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Merlis Belsher Place

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Merlis Belsher Place
The arena during a hockey game in 2024
Map
Interactive map of Merlis Belsher Place
Address100 Fieldhouse Road
Saskatoon
Canada
Coordinates52°07′34″N 106°37′36″W / 52.126190°N 106.626686°W / 52.126190; -106.626686
OwnerUniversity of Saskatchewan
OperatorUSaskatchewan Athletics
CapacityIce hockey: 2,700
TypeArena
Current use
Ice hockey
Basketball
Construction
Groundbreaking2017
Opened2018; 8 years ago (2018)
Cost
C$51 million
Tenants
Website
merlisbelsherplace.ca

Merlis Belsher Place is an arena located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the current home of the Saskatchewan Huskies men's and women's U Sports ice hockey teams. It hosts the Saskatoon Contacts and Saskatoon Stars of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association and the Saskatoon Mamba of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. The university also holds its annual convocation ceremonies at the arena.

History

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In 2016, the University of Saskatchewan announced plans to build a new athletics facility to replace the 90 year-old Rutherford Arena. Originally budgeted to cost $41 million, the University sought to raise the necessary funds through its Home Ice Campaign, which sought donations and fundraising opportunities from alumni, minor hockey associations, and the City of Saskatoon. The arena was named in honour of Merlis Belsher, an alumnus of the University's College of Law, following a donation of $12.25 million to the Campaign.[1]

Construction of the facility officially began on April 28, 2017 with a ground-breaking ceremony.[2] The arena was completed in time for the beginning of the 2018–19 Huskies season, with the women's hockey team hosting the first game in the arena's history on October 5, 2018.[3] That fall, the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association also began use of the facility, with the Saskatoon Contacts and Saskatoon Stars becoming full-time tenants.[4] In 2026, the Saskatoon Mamba of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) began splitting games between SaskTel Centre, which had previously hosted all of their games, and Merlis Belsher Place.[5]

In 2019, the University of Saskatchewan announced that it was moving its annual convocation ceremonies to the facility, bringing them back to campus for the first time since the 1960s.[6]

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Merlis Belsher Place was converted into a potential field hospital as a contingency for a possible surge of patients in the city.[7] In 2021, the arena was converted into the site of the city's mass immunization clinic.[8] The arena was re-converted into a sports facility in the fall of 2021.[8]

The 2025 Canadian Open at Merlis Belsher Place

In 2023, the arena hosted an event on the Grand Slam of Curling, for the first time, the 2023 Masters.[9] In 2025, the arena hosted the Canadian Open.[10]

Merlis Belsher Place hosted the 2024 U Sports Women's Hockey Championship.[11]

Facilities

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Merlis Belsher Place was designed to replace several aging facilities at the University of Saskatchewan. As part of an agreement with the City of Saskatoon, the arena features two NHL-sized ice surfaces which can be utilized year-round and provide an added 1,500 hours of ice time for minor hockey in the city.[12] The facility also features two NBA-sized basketball courts, which are used as practice space for the University's basketball teams, as well as team rooms for the University's soccer teams and change rooms that are open for use by community groups.[13] The basketball courts are named in honour of Ron and Jane Graham, who contributed $4 million to ensure their inclusion in the new arena.[14] The university also provided input into the facility's design to ensure it was optimized for convocation ceremonies.[6]

Events hosted

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Year Event Sport
2023 Masters Curling
2024 U Sports Women's Hockey Championship Hockey
2025 Canadian Open Curling

References

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  1. ↑ Menz, Kevin (October 13, 2016). "University of Saskatchewan announces plan for new $41-million rink". CTV News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ Flaherty, Ryan; Piller, Thomas (April 28, 2017). "Merlis Belsher Place groundbreaking ceremony held at University of Saskatchewan". Global News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  3. ↑ Zary, Darren (October 6, 2018). "Wow factor: Huskies hockey makes winning debut at Merlis Belsher Place". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on July 12, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ Giles, David (June 27, 2018). "Saskatoon Stars and Contacts moving to Merlis Belsher Place". Global News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  5. ↑ Farthing, Blair; Sorokan, Keegan (February 4, 2026). "Saskatchewan Rattlers rebranded as Saskatoon Mamba". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Shewaga, James (May 10, 2019). "Convocation ceremonies back on campus". University of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ Tank, Phil (April 10, 2020). "Converting Merlis Belsher Place to Saskatoon hospital starts soon". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Piller, Thomas (August 6, 2021). "From COVID-19 shots back to slapshots, Merlis Belsher Place transforms". Global News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  9. ↑ Kruger, Brooke (December 11, 2023). "Grand Slam of curling taking over Merlis Belsher place this week". Global News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  10. ↑ Farthing, Blair (December 17, 2025). "'It's great to be back': World's top curlers in Saskatoon for Grand Slam of Curling". CTV News. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  11. ↑ Langager, Brody (March 12, 2024). "Last day of prep for USask Huskies before U Sports Women's Hockey Championship". Global News. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  12. ↑ "City boosts support for Home Ice Campaign". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  13. ↑ "About Us". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Merlis Belsher Place construction hits halfway mark". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
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