University of Minnesota Athletics
New Boards, Glass and Nets Installed at Mariucci Arena
10/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
There will be a new look to University of Minnesota men’s hockey games in 2008-09 as new boards, glass and nets have been installed at Mariucci Arena. The construction began in late August and was completed by the end of September.
The new boards and glass replace the originals at the arena, which opened in 1993. The new boards have a softer plastic cover to improve safety for the players and can also be easily disassembled to allow for a wider variety of events at the arena.
The new glass is the National Hockey League-style seamless glass, which does not have posts and allows for improved sightlines. The glass has also been raised from four to six feet along the sides of the rink and remains at eight feet high behind the goals.
Large safety nets have been installed above the glass from corner to corner behind each goal. Mariucci Arena is believed to be the last major arena in the United States to install the nets, which are already in place at all NHL and Western Collegiate Hockey Association venues. Since a young girl was killed at an NHL game in Columbus, Ohio in 2002, nets have become commonplace at all hockey arenas. The black-colored nets are considered the easiest for spectators and television cameras to see through.
The first game in the new surroundings will be played on Fri., Oct. 10 when the Gophers host the University of British Columbia in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. The first regular season game will be Sat., Oct. 18 against St. Cloud State.
