UMaine celebrates opening of recent discipline hockey advanced
ORONO, Maine — Not even the wet skies might dampen the keenness of the tons of of people that turned out for the dedication of the brand new College of Maine discipline hockey facility in Orono on Friday afternoon.
Sen. Susan Collins was the headline speaker within the UMaine discipline home after head discipline hockey coach Josette Babineau and staff captain Hannah Abbott from Portland minimize the ribbon in the course of the sector.
The occasion was moved inside as a result of thunderstorms and rain had been anticipated.
Jeff Mills, president and CEO of the College of Maine Basis, was the emcee, and different audio system included UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, UMaine senior midfielder Bhreagh Kennedy from Skowhegan, UMaine Athletic Director Jude Killy and Maine Sports activities Corridor of Famer and former UMaine discipline hockey star Amy Corbett Bernatchez.
A number of highschool discipline hockey groups, together with defending Class A state champ Skowhegan, Belfast, Brewer, Previous City and John Bapst of Bangor, had been available for the festivities whereas additionally being scheduled to play on the brand new synthetic turf discipline.
“The day was unbelievable,” Babineau stated after the occasion. “Simply to have all the supporters right here to have the ability to share the power with us. From the [high school] gamers in our state which are right here at this time, and for them to be on the sector and see their reactions and, clearly, the response of our staff … they had been very excited for the day at this time.”
Babineau, who’s in her seventeenth season at UMaine, added that to “see the development of this system and to see the brand new facility, which has surpassed my expectations, makes me assume that we actually can attempt to hold pushing this system ahead.”
The audio system expressed their gratitude for everybody concerned within the multimillion-dollar improve to the power, particularly the Harold Alfond Basis, which donated a $90 million reward for upgrades to all UMaine athletic services.
The brand new softball discipline was unveiled this spring.
“That is one other instance of the place an funding within the college not solely helps entice new college students from Maine, New England and everywhere in the world, it additionally provides a lift to the native economic system,” stated Sen. Collins, noting that the architects and several other of the contractors who had been concerned in constructing the power had been native.
“This can even shine on the really extraordinary discipline hockey program that the college has. That is all excellent news, any means you have a look at it. It’s thrilling to be right here at this time,” Collins stated.
Babineau thanked the athletic administration for prioritizing the development of the brand new advanced and “making our dream facility a actuality.”
Killy stated the college has momentum proper now.
“Our aim is to be one of many high 5 Division I athletic packages in New England and this facility will assist us accomplish that,” Killy stated.
“The message we would like you all to listen to by way of this venue and the opposite fields we’re constructing is we’re open for enterprise,” Killy stated. “If you happen to play discipline hockey, we would like you to come back use the sector. If you wish to come see the College of Maine, come swing by the sector.”
Abbott stated the time had come to get a brand new discipline, and this can allow this system to take a giant step ahead and make this system even stronger sooner or later.
She and Kennedy each expressed their gratitude to all concerned for offering them with what Abbott described because the “greatest facility in New England.”
Corbett-Bernatchez traced the historical past of this system starting in 1923 — like all the ladies’s packages, it was dropped to intramural standing in 1930 however restored to varsity standing due to Title IX in 1972. And he or she predicted that the sector hockey staff will turn into a “nationwide powerhouse” within the subsequent few years.
UMaine received the America East Event for the primary time two years in the past and earned its first journey to the NCAA Event. It was the highest seed final season however bought upset by Stanford within the semifinals.
UMaine will play its first recreation on the brand new discipline, an exhibition contest, on Saturday at 1 p.m. towards Merrimack School.
The common season opener can be held on Friday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m., when Boston School visits Orono.
