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Former names | UConn Ice Arena |
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Location | Storrs, CT |
Owner | University of Connecticut |
Operator | University of Connecticut |
Capacity | 2,000 (hockey) |
Surface | 200' x 85' (ice arena) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1996 |
Opened | November 7, 1998 |
Tenants | |
UConn Huskies men's ice hockey (1998-2016, 2020-2021) UConn Huskies women's ice hockey (2000–2022) E.O. Smith/Tolland Bucks (High School) Northeast Junior Ice Dogs (Youth Hockey) |
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum is a 2,000-seat hockey rink in Storrs, Connecticut. It is the former home arena and current practice facility for the University of Connecticut women's and men's college ice hockey teams. It opened on November 7, 1998, replacing the outdoor UConn Ice Arena, which was in use since the 1960s. The Forum was constructed as part of the UCONN 2000 commitment by the State of Connecticut to help rebuild, renew, and enhance the campuses of the University of Connecticut. It was opened in time for the hockey team's elevation to Division I status. The arena was used for the 2000 MAAC Championship (won by UConn), the 2001 MAAC tournament, and the 2002 ECAC women's hockey tournament. It hosted the 2008 Hockey East Women's Tournament. The building was named for Mark E. Freitas '81, a former hockey letter winner and benefactor, on February 5, 2005.
The men's hockey team used the venue for home games until 2014 when they joined the Hockey East conference. Upon joining the conference, the team played in the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. For the duration of the 2020–21 season, the men's team reverted to using the Forum due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The women's hockey team played in the Forum until 2022. In 2023, the team moved to the 2,600-seat on-campus Toscano Family Ice Forum that also now hosts the men's team. UConn continues to use the Forum as a practice facility for the varsity teams and the home ice of its club hockey teams.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ "UConn Moving Forward to Build New On-Campus Ice Hockey Rink" (Press release). UConn Huskies. April 28, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
External links
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41°48′0″N 72°15′17″W / 41.80000°N 72.25472°W