Quoted from the Minnesota Daily, 10/21/92: Publish Date: 10/21/1992 ######################################################################## By Patty Hegre Staff Reporter From his childhood perch in section 22A, Gopher hockey coach Doug Woog had only dreamed of playing in Williams Arena, which was later renamed Mariucci Arena. ``I remember skating outside all day 'til my ears were blistered, then coming here to see a game,'' Woog recalled. ``There were no pros to watch and those guys were our idols. I never dreamed that I'd be out there.'' For 42 years, Mariucci Arena has been a breeding ground for hockey talent, producing 53 Olympians, 64 professionals and 69 U.S. National Team players. In addition, 26 first-team All-Americans and two Hobey Baker Award winners are products of the tradition that has built ``Minnesota's Pride on Ice.'' ``I can still see them when I sit here,'' said Woog, an All-America center at Minnesota in 1965. ``John Mayasich and Ken Yackel, I can even see Jack McCartan making a save.'' That was in the 1950s, when an indoor rink was a luxury, when a dozen brooms did the work of one Zamboni, when jerseys were called sweaters and when John Mariucci stood behind the Gopher bench. Mariucci, ``The Godfather of Minnesota Hockey,'' is a legendary player and coach for whom the arena was renamed in 1985. The legacy of his contributions to the statewide success of hockey should live on in the new arena bearing his name. ``The Mariucci name is synonymous with good hockey in Minnesota,'' said Scott Ellison, manager of Williams and Mariucci Arenas. ``A lot of the growth in Minnesota hockey is attributed to him and the renaming of the arena reflects that.'' From its honorary name to the original wooden benches, which have been repainted over the years, the arena is a priceless collection of Minnesota hockey tradition. The arena was designed by two University graduates as a multipurpose fieldhouse and the original Williams Arena was completed in 1928 for a mere $650,000. But it wasn't until three decades later that the Gopher hockey team had an arena to call home. Since opening day on Feb. 17, 1950, when Minnesota beat Michigan State 12-1, the arena has produced a collegiate program that rivals any in the nation. The Gophers have skated to a 535-205-32 record in the arena, logged 14 Final Four appearances and brought home four national championships. Through it all, Mariucci has served Minnesota well with only a few minor calamities. Three years ago, when first-place Northern Michigan was in town, the scoreboard went on the blink. Rumor had it a few resident mice chewed through some exposed wires, causing the short-circut. When the New Century Mill building near the arena burned to the ground in 1990, hot embers ignited a box on top of Mariucci Arena. The fire burned a 20- by 20-foot area on the roof, causing an estimated $15,000 in damages. That winter, a window was left open in the women's bathroom, causing the pipes to freeze and burst. The disaster occurred shortly before a game with Wisconsin and the floors were still being mopped when the gates opened. Things have run pretty smoothly in the ``old barn'' despite a few malfunctions, but the new building will bring better sightlines, more seats and a variety of new additions. ``This is like one of the rooms in the house -- it's home to me,'' said Woog, in his eighth season with the Gophers. ``I guess that I don't realize how worn down it is in many respects, but then again, we're on the ice side.'' As part of a $41 million project, including the renovation of Williams Arena, the new Mariucci will feature individual seats, study areas, meeting rooms and additional locker rooms. Woog said the new arena was designed by hockey players and for hockey players with two goals in mind. ``When we decided on our new arena, we concentrated on an Olympic-size rink and in creating a sense of intimidation,'' Woog said. ``I think that we've accomplished both. ``Once you get inside Mariucci Arena, you're in a lion's den and it's pretty awesome on center stage. The crowd is on top of you and there's no place in the world that has closer seats. We want to bring that with us when we move.'' However, numerous state-of-the-art features can't replace the tradition and memories that haunt the eaves of Mariucci Arena. ``There's nothing like walking up those old steps into that crowded arena,'' said former Gopher Neal Broten, who was the first recipient of the Hobey Baker Award, in 1981. ``Those are such great memories that I think they'll be taking a little away with the new rink, but putting on a Minnesota jersey is a lot of pride itself.'' Senior captain Travis Richards may have said it best. ``I think it'll be more memorable to play in the last game at Mariucci than the first game in the new rink. It's an honor to finish my career here.''