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Former Tech Star Elected to Hall of Fame
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JLUY 29, 2004 -- Paul Coppo, one of the most outstanding players to ever don a Michigan Tech hockey uniform, will officially be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 7, 2004 at RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn.
Coppo will be inducted along with Phil Housley of South St. Paul, Minnesota; Mike Ilitch, of Detroit, Michigan; and Mark Johnson, from Minneapolis, Minnesota
One of the top American-born centermen of his generation, Coppo played hockey for Michigan Tech from 1956-60. He led the team in scoring during his junior and senior years, and ended his career with a total of 134 points on 59 goals and 75 assists. During the 1958-59 season, he played center on a line that scored a school-record 60 goals, and his 31 assists for the year tied a Huskies record at the time.
Coppo received All-America honorable mention recognition as a junior in 1959. The following year, he helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA finals, a season in which he gained First Team All-America laurels and NCAA All-Tournament Team honors. In addition, Coppo had only six penalties during his collegiate career, which spanned 85 games over four years.
Inducted on August 3, 1985, into Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame, he still ranks as one of the top 20 all-time scorers in the ice hockey program's history.
Coppo was the leading scorer for the 1962 U.S. Men's National Team that won the bronze medal with a 5-2-0 record in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He competed and led his team in scoring in the 1964 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria as the U.S. placed fifth. Coppo also represented the United States at the 1965, 1966 and 1969 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championships.
He played 15 years, 11 as a player and 4 as a player/coach, for the Green Bay Bobcats in the United States Hockey League. At Green Bay, Coppo recorded 559 points (231-328) and was the team's all-time leading scorer. He recorded only 164 penalty minutes in his 15 years as a Bobcat. Coppo served as a youth hockey coach in DePere, Wisconsin for over a decade. Coppo and his wife, Carol, reside in DePere and raised two children, Christine and John. |
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