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John MacInnes Papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MTU-013

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Papers, 1939-2013, of John MacInnes, head coach of the Michigan Tech Hockey Huskies from 1956 to 1982 and one-time "winningest coach in college hockey." Includes class rosters, team data, and correspondence related to the work of coaching and managing the hockey program at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Also included are college hockey league policies and regulations, documenting some of the changes in college league activity in the 1960s and 70s. Scrapbooks and clipping files reflect media coverage of the Michigan Tech hockey team and of MacInnes’ professional accomplishments as well as the many awards and achievements accorded to MacInnes. Memorials, testimonies, and an outpouring of heartfelt sympathy cards written to John’s wife Jerry at the time of his death are included. MacInnes also collected the rulebooks and regulations of the various amateur and professional organizations he was involved with. Finally there is material on the history of hockey that MacInnes collected as well as photographs, ephemera and miscellaneous documents.

Dates

  • 1939-2013

Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.

Biography

John MacInnes, the “winningest coach in college hockey,” was Michigan Tech’s head hockey coach from 1956 to 1982. During that period, the Hockey Huskies brought home three NCAA championships (1962, 1965, 1975) and seven Western Collegiate Hockey Association championships (1962, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1974, and 1976). Twenty-three of his 26 seasons were winning ones. He was named coach of the year by the American Hockey Coaches Association twice, in 1970 and 1976. The WCHA named him coach of the year six times. MacInnes was interviewed for the position of coach for the 1980 American Olympic hockey “Dream Team,” but withdrew his name from consideration to continue with the Michigan Tech team. He was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 and the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. MacInnes was born in Toronto, Canada in 1925. He came to the US to play college hockey as a goalie for the University of Michigan. He played with the Boston Bruins, the Detroit Red Wings, and the International Hockey League, before coming to Michigan Tech in 1956.

Extent

12.11 Cubic Feet (30 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Papers, 1939-2013, of John MacInnes, head coach of the Michigan Tech Hockey Huskies from 1956 to 1982 and one-time "winningest coach in college hockey." Includes class rosters, team data, and correspondence related to the work of coaching and managing the hockey program at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Also included are college hockey league policies and regulations, documenting some of the changes in college league activity in the 1960s and 70s. Scrapbooks and clipping files reflect media coverage of the Michigan Tech hockey team and of MacInnes’ professional accomplishments as well as the many awards and achievements accorded to MacInnes. Memorials, testimonies, and an outpouring of heartfelt sympathy cards written to John’s wife Jerry at the time of his death are included. MacInnes also collected the rulebooks and regulations of the various amateur and professional organizations he was involved with. Finally there is material on the history of hockey that MacInnes collected as well as photographs, ephemera and miscellaneous documents.

Title
John MacInnes Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Russell; revised by Allison Neely
Date
5/5/2010
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Revised by Allison Neely, February 21, 2018 and August 12, 2021.

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US