Rutherford Rink (Saskatoon)

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The first major recreational facility on campus, “The Rink” was also the last major construction project completed before the combination of depression and war stopped all capital expansion. Designed by G.J.K. Verbeke, the rink was completed in 1929, at a cost of $47,000. Later renovations were made in 1980 and 1986.

Built on a site previously used for an open outdoor rink, construction of “The Rink” was due to student initiative. A campaign to have a closed rink facility began in 1920; by 1928, the Students Representative Council appointed a committee to look into the feasibility of the student body assuming responsibility for construction. The Board of Governors loaned SRC the funds; which the student council hoped to pay back by instituting a $3 student fee.

Although opened for use in December 1929 the rink, “already the most popular place on campus,” had its official opening on 23 January 1930, with an inter-varsity hockey game against the University of Manitoba (Saskatchewan won, 5-1). 650 attended the opening; and between 18-20,000 people used the rink during its first year of operation. The original design included “waiting rooms” on the west and east side, “primarily” for use by men and women respectively. The rink was used for general skating, “scrub,” faculty, senior men’s and girls’ varsity team hockey practices, the “fancy skating club,” children’s skating, and band practice. Speed skates were allowed, but the rink was “not responsible for injury resulting therefrom.” During general skating, “playing tag,” “cutting in,” “cracking the whip,” and “reckless disregard and abandon in speed skating” were not tolerated.

The building was renamed in honour of W.J. Rutherford, the University’s first Dean of Agriculture, whose “deep interest in everything pertaining to the well-being of his fellow citizens enabled him to render a service, not only to Agriculture and to Education, but to national affairs that has rarely been surpassed in this Province.” Rutherford’s sudden and unexpected death on 1 June 1930 was considered “a national loss.”

In recent times, there have been calls for Rutherford Rink to be replaced. Its ice surface is too small, dressing rooms cramped and the structure itself is rusting. As of 2014, there are no plans to build a new arena on the university campus.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-s-rutherford...

Another public outcry for a new arena was made in 2015.
thestarphoenix.com/sports/hockey/growing-need-for-a-new...