Michigan Tech hockey, which this year celebrates its 75th year of existence, has a unique tradition, one that began back in 1948. Just before the start of the third period at every home game, the P.A. announcer proclaims, "And now ladies and gentleman, The Copper Country Anthem." The crowd then rises, joins arms, and sways back and forth to the MTU Pep Band playing, "The Copper Country Anthem" (which is actually the Blue Skirt Waltz). The story stems back to 1948, when Bill Cary, a student and president of Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, used it as a parody of Frankie Yankovich, a popular polka king of that era. It seems that Yankovich had just played for the Sno-Ball at Winter Carnival (which is celebrated each year, usually during the first week February on MTU's campus) earlier in the week and Cary, in protest that tyis type of music was the only kind one could hear on the radio, announced during the Saturday afternoon hockey game, "Ladies and gentlemen The Copper Country Anthem." The Huskies Pep Band began playing its slow rendition of the waltz and the crowd began to sway. It's been a tradition ever since!! If you've never seen it done, it's actually pretty cool to watch 3,500 people swaying back and forth in unison. Anyway, that's one long-time tradition at MTU. Dave Fischer, MTU SID