• Sunday-What'sUP November 29 - 07:27 am

Today's Shoebox Memory is another creative device used before Zamboni solved the ice making problem. Hockey season is in full swing - for high school, college, and pee wee's, that is - but not for the pros this year. To folks in the future who visit this electronic time capsule known as the "Pasty Cam", the 2004-2005 season was interrupted by a strike, sending many die-hard fans into withdrawal (including my wife). But there's plenty of action at the high school level, some of which you can hear on Pasty.NET... like last night's win/loss by Calumet against Hancock in the Copper Island Classic. (Calumet won the second game, but Hancock scored the most overall points.)

Finally, some white stuff

Did you notice the trailing guy in today's shot looks like he's adjusting the on-board computer?

We didn't have the "old fashioned" zamboni when the hockey fad started here. We've got the new kind.

I spent many nights and A.M.'s at the Armory, both boys were in hockey. Brings back great menories. How did I live throught that?

I get such a kick out of this site, I cannot express...! That's some interesting contraption! Did anyone keep either of those machines for a museum someplace in the Copper Country??

Great shoebox photo of the old ice resurfacing methods. Does anyone know the date or names of fellas? Reminds me of cute old guy I knew in Troy, MI working at the same ice arena I did back in the 60's. He was originally from Calumet, Stubby Capell. He ran the Zamboni at the Troy arena, but used to tell us stories about his days of cleaning ice at the Olympia in Detroit when he pushed one of those contraptions with his little dog trailing behind. The crowds loved him and his little pal.

Wow, what happened to the bridge cam; looks like it's face down in a snowbank.

Just another example of what good ol' Yooper ingenuity can come up with! The big expensive zambonis are nice for sure, but this shows what can be done with less $$$ and some smarts!

Enjoy the snow everyone! Its about time!

Anita - Did you work at the rink at the end of Eton? If so, we met many, many times. A few years later I too, pulled a 'hot mop' around a rink in Ferndale. I understand that the missing link, a converted jeep with an ice cutting blade, is still being used in Sacramento California.

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. More great pictures this morning. Not being a big hockey fan (sorry), what exactly does the Zamboni do? I thought it just scaped and swept the ice to keep it smooth. Also is there a website that tells about the history of hockey? Would appreciate any information.

Well, not all pro leagues are cancelled. The Minor Pros are in full swing too, and lots of locals have been doing great this season. NMU and MTU have alums in the AHL, ECHL, or UHL that have "lit the lamp" lots of times early in the season :)

NKR, The zamboni has small cutting blades under it that shave the ice (1/8"-1/4" at a time) and a large hot water tank to lay a new layer to the ice to smooth it out. (Way over simplified, but thats how a lot of us understand it)

julie b.

Run your mouse cursor over the large B/W photo and you will find that it was provided by the Zamboni Co.

Hey,

Check out http://www.zamboni.com

By the looks of those photos, it's amazing what a long way we've come. I never really stop to look at things we have today and then compare them to what they used to look like and how they used to operate. I love the shoebox memories on here. One of my favorite features.

Is the bridge cam on strike today? ;)

Charlie,

Technically the NHL is in lockout not a strike.

It is my personal opinion that the players want to play, but the owners want a new CBA (collective bargining agreement), but the players will not accept the owners terms.

The difference I guess is that a strike would be started by the Union, where as a lock out is started by management.

Still it looks like there will be no NHL in the forseeable future.....

Played on non-check, co-ed league team for quite a few years with alternating games in Paramount, Ca. There is an early model Zamboni parked along side of the really odd-shaped rink; wider than the Olympic ice sheet.

NHL hockey will only be back with a reduced number of teams and a salary cap. Not great for players, but needed to keep the league viable.

Hope to see the new zambonis running soon in NHL rinks. Have watched great college & AHL hockey on Direct TV, have gone to a UHL & USHL game so far,but do like to see the "Big Boys" on the ice!

I remember that kamakazie on ice.

That is too bad that there is no NHL this year!

Things are a little foggy, maybe I should have posted on Wazzup!

Great shot - I'm going thru NHL withdrawal but at least I get to see college hockey on TV. Go Badgers.....and the Milw Admirals in AHL.

Is this the Calumet Armory or the Dee??

Ralph,

The rear view of the Zamboni is in the Calumet Armory. The photo of the hand-drawn ice smoother was on display in the Dee earlier this year during the 100 year hockey celebration.

I had the priveledge of learning how to ice skate in the Calumet Armory. My favorite part was sliding across the ice on my knee-pads though! Those were the days!

The Calumet Armory had natural ice long after Dee Stadium had "artificial" ice. I remember sweeping the Armory with 12 or 13 of my best friends with corn brooms every night after practice so that the ice could be flooded with a hose and the boards would not have an upward curve because of snow build up. This was 1960,61, and 62. We were the older guys and had to sweep the ice every night. I don't think the Armory ever had one of the manual Zamboni's. By the time they put the pipes in to freeze ice, the modern Zamboni was everywhere.

I miss the RedWings too - withdrawl is right! I hate to see what will happen to Pro Hockey if this lasts all year. A strike (or walkout) wasn't real good for baseball (they're JUST getting their fans back to the stadium) or basketball a few years back. I hope they just get back on the ice before all my heros are too old to play!

I love the picture of the Armory, it looks good. The Milwaukee Admirals are the best pro team in hockey right now, they can't be stopped, two Calder Cups in a row? Go Calumet Wolverines! Watch out Houghton and Hancock, Milwaukee Pius XI Hockey coming to town this weekend.

I love a good ZAMBONI!!!!

I am glad there is no hockey this year. Don't miss it one bit. I was a mild Hockey fan until our pros were allowed to go to the olympics. It not so bad that they did not play well on the Ice but their actions and comments off the ice turned me off to the sport forever!!

The Hancock H.S. hockey Dawgs ate a big bowl of Pius Popes for dinner last night, and I don't think it was a very close game. A certain Pius alumnus from Milwaukee owes me a buck. By the way, there would have been similar results had the teams from the mid-90's met!

LOL... Way to go Scotty! I'll be waiting to hear when your debt is paid up by Brendan... HCH and Pius hockey rivalry extended to rivalry between cousins is too funny.

Great picture of the zambonis!
Does anyone have any old pictures of surfacing the ice here on rinks here in the Copper Country?
I would love to add them to my Copper Country Hockey History webpage and credit you for the photo:
www.cchockeyhistory.org