The ice was prepped and skaters were anxious to try out the new rink. The Maryville University Hockey Center, home of Maryville’s Saints Hockey, officially opened in August.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Maryville University Hockey Center, and help bring this dream to reality for the Chesterfield Valley community,” said president Mark Lombardi, PhD. “The Saints hockey teams now have a state-of-the-art facility where they can train and compete, and we are also providing a space for future generations of youth players to grow and develop.”

Development for the Hockey Center began last fall, with construction completed in early August. The 84,000-square-foot facility features two NHL-sized rinks, seating for approximately 2,000 spectators, a second-floor viewing platform, locker rooms, team meeting rooms and offices.

Maryville University is the largest leaseholder of the facility, which is owned and operated by the Chesterfield Hockey Association. The University was instrumental in helping the project come to fruition and will help with the sustainability of the facility because of its use of ice during non-peak hours.

“The new Maryville University Hockey Center is a phenomenal facility that matches the exponential growth of Maryville’s hockey programs,” said John Hogan, director of hockey operations at Maryville University. “Our student-athletes are now able to experience a once-in-a-lifetime college hockey experience. We look forward to making Maryville hockey a household name in the college hockey world.”