Arena John Glas Fieldhouse

BSU/John S. Glas Fieldhouse

The John S. Glas Fieldhouse- otherwise known as "The Glas"- is

located on the Bemidji State University campus and lies at the

corner of Bemidji Avenue and 19th Street North in Bemidji

Minnesota. The Fieldhouse is a 2,399 bleacher style seat arena

that is the home ice to the Bemidji State University Beavers

(Men's CHA) team and (Women's WCHA) ice hockey teams. The

John Glas Arena is part of a larger fieldhouse which contains the

BSU Gymnasium and other athletic facilities called the BSU

Physical Education complex.

Final plans for the $970,000 Fieldhouse expansion were laid in the mid-1960s under the direction of then-BSU President: Dr. Harry Bangsberg, and Athletics Director: Dr. Vic Weber. The Minnesota Legislature granted authority to built the expansion in 1965. The BSU Men's team opened for game play on November 17, 1967, and the Fieldhouse expansion was dedicated on Feb. 10, 1968. From the time of its completion until Oct. 1, 1975, BSU’s hockey facility held the name of BSU Fieldhouse. But it was renamed in honor of the retiring John S. Glas, the acting president of Bemidji State University at the time of the arena’s completion. Glas arrived in Bemidji in 1939 to serve as business manager under then-BSU President Charles R. Sattgast and would remain with BSU for 36 years. When Glas arrived, the campus consisted of just two buildings - Deputy and Stanford halls - which served as the educational environment for the institution’s 340 students. In 1957, Glas was appointed Assistant to the President, and in 1968 he was elevated to Vice President for Administrative Affairs and later earned the title Vice President Emeritus. The decision to rename the Fieldhouse was recommended by the Men’s Physical Education Department. The Long Range Planning Committee endorsed the change, and President Dr. R.D. Decker submitted a request to the State University Board that it officially name the Fieldhouse for Glas, “In recognition of his long and dedicated service to Bemidji State University.”

In addition to its role as BSU’s home facility for both men’s and women’s ice hockey, the Glas Fieldhouse also plays a prominent role in a variety of events for the BSU and Bemidji communities. High school contests and area youth figure skating shows occur while the ice is in place, while when the ice is removed the building plays host to events varying from the annual Jaycees Home, Sport and Travel Show to BSU’s commencement ceremonies.

In the 35 seasons since being dedicated, BSU has developed

one of the most-secure home-ice advantages in college

hockey. Simply put, BSU has dominated on its home ice. The

Beavers have posted a lopsided winning record in over 550

games played at John Glas Fieldhouse, and have had a losing

home-ice record just once during the life of the arena. Eleven

times in its history BSU has assembled unbeaten streaks of 10

or more games in the building, while averaging nearly six

goals per game. In total, BSU has out-scored its opposition by

more than 1,600 goals. Only adding to Bemidji State’s stellar

winning tradition at John Glas Fieldhouse are the five National

Championships BSU has won on its home ice. The Beavers

have competed for a National title six times on its home ice,

bringing home an NAIA Championship in 1971 and four NCAA Division II Championships in 1984, 1986, 1993 and 1997.

In 2008 Governor Tim Pawlenty passed a budget bill as initially introduced in the state's 85th Legislative Session for 2007-2008 that Pawlenty decided to use his line-item veto authority rather than taking down an entire $925 million bonding bill. Pawlenty let $717 million worth of projects stand, including funding for four ice arena construction projects and facility repairs are included in the bonding bill that Governor Pawlenty signed on April 9 in Brown Hall auditorium at the SCSU campus. The four beneficiaries of this bill include: Renovation and improvement of the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, University of Minnesota Duluth and Crookston to receive new home ice rink(s), and a new modern sized D1 rink to be constructed for Bemidji State University. Governor Tim Pawlenty has already been given the nickname -in Minnesota hockey circles- as the "Rinks Governor" for his efforts to these communities that will long surpass his tenure as Governor in Minnesota. When the construction is completed the Beaver ice hockey teams are due to move into the newly constructed Bemidji Regional Events Center in 2010. Will the John Glas Fieldhouse name carry over to the new arena? Time will tell. One thing that will remain, is the memories and winning tradition that have been compiled over the years in this now vintage arena.

Source in Part: BemidjiState.edu

Banners of the National Championships adorn the ceiling by the player/team locker-rooms

Retired Jersey Numbers in BSU Men's Hockey