring with 10 points in 3 games. He went on to play college hockey with Western Michigan University for 4 years 1986-90 where he was named to the CCHA All-Academic First Team in 1990.

Dave was on a committee with other locals (Gordon Barkell, Bill Barstow, Jim Kneebone, AJ Cybulski and others) to reactivate High School hockey in the area. He was also on the organizing committee that worked to restore senior hockey here by reactivating the Portage Lake Pioneers hockey team, then served on their Board.  He has been a member of the MTU Blue Line Club for over a decade, serving on their Board for 5 years.  He has been a member of the MTU Huskies Club for over a decade, serving on their Board for 5 years; both raise funds for athletics. In 1988 he was awarded the Clare M. Donovan Award for service to MTU students.  Dave was the Managing Director of the Upper Peninsula Hockey Association for 10 years.  He has served on the Directors Board of Michigan Amateur Hockey Association since 1966; he was Vice President in 1966, and President for 2 years in 1970-71. He received the MAHA Appreciation Award in 1970 and the William Kellogg Memorial Award for outstanding achievement and dedication to amateur hockey in 1999 from MAHA. He is President and General Manager of Michigan All Stater, Inc for High School Senior selections and on the Selection Committee for the Northern Michigan Area. Team Michigan competes in the National High School Tournament each year in Chicago; 34 states are involved in this tournament. Dave is the USA Hockey Associate Registrar since 1992.  Dave retired from MTU in 1993 after 30 years in the Facilities Management Department.  He was a city councilman for the city of Hancock 1976-82 and the Mayor of Hancock in 1980. He has been the Township Supervisor of Osceola Township since 1996.

Dave Wiitanen known  locally as Mr. Hockey   Daily Mining Gazette

Ron Wiitanen, born 1978 in Hancock, played goalie for Houghton High School, played goalie in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints Junior team, 1998-99 and Lake Superior State; and locally for the local Finlandia University Hockey Team 2000-01 and Michigan Tech 2001-02.

Dr. Percy H. Willson, born 1876 in Lisbonell, Ont, Canada, played on the first Portage Lake Hockey teams 1899-1902.  After the team turned pro, Percy was a referee for their games. Doc Willson and Doc Gibson were graduates of Detroit Medical College (which later merged into Wayne State) and played hockey in college together before they both moved to the mining rich Copper Country. Willson was a Physician in nearby Chassell for over 50 years.

Detroit Medical College (later Wayne State) team in 1896 Back Row L to Rt: E.C. Hay, F.J. Boles, P.H. Willson.  Middle Row: W.R. Randolph,  T.J. Kirby, E.W. Mechlebourgh, T.F. Mills. Front: F.W. MacDonald.

Detroit Medical College (later Wayne State) team in 1897 Standing L-Rt: F.J. Boles, J.L. Gibson, E.C. Hay. Seated L-Rt: F.J. Buggins, W.F. MacDonald, P.H. Willson. Front L-Rt: F.W. MacDonald, W.R. Randolph.

 Dave coached High School hockey at Jeffers-Painesdale 1975-80, they played in the States twice; he also coached High School hockey at Fond Du Lac, Wi. and Soldotna, Ak. Dave is presently a middle school teacher in Beloit, Wi were he coached the High School team from 1984-94 and 2000-02, making two trips to the State finals. He has served as a coach or gen. mgr. of Team Wisconsin boy's and girl's since 1986; the 2002 girl's won Gold, the 2003 boy's won Gold. He is active with USA Hockey, Central District, having coached a select 15 or 16 team since 1995, winning one Gold and four Silver Medals. In 2001, he was selected to coach in an International hockey program in the Czech Republic. He was the 2002 Asst. Camp Director USA Hockey 18/19 girls camp in Lake Placid, NY. 2001-03 he coached the Madison Capitols U19 girls team, advancing to Nationals in 2003. He has worked hockey camps at Michigan Tech, Eagle River, Wi. and Chicago Blackhawks Youth Hockey Camps. He now serves as the coaching and player development Director for Wisconsin Amateur Hockey. In 2004, Dave received the Walter Yaciuk Award for coaching at the USA Hockey Annual Congress. This award is presented annually by USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the program during many years of service as a volunteer. 

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