Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 10/07/2026 04:21:00

Opened in October 2018 to replace the 90-year-old Rutherford Rink, Merlis Belsher Place is a $51 million, 120,000-square-foot multi-sport facility at 2010 College Drive on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon. Named for alumnus and philanthropist Merlis Belsher, whose $12.25 million gift was the largest single donation from an alumnus in university history, the arena seats 2,700 for ice hockey and can accommodate up to 3,700 with floor seating for concerts and special events. The facility is home to the Saskatchewan Huskies men's and women's ice hockey teams, the Saskatoon Contacts and Saskatoon Stars of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association, and as of 2026, the Saskatoon Mamba of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The building includes two full-size ice surfaces -- a 2,700-seat spectator rink and a community NHL-size pad -- plus the Ron and Jane Graham Gymnasiums, two NBA-sized basketball courts used by Huskie basketball and soccer teams. Amenities include luxury boxes, club seats, a jumbotron video screen, a dozen dressing rooms for community groups and teams, dedicated spaces for alumni, officials, and physiotherapy services, and Campus Recreation facilities. The Saskatchewan Huskies women's team hosted the first game in the arena's history on October 5, 2018, and the building has since become a centerpiece of campus and community life. Located just south of the university's Field House, Merlis Belsher Place guarantees 1,500 hours of annual ice time for the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association, directly addressing a long-standing shortage of rink access in the city. Free parking is available on campus, and the venue is accessible from College Drive and Circle Drive.