University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Hockey Holds Topping-Off Ceremony for New Arena
12/10/2021 2:50:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey, Women's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – Another step in the construction of the new UConn Hockey Arena took place on Friday morning with an official "Topping-Off Ceremony" as the final steel beam was put in place.
UConn Director of Athletics David Benedict was joined by University Interim President Dr. Andre Agwunobi and head coaches Mike Cavanaugh and Chris MacKenzie at the construction site for an official signing of the beam before it was raised to cap off the steel construction on the project.
"It's another great day at UConn," stated Benedict. "Last weekend we unveiled a monument to honor our Olympians and today we are here to 'top-off' the new hockey arena. This facility is the vision of a lot of people. Our coaches are a big part of that. They have put in a lot of time and effort and I am happy for them and their student-athletes as they see this now coming to life."
The project officially got underway this past May with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site. The new 2,600-seat arena, is located adjacent to the current Freitas Ice Arena in the Athletics District on Jim Calhoun Way. In the bowl, the seating will consist of 80% with seatbacks and 20% on benches. The team facilities will include full Division I training and support for the women's and men's teams; team lounges; dry locker area and locker rooms with video displays; locker rooms for the visiting teams; training space with a hydrotherapy area; strength and conditioning room; and other areas such as coaches' offices, a press box, dining area, ice plant and spaces for support services.
The new facility will also have a large center-hung display scoreboard with perimeter ribbon boards and will be designed to create an outstanding experience for fans with state-of-the-art sound and lighting features.
Fans will also be able to access an ice-level lounge behind the home goaltender with café table seating and food and beverage service. A student-only standing room deck will also be situated behind the opposing goaltender. The final design will also include aspects to make the facility as efficient as possible in energy and water use, in keeping with the University's commitment to make its capital projects as environmentally friendly as possible.
The new 97,300-square-foot facility will also meet all NCAA Division I ice hockey requirements and all Hockey East regulations, which the Freitas Ice Forum does not. With that in mind, Hockey East gave UConn some leeway when it allowed the University to join the conference for men's hockey despite needing time to provide an appropriate facility.
Director of Athletics David Benedict
"I can't tell you how meaningful and impactful this facility will be for not only our two hockey programs but for the university as a whole. The amount of people who have been on our campus recently, that have had a chance to see the new facilities and understand what we are constructing now ith the hockey facility, it has a massive impact not only locally, but regionally and nationally."
Interim President Dr. Andre Agwunobi
"Ultimately, we are here today to make sure that our world class student-athletes have world class facilities that will enable them to reach their full potential. As we watch this facility take shape, I am grateful to all of UConn Nation for their unwavering generosity and commitment to our student-athletes both now and for years to come. Thank you for your continued support and GO HUSKIES!"
Head Women's Coach Chris MacKenzie
"Back at the groundbreaking ceremony, I started my speech by asking if this was really happening. I can safely say, yeah. Yeah, it is really happening. To our supporters and doners who are behind this project, thank you so much. It is really becoming a reality."
Head Men's Coach Mike Cavanaugh
"I had an old coach that used to say, any idiot can tear a building down but it takes truly unique and special people to build one. If you look at everyone here today, from Turner Construction, to the architecture firm, to the designers, to the fundraiser, to the administration to the student-athletes, we have some truly unique and special people here building a first class facility."
