Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1512218
USICERINKS.COM NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2023 / 21 p Sacred Heart University celebrated the inaugural men's ice hockey game at Martire Family Arena on January 14, 2023. SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE, 'BOY I CAN'T WAIT TO COME TO A GAME.' OR 'HOW DO I GET TICKETS?' THAT'S THE TYPE OF REACTION WE'VE BEEN HEARING AND SEEING FROM FANS SINCE LAST JANUARY WHEN THE BUILDING OPENED." Connecticut, roughly 57 miles northeast of New York City. One thing it was lacking was an on-campus home ice arena. From 1993-2016, the NCA A Division I Pioneers' home arena was at the Milford Ice Pavilion—a 20-minute drive north from campus. In between they would use different facilities to practice, or even play at alternate arenas if they couldn't get the ice time. In 2020 that all changed. Following what looked like the emergence of the Sacred Heart Pioneers men's team, COVID-19 cut a promising season short. But it also created momentum for a new state-of- the-art arena on campus. "You're talking about a team with a history of playing in multiple venues," said Conn. "Playing in one, practicing in another. Having to move things and being nomads. "It's a dramatic change to having your own home on campus. There really hasn't been any hockey on campus or anywhere in this part of the state. So, we've got a unique opportunity here for the people from the western part of Connecticut and also New York to come see college hockey on campus." In the architectural design of Martire Family Arena, the focus was to keep the history of SHU hockey while also adding in stunning features that would make any college hockey recruit's eyes open wide. The 3,600-seat arena has 54 TV monitors, a completely branded sports performance Steve Conn, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Sacred Heart University