Calumet Miners
The Calumet Miners, hailing from Michigan's upper peninsula, were one of the earliest professional hockey teams in North America. In 1904, they joined the newly formed IPHL, which sought to establish inter-state (and country) competition for professional teams, as the OHA had recently banned pro teams from playing the OHA's amateurs.Â
The Miners, also known as the Calumnet-Laurium Miners or Wanderers played at the Palestra in Marquette. Since the teams generally played on natural ice, the season was particularly short and despite being professional, most of the players still held other jobs.Â
The Miners had a very successful first season, wining the league with 18 wins in 24 games. Future HOFers Jimmy Gardner and Hod Stuart played for the team, with Stuart being lured to the Pittsburgh team after the season. The following two seasons, the Miners wouldn't have the same success and finished near the bottom of the league.Â
After the 1906-07 season, Canada implemented professional teams and along with the Pittsburgh club looking to stay closer to home, the IPHL folded and took the Miners along with it.Â
We've created a custom design for the miners, who wore a 'C' on their chest in red and grey.Â
