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Aldrich Ice Arena
The Aldrich Ice Arena located at 1850 N White Bear Ave in
Maplewood, MN is the current home of the Hill Murray
Pioneers storied high school hockey program. Aldrich Arena is
named after the late Gene Aldrich, whom pioneered the
Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament in 1944. Built
in 1962, Aldich is a classic venue, and a great building at over
46 years old. Ther arena has one regulation sheet of ice
measuring at 200 x 85 ft. and is open year round. Aldrich Arena
is Ramsey County's premier spectator ice arena. Aldrich serves
as the perfect host site for more than 100 high school hockey league and play-off games. The arena went down in history when it also hosted the first two High School Girls' Hockey State Tournaments before moving into Ridder Arena on the U of M campus. Public open skating and long-blade sessions are offered at a variety of times. Aldrich also serves as the host site for the Maplewood Figure Skating Club. The Club provides group and private skating lessons, precision line and club activities. In addition to ice activities. Aldrich Arena is the perfect facility for large group events such as craft shows, conventions, sports events, trade shows, concerts, graduations, animal
shows and much more. Back in 1995- for it's inaugural and final season-
the RHI's Minnesota Blue Ox played 12 home games at Aldrich arena.
Before the Blue Ox game action started fans were able to enjoy in-line
skating on the "concrete rink" that helped the team sell tickets for its first
and final season. Aldrich arena was utilized by the NHL's Minnesota Wild
back in January of 1998 prior to the teams move into the "comfy confines"
of the X-Cel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, when the new Minnesota
NHL squad unveiled the "Wild" team name at the arena back in 1998.
All together, Aldrich has seating capacity for over 3,400 with concert
seating available up to 4,430. Exhibit floor space is 17,000 square feet
(200' by 85'). Non-ice rentals are available from approximately mid-March
through mid-October. Upon my visit to Aldrich Arena in Maplewood it
reminded me of the old Met Center in Bloomington, MN where the North
Stars once played. Especially since the Met Center was built atop a
"man-made" hill and had a similar "box style" architecture to it. Who knows maybe the inspiration for the 1966-1967 built Met Center came from the 1962 built Aldrich arena?
Arena Lobby and Ticket Window
