• Sunday-What'sUP February 19 - 07:10 am

Pre-dating the NHL, the International Hockey League was born right here in the Copper Country. In 1904 the first professional league championship was won by the Calumet IHL Team. But the very next year the Portage Lake Team came roaring back to claim the title. Two decades later, the Portage Lake Hockey Team was going strong, and included a relative of Pasty Guest Gallery contributors Karen and Doug Spaeth. He was Doug's grandfather, Douglas Houghton Trangmar - to the left of the word "Hockey" in the picture above. Interesting name. There's a monument across the streeet from my home here in Eagle River which bears a similar name.

Douglas Houghton Trangmar
a few years later

That was interesting. I didn't know that the IHL was born in Copper County. I wonder if they had the fights back then? Some of the guys look like they could have starred in "Slap Shot".

Thank you, Charlie, for posting the picture of my Grandfather. He has been gone for quite a while now but just seeing his picture brings back some wonderful memories. He used to tell us how he bent branches to make his own snow shoes.

Next weekend, my family will be going to Houghton to enjoy outdoor activities and visit our son, who is a 3rd year student at Tech. Although we are not planning on making our own snowshoes, we hope to try snowshoeing for the first time.

Incidentally, our son was present at the big Hockey Centennial celebration in 2004, and posed for this photo, with his great-grandfather's old team logo visible in the background. We would urge everyone to visit Connie Julien's CC Hockey History site; she's done a fantastic job!

Thanks again for the memories. We love your site!

Ironic that you had this subject today as my grandson was playing a Squirt game today down at the Joe Louis arena..(they beat Saline 5-1)I played hockey at Northland College 50 years ago and I am enclosing an article about my uncle Chub that played hockey 100 years ago in the Portage Lake area...
http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/legends/C.htm

While home in July 2006, I headed to Dee Stadium for what I thought would be an hour or so. Instead, I found myself totally immersed in the hockey history and, then all the historical data shown inside. I left when my tummy says either eat or keel over. When I return next summer I will plan a day there and pack a lunch.

Happy Monday to ya'll. Love the pictures and info.....on my way to work.....days today blue eyes.......yipee

God Bless ya all real good......

That is my uncle Phil, P. Houle in the photo... (I have seen this picture in the Houle family book and Karen had contacted me in regards to this picture) Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the photo. I have never seen it. My father told us about his brother playing hockey. My father's name was Walter Mountjoy and my uncle was Glenn Mountjoy Dad never played hockey but he had a food stand in the Dee stadium, during the 20's. He told us he would cook onions and the odor would fill the place and everyone would want a hamberger. We would watch hockey when our dad would take us to work with him.(in the 30's)