Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/112773
did you know? George Gipp, the storied University of Notre Dame running back of "Win one for the Gipper" fame, attended Calumet High School, where he excelled in hockey, basketball and baseball. (Gipp did not play organized football in high school.) The George Gipp Senior Athlete Award was established at Calumet High School in 1934 and is annually awarded to the school's top male athlete. Heartley "Hunk" Anderson, a Calumet native who was Gipp's football teammate at Notre Dame, replaced a pair of legendary gridiron coaches after his playing days had concluded. Anderson took over for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame in 1931 and then replaced George Halas as head coach of the Chicago Bears in 1942. The International Frisbee Hall of Fame has been located in the second floor ballroom of the Calumet Colosseum since 2011. 2 The MacNaughton Cup, which is awarded annually to the WCHA's regular season champion, is named after James MacNaughton, the former president of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. MacNaughton, a major supporter of amateur hockey, purchased the trophy in 1913 and then donated it to the president of the American Hockey Association with the purpose of awarding it to the league's champion at the end of the season. From 1933 through 1950, only teams from the Copper Country competed for the trophy. 4 3 1. Despite many upgrades and improvements over the years, the Calumet Colosseum (seen here in the 1920s) has been able to maintain its historic charm. 2. Hockey memorabilia, like this schedule from the 1970s, greets visitors as they walk through the door. 3. The Colosseum is now home to the original George Gipp Trophy. 5 6 Clusters of striking miners would picket outside the foundry in the mornings, and eventually many of them – promised no more than lunch and coffee – walked across the street and worked all day to install the Colosseum's new artificial ice. "We had pipe fitters, welders, refrigeration guys; every kind of person you would need to put something like this in was available to us free of charge," said Bob Erkkila, a local sports historian. "You talk about a community project, because 99 percent of it was done with volunteer labor." With the added assistance, the entire rink was welded in just five days – a process that would normally take a month to complete. As with any structure that's a century old, the Colosseum has provided locals with countless memories and stories. You could start with Paul Bracco, who was kicked out of the arena back in 1950 after attempting to sneak into a game, but was shortly thereafter given a job as a sweeper and proceeded to work his way up the ranks to his current role as rink manager. Or you can chat with Calumet Township Supervisor Paul Lehto, who has worn many hats during his 50-plus year association with Calumet Hockey, including time spent as a player, coach and general manager for various teams. One of Lehto's favorite memories came when he was coaching the Calumet 4. A chunk of float copper symbolizes the town's connection to the mining industry. 5. A homemade handcart from the 1960s is displayed inside the arena. 6. The many photos within the Colosseum's lobby serve as a nod to the rink's storied history. Wolverines in the mid-1960s. Leading up to a Gibson Cup Final game against archrival Portage Lake, the local authorities were forced to step in when more than 2,000 people attempted to pack into the snug arena. "The State Police came and shut the ticket booth down because there were too many people here," Lehto recalled. "After they closed the booth they stood outside for a while, but they left 10 minutes later and all those people piled in anyway. It was a fun atmosphere." And although nearly $1 million has been spent on improvements to the arena over the past few years, including a new furnace, an elevator and three new locker rooms, USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM March. 2013 23