Wednesday, December 17, 2014

NY Times Highlights MTU’s Revival

Hockey’s rich history in Houghton, Mich., makes the Huskies’ fast start even more meaningful.

NY Times Highlights MTU's Revival
Goaltender Jamie Phillips has helped lead MTU to its No. 5 national ranking.

New York Times writer Jeff Z. Klein and photographer Lauren Justice traveled to Houghton, Mich., last week, and the result is a rich look at the town, its love affair with the game, and the revival of the No. 5 Michigan Tech Huskies.

NY Times: A Return to Power for Michigan Tech, Where Hockey is King

Klein weaves the story of the Huskies’ resurgence into the history of hockey in Houghton, which is the birthplace of professional hockey. From outdoor rinks to the 87-year-old Dee Stadium to John MacInnes Ice Arena, Klein provides a vivid tour of the town – and shows what Michigan Tech hockey means to the area’s residents.

“We walk around town, and people know us, but we know them, too,” senior Blake Hietala, a Houghton native, tells Klein. “That’s awesome, but the main thing is that I’ve been a huge Tech fan all my life. The Huskies were never very good. So to be part of this now, I have trouble talking about it because it’s so hard to grasp.”

Justice’s photography complements the story with a slideshow that blends her photos from around town and at the games with archival shots of past rinks and teams.