The Gophers men's hockey program has another reason to be excited about showing up to Mariucci Arena this season. The players and coaches moved into their renovated locker room last weekend to mark the completion of the first phase of a $5 million update.
"Welcome to the new home of Gopher Hockey! It's officially Gophers move-in day," a post on the team's Instagram account said. The photo showcased the flashy locker room anchored by a large "M" hanging from the ceiling.
The construction lasted nearly six months and began with the players enjoying the demolition process (see below).
The renovation includes new locker rooms, training rooms, a film room, players lounge, weight room and shooting station. It is privately funded by alumni and boosters.
"Mariucci was built in '93. There have been a lot of facilities built and upgraded since that time. We need to do our upgrades, too," Lucia said after the renovations were approved last fall. He helped lead the fundraising campaign and eventually expects the rink size to be updated to NHL standards.
M.A. Mortenson is leading the project, along with the university's $166 million athletes village.
