Three cheers for 50 years of Michigan Tech’s beloved ringleader of loud and proud
Husky followers, giver of hugs and high-fives, and receiver of steady assist by devoted
alumni.
The Johnny Mac was buzzing on the primary Saturday night time in August. Michigan Technological
College’s Alumni Reunion hockey game at all times attracts a crowd to the world, however this was an extra-special event: Blizzard
T. Husky’s fiftieth birthday celebration.
Blizzard will not be but 50, technically, however carries on the spirit of Tech’s first mascots,
who debuted 50 years in the past. So it was becoming that the VIPs who got here to have a good time this
milestone included the unique mascots, 1971 graduates Invoice and Kathy Wassberg, and
mascot program supporters Dave ’68 ’71 and Sharron Paris.
The Parises have been Blizzard T. Husky helpers because the four-fingered furry pal
of Huskies all over the place was born on Jan. 31, 1997. Longtime Tech donors, they assisted
with the naming contest (the opposite choices have been Harley, Heikki, Howie and Yoopie).
Their assist of the mascot program was impressed by seeing their nephew in motion
because the Ferris State Bulldog. “We noticed how laborious he labored,” says Sharron, a former MTU registrar who had a virtually
30-year profession with the College.
“It’s not simply strolling round. It takes persona and persistence. Blizzard performs an
vital position and is on campus in many alternative methods.”
“It’s at all times neat to see Blizzard interacting with younger individuals,” stated Dave. And regardless of
being 350 in canine years, “Blizzard stays younger.”
As soon as a Husky, All the time a Husky
At 67,000 sturdy, Michigan Tech alumni keep linked all year long on campus
and across the globe. Held Aug. 4-6, 2022’s Alumni Reunion introduced almost 450 Huskies and associates to city for a full weekend of actions,
together with on- and off-campus journeys down reminiscence lane. Learn how MTU alumni and friends preserve the Husky spirit alive, be a part of the enjoyable — and save the date for Alumni Reunion 2023
However who got here earlier than Blizzard?
Loads of unofficial shenanigans. Or “rats and bats and pollywog tails,” as unique
mascot Invoice Wassberg playfully places it. He and spouse Kathy have been the primary formally
accepted Tech mascots to take the ice. They cooked up the mascot thought for the only
of causes: They thought a nationally recognized collegiate hockey powerhouse deserved
one. And, with not too long ago secured scholar loans permitting them to give up their jobs, they
had the time. “We have been bored,” joked Invoice. Legendary hockey coach John MacInnes had no objections to their request so long as they acquired off the ice after warm-ups.
The mascot gig was a group act. Invoice donned a crumpled bear costume of unknown origins that was resurrected from a locker. “It stunk so dangerous Kathy wouldn’t
let it in the home,” he says. Kathy constructed a mouse swimsuit by modifying a clown
costume sample that she topped with a hand-crafted papier-mache head. It, too, ultimately
acquired the unforgettable aroma of a hockey locker room. They didn’t have mascot
names. They have been merely Bear and Mouse.
Lots of as we speak’s Blizzards can skate circles across the rink (watch Blizzard’s smooth moves on Michigan Tech TikTok). Neither Wassberg was proficient on the ice. “The spectators thought we have been pretending
to skate badly — the reality is, we didn’t know the way,” says Invoice.
There are few mementos of both mascot. Regardless of requests over time, solely a pair
of pictures have turned up. On account of its abiding odor, the bear costume needed to be thrown
out. The mouse costume, saved within the Wassberg attic, met its premature demise paradoxically
— mice chewed up the pinnacle.
There was no formal assist for the mascot in these days. Invoice credit the late Bob Olson, the unique voice of Michigan Tech Athletics, former Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz and wife Gail and others for volunteering a serving to hand. At this time, assist from contributors like
the Parises ensures that college students portraying Blizzard gained’t should go one pungent
canine swimsuit backwards and forwards. The funding, say the Huskies who create and maintain the
program, is effectively price it.
“It’s the most effective outreach program there may be. The mascot doesn’t should say a factor.”
True to kind, Blizzard remained speechless on the get together, however was nonetheless the middle
of consideration, managing to eloquently convey each celebration and appreciation. The
large Husky within the Quantity 85 jersey circulated via the gang, posing for infinite
selfies. Smiles lingered lengthy after every picture was snapped. The Parises and Wassbergs
acquired a kick out of watching the motion — and getting their very own pictures with Blizzard.
There’s No Spirit Like Michigan Tech Spirit
“At Michigan Tech we have now the proper trifecta,” stated Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret in her remarks on the celebration. “Blizzard, Mitch’s Misfits and the Huskies Pep Band. These spirit teams maintain very particular which means for our student-athletes and workers.
and the group in lots of different venues. That is one of many causes Dave and Sharron
Paris are completely happy to assist this system. They have been giving back to Tech for a very long time and settled on the mascot program after seeing how laborious their nephew
labored when he was a mascot at Ferris State.
“Right here’s to 50 years of smiles, pictures and — a lot to Blizzard’s dismay — tail pulling!”
They’re our true followers, via and thru. Blizzard offers us hugs, win or lose. The
pep band is pure expertise and creativity — so good that our opponents need to rent them.
They’re an unique that nobody within the nation can replicate. And no one is louder than the Misfits. Once we come to play, our opponents should pipe in cheering.”
The distinctive contribution that Michigan Tech spirit teams convey to the College is
additional affirmed in 1970 alumnus Invoice Sproule’s guide, “100 Years of Michigan Tech Hockey.” “They’ve chapter 14 all to themselves,” says Sanregret.
The Busiest Husky on MTU’s Campus
The mascot’s residence workplace — what Sanregret refers to as “Blizzard Central” — is Michigan Tech Athletics. It takes three individuals to handle the favored pup’s calendar. “Blizzard is legendary,
however so mysterious,” says Sanregret. “We by no means know who you might be till you graduate.”
Previous Blizzards at Saturday’s get together raised a paw for a spherical of applause. Pep band
members of yore raised a cheer. The gang had extra applause for the Misfits and Tim
Braun ’04, who based the legendary scholar cheering part you’ll discover in Part
L in any respect residence video games.
pose with the mascot of as we speak, representing 50 years of Husky spirit.
Because the picture session with the {couples} wrapped up, Hockey Huskies of yore glided onto
the ice for the alumni recreation marking a century of Michigan Tech Hockey. Kathy Wassberg watched from the bleachers with a smile, pointing to goalie Darcy Way warming up close to his internet. Nobody from Kathy’s time was on the ice, however acquainted names
and faces transcend class years. As soon as a Husky, at all times a Husky.
Michigan Technological College is a public analysis college based in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is residence to greater than 7,000 college students from 55 nations world wide. Constantly ranked among the many greatest universities within the nation for return on funding, the College gives greater than 125 undergraduate and graduate diploma packages in science and expertise, engineering, computing, forestry, enterprise and economics, well being professions, humanities, arithmetic, social sciences, and the humanities. The agricultural campus is located simply miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Higher Peninsula, providing year-round alternatives for outside journey.
