David S. Ingalls Rink (a.k.a. The Whale)

If there's one thing that you find in traveling around college hockey it is that no two rinks are alike. Each arena, whether old or new, large or small, urban or rural, has its own distinctive attributes. But there may be no rink in all of college hockey as distinctive as Yale's own David S. Ingalls Rink.

Renovation

The multi-million dollar renovation of Ingalls Rink was complete in 2010. Phase I included renovations to the existing press box on the home side of the rink, the addition of a new press box on the visitors' side of the rink, refurbished exit doors on the south and east elevations, and the addition of lighting in the soffit that lines the ceiling along the perimeter walkway around the rink.

The rink slab was removed and replaced with a lower slab. A new entrance to the ice was built behind the visitors' bench, near the varsity visiting team locker room. Outside the rink, a 14,000 square-foot underground addition on the Mansfield Street side houses both Yale varsity hockey teams along with lockers for other teams who use the rink.

During Phase II, the interior of the underground addition was fitted out. The men's and women's varsity locker rooms, a new strength and conditioning room and public locker rooms were included in this addition.

Phase III, included extensive work to the interior of the main building. A "hockey heritage area" was added inside the main entrance on the upper and lower levels. This area showcases Yale's hockey history dating back to the first intercollegiate hockey game in America -- Yale vs. Johns Hopkins in 1896. The lower area renovations include new bathrooms, a concession area and a renovated Schley Room for receptions.