Moronacity

I had enough foresight to make arrangements with my friends to meet them at the Keweenaw Brewing Company on Thursday night. I had a biochemistry exam at 7:00, and I knew I would need moral support in the hour following that exam. My evening progressed to The Library to see if one of my biking friends, with whom I’ve never actually biked, was there. He was and we chatted for a bit. Then, we decided to head over to The Dee to watch a friendly game of hockey.

Every winter, some of my cycling friends rent the ice once a week to play hockey with their friends. Last night, there were about twenty-five guys, there. I took it as an opportunity to get some photos of a different sport, of course.

I was particularly interested to find out that The Dee is the “birthplace of professional hockey,” and why it is called The Dee. In 1902, James R. Dee raised funds to build the Amphidrome on the spot where Dee Stadium currently stands. Hockey history began when the first hockey game was played on December 30, 1902. That season saw a league of four teams from Houghton, Hancock, Laurium, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.¹ The Portage Lakes continued their success by capturing the American Championship against the Pittsburgh Victorias, and the World Championship when challenged by the Canadian Champions, the Montreal Wanderers, in 1904.

The International Hockey League began in 1904 between teams from Houghton, Calumet, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The original IHL is not related to the current IHL. This professional hockey league attracted players from the Canadian amateur leagues and prevailed for the next three years. In 1907, with the beginning of professional hockey in Canada, many of the Canadian players moved back there to play. The IHL dissolved that year.²

In 1927, the Amphidrome burned to the ground. Once again, James Dee played a big hand in the funding for the New Amphidrome in 1928. It was rebuilt just in time for hockey season, that year.³

In 1943, the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, currently Michigan Technological University, bought the New Amphidrome and renamed it in honor James Dee.⁴ It is now affectionately known as The Dee. (There is conflicting information regarding the year of this purchase. The source web site states 1943, but the Our Hockey History Significant Dates sign at the museum at The Dee shows 1946 as the year of purchase.)

Currently, The Dee is home to the Houghton High School Hockey Team and the Portage Lake Pioneers Senior Hockey Team. An open skate and open hockey is also available as well as ice time rental, which is what my friends do each week.

1. The Birthplace of Professional Hockey – 1900s. http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/Timeline/1900s.htm.
2. The Birthplace of Professional Hockey – 1904-1907. http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/Timeline/1904-07_IHL.htm.
3. The Birthplace of Professional Hockey – 1920s. http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/Timeline/1920s.htm.
4. The Birthplace of Professional Hockey – 1940s. http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/Timeline/1940s.htm .