Give Us An Assist Logo-Cropped

WESTFIELD STATE HOCKEY LOCKER ROOM PROJECT & CAMPAIGN

Westfield State Athletics has announced a campaign to outfit a new hockey locker room for the Owls’ varsity program.

Westfield State recently reached a license agreement with Amelia Park Arena in Westfield for a dedicated locker room for the Owls’ varsity ice hockey program.

“This is a great step forward for our men’s ice hockey program,” said Westfield State Athletic Director Richard Lenfest, Jr.  “Since we returned the program to varsity status in 2008, a lot has changed in intercollegiate ice hockey and having a dedicated space for the team had become a priority.”

“It has been a long time coming”, said Kevin Chrisanthopoulos, President of the Board of Trustees for Amelia Park Ice Arena. “Our facility has always had a great relationship with WSU athletic programs, and this partnership further solidifies that relationship and finally provides their varsity hockey program with a dedicated locker room. I’m proud that we were able to finally make this a reality.”

Hockey Player Image

Westfield State hockey alumni banded together in the early and mid-2000’s to form the “Blueliners Club” which supported the fundraising effort which restored hockey to varsity status in 2008 after an 18-year hiatus. 

Current Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette is a 1986 graduate of Westfield State and was a four-year member of the Owls hockey team, who helped lead the first Blueliners campaign.  Laviolette has already lent his support to the new fundraising effort, recording the above video message to his fellow alumni to start the campaign.

“I can tell you, being a coach, there’s nothing like having a locker room - it’s a sense of home and a sense of identity for your team to come in and be a part of,” said Laviolette.  “It will benefit the current players and be a tremendous recruiting tool for incoming players to continue to push Westfield State hockey into an elite MASCAC team.”

“We are lucky and grateful to have Coach Laviolette in our corner as an alumnus,” said Westfield State men’s ice hockey coach Bob Miele, “and to have the support of all the alumni who have come through the program.   They know how important this is for us to continue to improve our hockey team,” said Miele, who has been the team’s head coach since 2009 after serving as an assistant coach in the team’s return season.

Full campaign press release here.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Location: Amelia Park Arena

Amelia Park Arena is located at 21 S. Broad St. in Westfield, less than three miles from the Westfield State University campus.  The main arena is a 47,000 square foot facility that includes an NHL-sized ice rink with a capacity for over 1,000 spectators for hockey, five large team rooms, three conference/party rooms, skate rental, and concessions. The facility was built in 2000 by late philanthropist Albert Ferst, in memory of his wife Amelia. Throughout their lifetimes, the Ferst’s made it a priority to give back to the community, especially the youth, in providing positive opportunities.

Timeline: Project Completion by Summer 2021

The Owls will take occupancy of the team locker room for the 2020-21 season, once construction is complete on the new locker room five at Amelia Park.  Westfield State hopes to complete improvements in the room in the summer of 2021.

How to Support the Campaign

For more information on the locker room project, or how to contribute to the campaign, please contact Dave Caspole, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at 413-572-5433 or dcaspole@westfield.ma.edu  or Major Gifts Officer Marnie Dacko at 413-572-8648 or mdacko@westfield.ma.edu.

Hockey Project Sketch Layout