Herb Brooks National Hockey Center Upgrades Done On Time, Under Budget at St. Cloud State

(KNSI) — The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center is ready for puck drop, and the final bill came in lower than expected.

St. Cloud State University says the renovation of its 37-year-old hockey arena wrapped up on time and under budget. The facelift carried a $12.9 million price tag when work began in March; the university now puts the final cost at $11 million.

Fans get their first look October 9th and 10th, when the Huskies men’s team hosts Michigan Tech. University and state leaders cut the ribbon on the upgrades Thursday.

The most visible change is a smaller sheet of ice. Both rinks were built to the Olympic size of 200 by 100 feet. The main rink now measures 200 by 94 feet, and the auxiliary rink was cut to the NHL standard of 195 by 85 feet. The changes bring the arena closer to today’s competition standards.

New dasher boards and spectator netting add safety for players and fans. New LED lights are expected to cut lighting energy use by 35%, and updated temperature controls could trim heating and cooling costs by up to 20%.

The biggest change is one fans will never see. Crews replaced the arena’s original ice cooling plant, which had been running since the building opened in 1989. The old system relied on R-22, a refrigerant that is no longer made and damages the ozone layer. The new ammonia-based system is designed to be more efficient and more reliable.

The job took more than 16,000 hours of on-site trade work. Elrosa-based Breitbach Construction led the project, and JLG Architects of Minneapolis handled the design. More than 98% of the construction dollars went to Minnesota companies.

The upgrades reach beyond Huskies hockey. St. John’s University and St. Cloud Youth Hockey also skate at the facility.

The work was paid for with state Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement funds, money set aside for maintaining existing buildings across the Minnesota State system. Local lawmakers, Representatives Bernie Perryman and Dan Wolgamott and Senator Aric Putnam, spoke at the event, pointing to work across party lines to secure the funding.

___