Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
Harold Alfond has pledged a challenge grant of $1.25 million to help fund the addition and renovations to the sports arena that already bears his name. It is part of the $3.5 million project that will be named for late University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh.
The plan was announced Friday afternoon in a press conference, held by university officials, with Walsh’s wife in attendance. The major expansion of Alfond Arena will create space for locker rooms, hockey staff offices, a weight room for varsity hockey players and meeting and lounge space. The expansion will be named the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center at Alfond Arena.
Alfond said he will match the first $1.25 million raised, dollar for dollar.
“I join Harold to have people step up to the plate,” UMaine President Peter S. Hoff said.
“The Shawn Walsh Hockey Center is a fitting tribute to a great person and great coach,” UMaine Vice President for Advancement Jeff Mills said. “It’s particularly fitting that [Alfond] is giving this gift at this time in the program, when we are ranked No. 1 in the country. It will be great to have what will be a No. 1 facility for this program.”
Hoff said he was extremely pleased and proud to be involved in announcing the gift. He said it was not a coincidence that the successes of the athletic teams at UMaine followed the completion of the sports complexes Alfond helped create, including the success of the football program following its new stadium, and two national championships in 1993 and 1999 by the men’s hockey team.
“I can’t overstate the significance of Mr. Alfond’s generosity to the university’s athletic programs,” Hoff said.
The renovation and addition will be added on to the entrance and front area of the existing arena, Mills said.
“We need your support for the hockey team that has never let us down in their whole history,” Hoff said. “And now it’s time for us to repay their hard work and their dedication by driving in with training and preparation facilities that will allow them to stay atop the hockey world.”
The Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will not only be used for the men’s ice hockey team, but also the women’s ice hockey team. UMaine hockey coach Tim Whitehead said the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will elevate recruiting for both the men’s and women’s ice hockey programs.
“It is pretty clear that it will elevate our program and elevate the women’s hockey program in just about every area, and most significantly in the experience they have, but not only the student athletes, but the fans,” Whitehead said.
Whitehead said he believes the fundraising will go quickly.
“If you’re not going to give to a Shawn Walsh Hockey Center, what are you going to give to?” Whitehead said.
“Not only are we going to meet, but exceed Mr. Alfond’s challenge,” interim director of athletics Paul Bubb said.
Walsh’s wife, Lynn Walsh, said that her husband was always looking forward to and anticipating the next step.
After the 1999 national championship, “Shawn had his eye set on taking the next step in solidifying Maine hockey,” Mrs. Walsh said. “I can’t tell you how pleased he would be, for seeing the step towards his goal. He would be honored for his name to be next to Harold’s at the Alfond Arena.”
“The single ingredient our program needs to maintain our position as one of the top 10 programs in the country is to improve our physical plant,” coach Walsh said in 2001. “We don’t need a new rink, we have our own ‘Fenway Park’ and it’s the perfect setting for our campus. We do need to improve the training room, weight room, locker rooms and equipment areas for both [the men's] and women’s teams. A third national championship is certainly not out of reach.”
