University Will Construct Open Hockey Rink

An outdoor hockey rink will be built beside Dillon Field House, Provost Buck announced yesterday. Construction will begin immediately, and completion is expected well before the start of the next hockey season.

The surprise announcement climaxed a three-year campaign for a University arena, and was prompted by the recent sale of the Boston Arena to a New York Business group.

When completed, the rink will be used for freshman and varsity hockey practices, House league games, and individual skating, Coach Cooney Welland said last night. Informal varsity games may also be scheduled, he added.

Regular intercollegiate games will be played "on commercial ice," Thomas D. Bolles, director of athletics, said. Use of the Boston Arena depends on its purchase by the Metropolitan District Commission, approved last week.

Uncovered, No Seating

Present plans call for an uncovered rink with no seating. Cost for this initial structure is unofficially estimated at $200,000. "I am hopeful that interested alumni will give us funds to enclose the rink," Bolles said, however.

Previous estimates of the cost of a roofed structure ranged from $450,000 to $600,000.

Funds for the rink will come mainly from the Allston Burr bequest, previously allocated for construction of a new varsity club, now cancelled.

John P. Chase '28, ex-hockey coach, began a drive for a rink in 1950 with a contribution of $1000. Alexander H. Bright '19 added $20,000 last March, just before a student committee began petitioning for the structure.

Bid Turned Down

The group, headed by George W. Chase '53, a hockey team member, collected 1800 signatures, and presented its petition to the Board of Overseers. The Corporation, which acted on the petition, declined to authorize an official drive for funds, although signers indicated their will ingnese to contribute to costs of construction.

Weiland said a rink here will certainly "bolster the hockey future here. Perhaps we can attract more hockey-minded scholars who might otherwise go elsewhere," he added.

Walter F. Greeley '53, captain of the varsity six during the past season, said: "This will certainly keep Harvard in the Pentagonal League." He pointed out that most other circuit teams have their own facilities.

Both Buck and Bolles emphasized the need of alumni assistance if the rink is to be covered. The Corporation has provided close to an $100,000 endowment for maintenance of the open structure.

There is a movement towards playing all home games in the Boston Garden. Because of the very tight schedule for use of the Garden ice, practice there would be impossible, and House hockey would be out of the question without the new rink.