Joe Rydel, Sports Editor

Ed Saugestad Arena is boasting a new look for the 2018–2019 season with many repairs to improve the look, skating surface, safety and modernness of the arena. Construction was initiated shortly following the 2017–2018 hockey season and was complete just in time for the upcoming successful season of Auggie Hockey. 

Since its opening in 1974, Ed Saugestad Arena has been a staple at Augsburg University.  According to vintagemnhockey.com, “The Ed,” as students commonly refer to it, was developed with the hope of being the host for three collegiate teams: Augsburg University, Hamline University and Macalester College. However, when Hamline moved to Oscar Johnson Arena in St. Paul and Macalester discontinued their hockey program, the Auggies were left with a state-of-the-art home of their own. At the time, Augsburg was one of the only schools in the nation that had an arena on campus with two functioning sheets of ice.

However, little has changed about the arena since its grand opening. After a nearly 35-year history, it was decided by the University that it was time to revamp the arena. Here is a look at what is new inside of “The Ed” this season:

-The floor beneath the ice was changed from sand to concrete with hopes of making the ice smoother to skate on and brighter to the eye.

-The boards surrounding the ice were replaced with brand new ones that are now painted with Auggie maroon.

-The old paintings on the walls behind the bleachers were replaced and repainted.  The new decor now says “Augsburg University” and has the updated logo throughout the arena.

There is plenty of opportunity to see the renovations at Ed Saugestad Arena. The men’s and women’s hockey teams are gearing up for a loaded home schedule this season.

When asked about the updates at the arena, hockey captain Megan Johnson said,

“I’m really excited to see all of the renovations come together. Over the past three years that I have been here, I’ve seen a lot of updates to facilities around campus. It’s really cool to see the rink getting the same love and attention.”

This article was originally published in the Nov. 9, 2018 issue.