Dee Stadium

The Copper Country is considered the birthplace of organized hockey!

1902 Amphidrome built by James R. Dee, the "father of American hockey" on the shores of Portage Lake

December 30, 1902 First Hockey game played at the "Drome"

1902-03 A four team league played in the UP: Houghton, Hancock, Laurium and American Soo

1903-04 The Portage Lakers claimed the World Championship: in 26 games they scored 273 goals and allowed only 48, with only 2 defeats.

1905 The green and white Portage Lakers sent word to the Stanley Cup Committee Board of Governors challenging the Ottawa Silver Seven to a championship; they were denied the opportunity.

1906 The Portage Lakers sent word to the Stanley Cup Committee Board of Governors challenging Montreal to a championship; they were denied the opportunity.

They were turned down both times because they were a professional group; after this, Canadian clubs signed these great players away from Portage Lake.

1907 Following this season, the professional Portage Lakers broke up and amateur hockey is dominant

October 12, 1912 Presidential Candidate Teddy Roosevelt speaks at Amphidrome

1912-13 Portage Lake wins the U.S. Amateur Championship

1927 Amphidrome was destroyed by fire

1928 New Amphidrome built by James R. Dee

1943 Renamed Dee Stadium, after James R. Dee, when Michigan Tech University bought the facility

1953 Contract for artificial ice plant at the Dee awarded to Herman Gundlach: cost $105,607

January 13, 1972 Final MTU game played at Dee Stadium

1973 Artificial ice surface dedicated

1974 City of Houghton signs a 99 year lease with MTU for the Dee Stadium

1988 City of Houghton purchases Dee Stadium from the MTU-Ventures Group

1998 New artificial ice system installed and new cement surface poured at the Dee

1998 Dee History Room and lobby remodeled, hockey memorabilia replaced with historic pictures and drawings.