Celebrating 100 years of hockey

Hockey has a rich tradition in the Copper Country and the Calumet Colosseum is a big part of it.

This weekend was the Centennial Celebration, commemorating 100 years of hockey in Calumet.

Monday features the two teams that played the first game ever at the Colosseum, the Calumet Wolverines and the Portage Lake Pioneers.

Wolverines head coach Bruce Coppo said it is a rivalry that has withstood the test of time.

“If you think about it, 100 years is a long time. To be around that long with circumstances the way they are and to keep two teams playing with such a short distance away, it’s kind of phenomenal that we can be playing the same team 100 years later,” he said.

The weekend festivities had several junior hockey games playing including two games hosted by Calumet High School.

Coppo added that hockey in this area brings together people from all ages.

“We do have some following of younger people because of the age of our player.  They’re all 18-years-old to roughly 25-years-old so they bring in a little younger crowd,” Coppo said.  “But if you look at the fan base of all the hockey around here, there’s a lot of senior citizens.  They love hockey. Most of them have been involved in hockey all their life so they come to the game.”

The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. and you can listen live on K-Bear 102.3 or stream online at www.kbear102.com.