Wiitanen on hand for Houghton County Arena dedication
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HANCOCK -- More than 100 hockey fans and friends came out Monday night to the Houghton County Arena to pay their respects to local-hockey organizer and leader Dave Wiitanen. The 87-year-old, Hancock native was on hand to witness the naming of the Arena’s upstairs banquet room as the Dave Wiitanen Room. The open house on Monday included the unveiling of a number of wooden display cases filled with Wiitanen’s trophies and memorabilia he has collected over the decades. As well, there were three, large-framed posters laid out scrapbook style with newspaper clippings on all things local hockey.
Guests enjoyed cake, coffee and water as they stood in line to shake the man-of- the-hour’s hand.
"What a nice turnout," said a smiling Wiitanen. "This has been years and years in the making. Those trophies have been in people’s basements and attics and you name it. Now we got it all displayed. Is this beautiful or what?"
Wiitanen was a founding father for the building of the Houghton County Arena back in the 1970s. Before that he began the Copper Country Junior Hockey Association which still thrives today with several hundred kids participating at all age levels each winter. In 2014, he was awarded the William Thayer Tutt Award by USA Hockey. It recognizes a volunteer who has displayed a selfless dedication to the enhancement of hockey in the grassroots level in the United States.
Dave Hermanson, current president of the Houghton County Arena, said Monday’s event was wonderful.
"This has been a great event that has exceed my expectations," he said. "There are so many friends here, and everyone is so impressed to see this memorabilia."
He added that if it wasn’t for the vision of Wiitanen, this area would not have nearly as much hockey as it does now each season.
"We have a beautiful place here in this arena," he told the crowd. "We have high-school hockey here. We have men’s and women’s college teams from Finlandia calling it home. It gets a lot of activity to say the least."
Scott MacInnes, son of legendary Michigan Tech hockey coach John MacInnes, agreed on the importance of keeping local hockey alive.
"I’ve know Dave since the 60s, when I played in the junior-hockey league here," he said. "All the stuff he has done for junior hockey in the area has been unbelievable. I don’t know of anyone who has donated more time and money to youth hockey in this area. He put his heart and soul into this arena."
Wiitanen’s niece, Rhonda Britten, along with his daughter, Donna Watson, were the driving forces behind the displays and Monday’s open house.
"The night was a huge hit," Britten said. "Folks scoured over the memorabilia and shared stories from the past. This community of hockey lovers came together to thank Dave for all he’s done and celebrate local hockey, and it couldn’t have made Dave happier."