I have paced off the floor length of Gampel Pavilion,  and it is
approximately 225 ft. long.   That means that if the lower level seating
were retracted for hockey,  that an ice surface would fit  --  in theory.
  But anyone who thinks that ice might eventually go into Gampel is just a
few bricks shy of a full load.   There is a very good reason why Gampel
doesn't have ice,  and it's called Athletic Department politics.   And for
the same reason (and many others as well) UConn and the state of CT just
aren't going to build anything for hockey that costs more than a (very) few
million.   In fact,  my guess is that if Bruce Marshall had not come along
and turned the program around a few years ago,  that UConn would have killed
hockey off in the name of gender equity.
 
     But if UConn wanted to go D-1,  they could do so tomorrow.   The Civic
Center holds 15,500,  and basketball already plays there half the time now.
  All the hockey team really needs is a modern practice facility.   It would
be a lot more desirable though,  IMHO,  to play home games on campus.
 
     -- Dick Tuthill
 
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