Release courtesy of Wes Frahm, Director of Athletic Communications and Marketing, Michigan Technological University
HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Michigan Tech will induct
six individuals and, for the first time, a team into its Sports
Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies scheduled for Friday, Oct.
12.
The induction class of 2012 includes former women’s
basketball player Allison Bailey, former football player Kurt
Coduti, former men’s basketball player Sandy Johnson,
longtime hockey historian and supporter Paul Kerttu, former
football player Robert Peterson and former hockey player Bill
Steele.
The team being inducted is the 1961-62 men’s ice
hockey team which won the 1962 NCAA National Championship.
The first team in school history to win a national championship
will be honored on the 50th anniversary of its title.
The ‘62 Huskies put together a 29-3-0 overall record and won
the WCHA crown with a 17-3-0 mark. The squad won 20 straight games
to close out the year including wins over St. Lawrence (6-1) and
Clarkson (7-1) in the national semifinals and championship held in
Utica, N.Y.
The team and six inductees will join the 193 members already in
the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame, which was started in
1985.
Below is a brief biography of each of the individual
inductees.
Allison Bailey (Bottoms)
Bailey was one of the best women’s basketball players in
Michigan Tech history. The Ewen, Mich., native scored 1,561 points
in 122 career games for the Huskies between 1997-2001, finishing
her career as the school’s second-highest scorer. Bailey
earned All-America Honorable Mention honors in 1999-2000, a season
where she set school records for free throw attempts (167) and
makes (137). She also earned All-GLIAC First Team honors and GLIAC
Tournament MVP accolades that year as the Huskies finished 26-4 and
hosted the NCAA Regional. In addition to scoring, Bailey’s
career numbers rank among Tech’s top 10 in rebounds
(603), field goal percentage (.507), free throw percentage (.748)
and games played (122). The Huskies compiled an impressive 98-24
record (.803 winning percentage) during her four years in
Houghton.
Kurt Coduti
Coduti, who lettered for the football team from 1989-92, was one
of the most productive quarterbacks in school history. A four-year
starter, Coduti threw for 5,297 yards and 45
touchdowns—second-most in school history upon his graduation.
The two-time All-America Honorable Mention earned Academic
All-America First Team honors in 1992. Coduti started at
quarterback all four years, setting a Michigan Tech record for
completion percentage (.587) and helping the Huskies to a 23-16
record over that span. The two-time captain led Tech to a 9-1
record his senior year in 1992, which was just the second nine-win
campaign in school history.
Sandy Johnson
Johnson lettered for the men’s basketball team from 1961-65.
He amassed 1,121 career points in 84 career games for a 13.3 points
per game average. The Lansing, Mich., native wrapped up his career
as Tech’s career-leading scorer with his 1,121 points—a
mark that stood for 16 years before it was surpassed. Johnson was a
member of the 1962-63 Tech team that amassed a 17-5 record and
became the program’s first to win a conference championship
and advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies finished third at
the NCAA Regional that season. Johnson earned All-NIC honors in
1963-64 and was Tech’s leading scorer in 1964-65. He served
as team co-captain both seasons.
Paul Kerttu
Kerttu has been a Michigan Tech hockey supporter and historian
spanning seven decades. The Detroit-area resident began following
the Huskies in the 1959-60 season and has kept a scrapbook of
Michigan Tech hockey every year since then including game summaries
and game programs from every contest. Kerttu has collected more
than 1,000 Michigan Tech game programs and 500 photos—many
autographed—of Huskies players and coaches over the years.
More than his collection, Kerttu held many other roles while
traveling to all road games between 1980-2010. He provided color
commentary on radio broadcasts for many years and helped the
coaching staffs track plus-minus, ice time and line matchups. In
addition to his volunteering, Kerttu has made significant financial
contributions to the program. The west wing of the press box at the
John MacInnes Student Ice Arena is named in Kerttu’s
honor.
Robert Peterson
Peterson earned four letters in football—two in 1941-42 and
two more in 1946-47. The Ironwood, Mich., native’s collegiate
career was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air
Corps and served as a bombardier aboard a B-24 bomber. On his
second mission over Nazi Germany, his plane was shot down and he
was captured. Peterson spent 18 months in a German POW camp before
returning home. He re-enrolled at Michigan Tech under the GI bill
and played two more years for the Huskies. On the gridiron,
Peterson served as the team’s quarterback, which at the time
included all passing, kicking and punting. He played defense as
well, serving as team captain of the 1946 team. After graduation,
Peterson remained involved in Tech athletics. He helped organize
hospitality for fans and alumni at Great Lakes Invitational hockey
tournaments in Detroit and was involved in restarting the Detroit
chapter of Michigan Tech Alumni.
Bill Steele
Steele starred on the ice from 1971-75, helping the Huskies to a
WCHA title in 1974 and a national championship in 1975. The forward
played in 145 career games and posted 65 goals and 86 assists for
151 career points. He finished his career ranked fourth on
Tech’s all-time scoring list. The Toronto, Ont., native
earned All-WCHA Honorable Mention in 1974-75. Steele, who served as
assistant captain on the national championship team, helped the
Huskies to a 100-49-5 record over his four years. He scored several
of the most notable goals in school history including the final
goal at Dee Stadium on Dec. 4, 1971; the overtime game winner in
the 1974 national semifinal win over Harvard and the opening goal
of the 1975 national championship game win over Minnesota. Steele
returned to Michigan Tech and served as its director of athletic
development from 2001-05 and is credited with creating the popular
VIP Tailgate parties at Michigan Tech home football games.
