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SUNY Potsdam's Maxcy Hall ice arena to be closed for most of season; new ice surface, refrigeration system, glass planned

Posted 8/20/12

This artist’s rendering shows what the work on Maxcy Hall will do for the arena. POTSDAM – SUNY Potsdam has begun major renovations to its nearly 40-year-old Maxcy Hall Ice Arena. In a year-long, …

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SUNY Potsdam's Maxcy Hall ice arena to be closed for most of season; new ice surface, refrigeration system, glass planned

Posted

This artist’s rendering shows what the work on Maxcy Hall will do for the arena.

POTSDAM – SUNY Potsdam has begun major renovations to its nearly 40-year-old Maxcy Hall Ice Arena.

In a year-long, $8.7 million project, several new amenities and a brand new ice surface will b provided for the Bears, students and community members when it reopens in the fall of 2013.

“This will certainly serve as a huge boost to our own men’s and women’s intercollegiate programs, but additionally will mean extensive programming opportunities for our campus and extended Potsdam communities, certain to provide a full and enriching ice skating experience,” said SUNY Potsdam Director of Athletics Jim Zalacca.

With the changes being made, Maxcy will continue to host recreational skating, youth hockey, and both Bears hockey teams.

In early August, the contracting company Bette & Cring started work on Maxcy’s renovations. These major alterations are the first to the building since it was built in 1972. The biggest changes to the arena include a new high efficiency refrigeration system, ice surface, boards and glass, and expanded team benches. For the fans, the most important improvements include a new climate control system and new seating. Permanent individual seating will replace the lower section of bleachers, while new bleachers will be installed in the upper level. The bleachers will be retractable to allow for multipurpose use. Balcony seating areas will help to expand the fan capacity to 1,124.

New team locker rooms, coaches’ offices and a center ice player entrance are parts of the plan. A locker room for referees will also be added. The new enlarged press box will be built above the team benches, putting scorekeeping staff and media right on top the action.

Bears men’s coach Chris Bernard and women’s coach Jay Green are understandably pleased to see the project underway.

“I’m exceedingly excited about our rink renovation project and all that it can generate for the continued development of our program,” said Bernard.

Green, who served as Potsdam’s facilities director before assuming the women’s head coaching duties, agrees.

“The new look is a long awaited upgrade for the arena and will compliment all of our athletic facilities here at Potsdam,” Green said. In my opinion, we rank among the top universities in regards to overall facilities in the SUNYAC Conference.”

Due to the renovation, the Bears hockey teams are preparing for a year away from home. The men will play their home games at Massena Arena. The women will stay closer to home, moving across town to Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena.

The Bears men open up their 2012-13 campaign against Saint Michael’s College in Massena on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Potsdam’s women travel to Newport, R.I. the following day to battle Salve Regina in their season opener at 7 p.m.