This series concludes by focusing on two of the arenas that the Michigan Tech Huskies compete in, Sherman Field and the John J. MacInnes Ice Arena.

For over 60 years, the football team competed at Hubbell Field. However, in 1981 it dedicated its new stadium, which was then called, very originally, MTU Stadium. Fortunately in 1988, the stadium was given a proper name in memory of Donald Sherman.

Born in Battle Creek, Mich., the standout high school athlete attended Wabash College in Crawfordville, Ind., and also played on the football team. Sherman’s athletic success followed him there as he was named to the All-Indiana Football Team and was a captain in his senior season.

His life journey eventually brought him up to Michigan Tech in 1929, where he filled the role of both basketball coach and assistant athletic director. After serving in this capacity for a few years, he was promoted to athletic director in 1936.

As athletic director, Sherman focused on strengthening the school’s four varsity sports it had at the time, football, basketball, track and hockey. These sports were doing so well that he was able to start three new programs to the school, as boxing, tennis and skiing were adding during his tenure.

A favorite of non-varsity athletes was added during his time too. Sherman initiated and developed the first intramural sports programs that Michigan Tech ever had.

Sherman did more than just athletics though. He was also a full professor of economics and a member of the Houghton village council, as well as being deeply involved in the Winter Carnival festivities every year.

Unfortunately, Sherman’s time was cut short at Tech as he died in 1946 of a heart attack following a game of handball. Due to the massive contributions that Sherman made during his time with the school, he was inducted into the school’s Athletics’ Hall of Fame in 1985.

Another man that helped Huskies’ athletics take a big step forward is John James MacInnes, who is forever immortalized as the name of the school’s hockey arena.

Born in Toronto in 1925, this Canadian hopped the border to play goalie for the University of Michigan, where between the pipes he helped lead the Wolverines to a pair of league titles and a third place finish at the 1950 NCAA championships.

Following his collegiate experience, MacInnes hopped around on some National Hockey League farm teams, including stints with the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings before returning to Ann Arbor as the director of the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey League. In 1956, when a college in Houghton offered him a job as their head hockey coach, he waved the Lower Peninsula good-bye and headed north.

In the 26 seasons that would follow, MacInnes would become one of the most successful NCAA men’s hockey coaches in history putting together a record of 555 wins, 295 losses, and 39 draws. During this time, he also led his teams to three national championships and seven Western Collegiate Hockey Association titles. The Spencer Penrose Award, which is given to the top coach in Division 1 hockey, was awarded to him during this period due to his campaigns in 1969-70 and 1975-76 and he was named the WCHA Coach of the Year six times.

Another award that was bestowed upon MacInnes was the Lester Patrick Trophy, which is presented by the NHL and USA Hockey to honor a recipient’s contribution to ice hockey in the United States. With all the awards and trophies that MacInnes received over his lifetime, it is only fitting that one should be named after him too. This is the case with the trophy that is awarded to the winning team of the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament each year.

With all his contributions and accomplishments for Michigan Tech hockey, MacInnes was inducted into not only the school’s athletics’ Hall of Fame in 1984, but has also been enshrined in the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame since 1972.

So when it comes to the athletics at Michigan Tech, a big tip of the hat should be offered to two men that helped to not only build the programs that play in the arenas that are named after them, but helped build up the reputation that has put Michigan Tech on the map.