U of S gets $12.25M contribution to kick off arena funding campaign

The University of Saskatchewan is getting a big boost to kick off their campaign to replace the “Dog House.”

The school announced Thursday morning that commerce and law graduate Merlis Belsher would be contributing $12.25 million to kick off the “Home Ice Campaign.”

The money will go towards the construction of an 1,830-seat twin-pad arena which would act as the home for both the men’s and women’s Huskies hockey teams. The arena is set to cost $41 million, expected to be collected mostly through donations to the fundraising campaign.

In honour of the massive donation, the new arena will be called “Merlis Belsher Place.”

The Huskies currently play out of Rutherford Rink, nicknamed the “Dog House.” The arena was built in 1929 and has been upgraded several times.

“It has been clear for many years that Rutherford is beyond repair,” the university said in a statement.

The new facility will also feature a double gymnasium for basketball training, twelve dressing rooms, and a two-story lobby with views of both ice surfaces.

There is no timeline on the construction of the arena.

More to come