Arizona State's on-campus community ice rink named Mountain America Community Iceplex
Arizona State University announced a multi-year naming rights partnership with Mountain America Credit Union to name its new on-campus ice rink the Mountain America Community Iceplex.
The Mountain American Community Iceplex at ASU will be the practice rink and training center for the ASU men’s hockey team. The rink will also be used by ASU’s American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I women's hockey program and the three divisions for the men’s ACHA program, along with the competitive figure skating team at ASU.
“We’re so grateful to have here today Mountain America Credit Union as our naming partner for this facility,” ASU Executive Vice President, Treasurer and CFO Morgan R. Olsen said. “This is an incredible asset to our teams, our students, for the university, and the community.”
Outside of ASU, the community ice rink will hold figure skating competitions, youth hockey tournaments, public skating, and learn-to-skate programs on a 200-foot by 85-foot ice surface with a 300-person capacity.
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When ASU hockey transitioned into the NCAA as a Division I program during the 2015-16 season, ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderon was given a timeline of six years for a Division I hockey facility to be built. The program had to deal with setbacks from COVID in the last few years, but the arena’s plan received all approvals in December 2020 and has been in progress since.
Anderson, along with Olsen and ASU President Michael Crow, wanted to create a place that will not only house ASU’s hockey program, but will be beyond the university.
“We had this vision that we could do so much more for our community and advance hockey at the youth level, at the adult level, and at the club level. Our vision went beyond that, and we said, let’s do something that is even greater than that. Let’s serve our community,” Anderson said.
The multipurpose arena is expected to be ready for the 2022-23 NCAA hockey season, along with the NHL season in the fall. The Arizona Coyotes are in talks to make the Ice Den in Scottsdale its permanent practice facility and will not use the practice rink.
Reach the reporter at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com or 602-647-4122. Follow her on Twitter @jennarortiz.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State announces name of on-campus community ice rink
