Hockeyville USA Opener a Hit

The crowd numbered in the thousands yesterday afternoon at the first official Kraft Hockeyville event.

The sun shone brightly over the green space next to US-41 in Calumet as fans lined up to have pictures taken with the Stanley Cup, the MacNaughton Cup and the Gibson Cup – hockey’s three oldest trophies.

Several former NHL players signed autographs.

Chris Voelker and her crew were selling Hockeyville merchandise…

All profits from merchandise sales go into the Colosseum Improvement Fund. Main Street Calumet’s Leah Polzien hopes the exposure will open some additional doors…

Meanwhile, the historic Colosseum is being readied for two big games – tonight’s contest between the Calumet Wolverines and the Portage Lake Pioneers, and Thursday’s Hockeyville game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Saint Louis Blues.

There will be two skating opportunities this afternoon – one for members, families and friends of kids in the Calumet Hockey Association and Calumet Figure Skating at 4:15, and one for Calumet High School students and faculty, family and friends at 5:15.