For the women’s ice hockey program to truly reap the benefits of being a successful Division I team, its players must have access to a Division I-caliber facility.

But the program is currently restricted to the Tennity Ice Pavilion, which consists of two sheets of ice that are shared between the ice hockey team, club teams and the Syracuse community. The building lacks sufficient seating, is too cold for spectators and people often skate on the smaller studio rink during hockey games.

These problems reflect poorly on the university and are unfair to its ice hockey team. The Department of Recreation Services should make the short-term needs of the ice hockey team a priority. Example of these needs include upgrading the seating and increasing the temperature in the viewing areas for spectators.

While the short-term needs should be addressed immediately, long-term planning for the construction of a new complex should begin as well. The new facility should be owned and operated by SU Athletics, rather than the Department of Recreation Services, as is the case with Tennity Ice Pavilion.

At this time, Tennity only seats 350 people on metal bleachers — the lowest seating capacity in College Hockey America, an NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey conference. Concessions aren’t available and the building is sometimes so cold that spectators leave the building for several minutes at a time during sporting events to warm up.

A new facility would allow the ice hockey team to have its own practice space under SU Athletics, but should still maintain a community-friendly atmosphere. In order to maintain the community benefits offered by Tennity, the new facility should offer public skating opportunities and be used year-round, even when the ice hockey team isn’t using it.

The current state of the Tennity Ice Pavilion is a blemish for a high-powered athletics team. But the long-term move to a better, larger facility would provide players with a rink to call their own, help maintain a positive relationship with the Syracuse community and ultimately raise the profile of the women’s ice hockey program.

Published on October 1, 2015 at 12:16 am

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