Michigan’s Railroad & the Birth of Pro Hockey | December 29

On this day in 1953, the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel switched from electric to diesel-powered locomotives, connecting Michigan to Ontario. In 1902, Houghton, Michigan, became the birthplace of professional hockey when the Portage Lake Hockey Club, the first to pay players, faced the University of Toronto. This game marked the beginning of pro hockey, leading to the formation of the International Hockey League two years later.

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Michigan’s Railroad & the Birth of Pro Hockey | December 29

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