The second-biggest crowd in Northern Michigan Black Bears franchise history, 503 fans, came to Little Bear East Ice Arena Saturday, February 19, to pay tribute to a man called the community’s “go-to guy.”

Chipper Huskey, one of the Black Bears’ founding owners, lost his life in a work accident June 29, 2004.

“He was a devoted family man who loved assisting and creating opportunities for our St. Ignace youth,” said LaSalle Principal Michael Springsteen in a statement read during the ceremony. “A challenge for all of us is to be as dedicated to helping others as Chipper was to this community.”

Those gathered on the ice during the Chipper Huskey tribute at Little Bear East Saturday, February 19, include (from left): Black Bears owners Harriet and Vaughn McGraw; Chipper’s son and Black Bears player, Tyler; his mother, Jean Huskey; his sister, Pam Huskey Sutton; his mother-in-law, Evelyn Corp; his wife, Margaret Huskey; his daughter, Krista, and Black Bears owner Mark Mercer. Mr. Springsteen also spoke of Chipper Huskey’s love of hockey, his being the “music man” for the fans, and his service to the community in general. The family, he said, are appreciative of the Black Bears owner’s efforts to keep the team in St. Ignace and of the families who have hosted the hockey players in their homes.

The ceremony took place after the first period of the Black Bears-Abitibi game, which ended in a 1-1 tie (see companion story), and saw the following individuals take to the ice in front of the fans: Black Bears owners Harriet and Vaughn McGraw, and Mark Mercer, and six members of Mr. Huskey’s family: his son and Black Bears player, Tyler, his mother, Jean Huskey, his sister, Pam Huskey-Sutton, his mother-in-law, Evelyn Corp, his wife, Margaret Huskey, and his daughter, Krista Huskey.

A $2,000 check was presented by Dr. Mercer, on behalf of the Black Bears’ owners, to the Huskey family as a contribution to the new Chipper Huskey Youth Hockey Memorial Fund.

A banner honoring Mr. Huskey was unfurled from the press box, while the song “To Where You Are,” written by Josh Groban, but recorded by Mr. and Mrs. Huskey’s nephew, Barry Nayback, was played.