Mariucci Arena
Encyclopedia
Mariucci Arena is the home arena for the Minnesota Golden Gophers
men's ice hockey
team of the University of Minnesota
. The arena is located on the Minneapolis campus and seats approximately 10,000 fans (9,600 in the main bowl plus club room and suite seating). The arena opened in 1993 and is named after John Mariucci
, the long time Gopher coach who is considered the "godfather of Minnesota hockey." Under the gate is a quote from Mariucci. "Through these gates walk the greatest fans in college hockey." The ice sheet is Olympic sized (100 feet by 200 feet). The women's ice hockey
team played at Mariucci from 1997 until 2002 when they moved to a smaller on campus arena known as Ridder Arena
.
Mariucci Arena has been host to prominent regional, national, and international competitions, including the 2005
and 2009
West Regional of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship
, the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament, and the 2006 World Short Track
speed skating event. Mariucci Arena also hosted the inaugural Women's Frozen Four
on March 23 and March 25, 2001.
The Minnesota State High School League
state hockey tournament holds its consolation bracket at Mariucci.
On November 6, 2004, 10,587 fans watched the Gophers complete the sweep of the arch-rival Wisconsin Badgers
, the largest crowd to watch a game at Mariucci Arena.
From 1950 to 1993 the hockey team played in the hockey arena section of Williams Arena
. That arena was renamed Mariucci Arena in 1985. People now generally refer to that as the "old" Mariucci Arena.
In 2007, Sports Illustrated on Campus named Mariucci Arena one the top ten venues in college sports. The facility was the only ice hockey arena to make the list.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
men's ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. The arena is located on the Minneapolis campus and seats approximately 10,000 fans (9,600 in the main bowl plus club room and suite seating). The arena opened in 1993 and is named after John Mariucci
John Mariucci
John Mariucci was an American ice hockey player, administrator and coach. Mariucci was born in Eveleth, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota where he played for both the hockey and football teams. He was named an All-American in hockey in 1940...
, the long time Gopher coach who is considered the "godfather of Minnesota hockey." Under the gate is a quote from Mariucci. "Through these gates walk the greatest fans in college hockey." The ice sheet is Olympic sized (100 feet by 200 feet). The women's ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team played at Mariucci from 1997 until 2002 when they moved to a smaller on campus arena known as Ridder Arena
Ridder Arena
Ridder Arena is the ice rink of the women's hockey team at the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are the only collegiate women's hockey team to have an arena built for them. The arena was opened in 2002. The arena seats about 3,400 people; included in that total are the occupants of about...
.
Mariucci Arena has been host to prominent regional, national, and international competitions, including the 2005
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 25, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 9...
and 2009
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
-Regional semifinals:-Regional final:-Northeast Regional – Manchester, New Hampshire:-Regional semifinals:-Regional final:-West Regional – Minneapolis, Minnesota:-Regional semifinals:-Regional final:...
West Regional of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship
NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship tournament determines the top men's ice hockey team in NCAA Division I and Division III. The semi-finals and finals of the Division I Championship are branded as the Frozen Four, a passing nod to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship - known...
, the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament, and the 2006 World Short Track
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
speed skating event. Mariucci Arena also hosted the inaugural Women's Frozen Four
2001 NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Women's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament involved 4 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of women's NCAA Division I college ice hockey...
on March 23 and March 25, 2001.
The Minnesota State High School League
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
state hockey tournament holds its consolation bracket at Mariucci.
On November 6, 2004, 10,587 fans watched the Gophers complete the sweep of the arch-rival Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
, the largest crowd to watch a game at Mariucci Arena.
From 1950 to 1993 the hockey team played in the hockey arena section of Williams Arena
Williams Arena
Williams Arena, located on the Twin Cities main campus of the University of Minnesota is the home of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's and women's basketball teams, and the men's and women's hockey teams until 1992, when the hockey teams received their own buildings...
. That arena was renamed Mariucci Arena in 1985. People now generally refer to that as the "old" Mariucci Arena.
In 2007, Sports Illustrated on Campus named Mariucci Arena one the top ten venues in college sports. The facility was the only ice hockey arena to make the list.