Things we love about Illinois: Ice Arena

One of our favorite things about our favorite institution of higher education.

University of Illinois ice arena. (Photo by L. Brian Stauffer/UI Archives)
One of our favorite things about our favorite institution of higher education.

Mary Timmins

Ice Arena

While awaiting refurbishment or possible replacement, the Ice Arena still cuts a grand old figure on campus. Arched brick walls that date back to 1931 enclose a frozen oval, home to stick-and-puck club hockey, freestyle lessons, and public sessions at lunchtime and on weekends. Here, Bonnie Blair trained for her extraordinary series of speed-skating gold victories in the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Olympics. Here, also, is where Santa joins the holiday Moonlight Skates, an annual ice show in which little girls twinkle.

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Nostalgia