UConn's Toscano Family Ice Forum Officially Opens

STORRS, CT — The University of Connecticut's on-campus hockey arena has officially opened.

What school officials called "the final step in the construction process," the officials ribbon-cutting ceremony was staged Thursday evening for the new Toscano Family Ice Forum.

UConn Director of Athletics David Benedict was joined by Gov. Ned Lamont, UConn President Radenka Maric, head coaches Mike Cavanaugh and Chris MacKenzie and UConn Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dan Toscano on the concourse of the 2,600-seat arena overlooking center ice.

"To Husky hockey fans everywhere, this building gives us such incredible pride," Lamont said. "I just had an amazing tour of this facility and championships start right here. Sports is about teamwork and about being together. We have gone through a tough couple of years, and this building is about community and what this team means to our state, and what the teammates mean for each other."

The new facility includes full Division I training and support for the women's and men's teams as well as team lounges, dry locker area and locker rooms with video displays, locker rooms for visiting teams, training space with a hydrotherapy area, a strength and conditioning room and other areas like coaches offices, a press box and a large center-hung display scoreboard with perimeter ribbon boards that will be designed to create an "outstanding experience for fans."

Said Benedict, "The weather stinks outside but it is a wonderful and beautiful day here in Storrs. UConn has never shied away from competition. We want to be nationally recognized and compete on the biggest stage and that opportunity is in front of us now with this facility and Hockey East."

The UConn women were to open game play at the Toscano Family Ice Forum Friday followed by a men's and women's doubleheader Saturday.