UNH Ice Rink

The UNH Ice Rink was the first ice surface operated by the University of New Hampshire for its ice hockey program. The facility was a temporary, open-air ice rink that was subject to weather conditions and could only be used for part of the year.

UNH Ice Rink

Location	124 Main St. Durham, New Hampshire, USA, 03824
Owner	University of New Hampshire
Operator	University of New Hampshire
Construction
Opened	January 1926
Closed	February 1955
Demolished	yes
Tenants
New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey

History

In 1924, football coach Hank Swasey announced the formation of an ice hockey team for UNH that would begin play that year. That team played just 4 games but, without a home venue, were forced to travel for each match. The following year, plans for an on-campus rink were finalized and the UNH Ice Rink was erected behind New Hampshire Hall on Main street. The Wildcats were able to use their rink more often than most due to their typically cold winters, however, they were affected by adverse weather conditions like snow and rain that could render the ice surface unusable. In order to protect the rink, it was moved to Lewis Field on the opposite side of Main street in 1939 to help protect it from inclement weather. Despite these issues, the ice hockey team continued to call the Rink home for nearly 30 years. It wasn't until a series of warm winter in the late 1940s that plans were put in place for a more suitable home for the program. In the mid-50s, alumnus Harry C. Batchelder donated equipment to build the first artificial rink for the program. The new rink was completed in February 1955, allowing the UNH Ice Rink to be taken down for the last time.