Athletics

January 13, 2023 | UConn Athletics

Toscano Family Ice Forum Open with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The final step in the construction of the new UConn Hockey Arena took place on Thursday evening as UConn Hockey cut the ribbon and officially opened the new Toscano Family Ice Forum

Photo of delegates including Dan Toscano, President Maric, and Athletic Director David Benedict cutting the ribbon at the Toscano Family Ice Forum Ribbon Cutting ceremony

The final step in the construction of the new UConn Hockey Arena took place on Thursday evening as UConn Hockey cut the ribbon and officially opened the new Toscano Family Ice Forum.

UConn Director of Athletics David Benedict was joined by Governor Ned Lamont, University President Radenka Maric, head coaches Mike Cavanaugh and Chris MacKenzie and UConn Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dan Toscano on the concourse of Toscano Family Ice Forum overlooking center ice to officially cut the ribbon and welcome a new era of UConn Hockey.

“To Husky Hockey fans everywhere, this building gives us such incredible pride,” stated Governor Lamont. “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; team lounges, dry locker area and locker rooms with video displays; locker rooms for visiting teams; training space with a hydrotherapy area; strength and conditioning room; and other areas such as 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.

“The weather stinks outside but it is a wonderful and beautiful day here in Storrs,” stated Benedict. “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’s ice hockey team will open gameplay at Toscano Family Ice Forum Friday January 13 as they take on Merrimack College at 6pm. Following Friday’s opening performance, both the men’s and women’s programs will play in a double header on Saturday January 14. The women will kick off the afternoon as they face Vermont at 2pm followed by the men as they take on Northeastern at 7:30pm.