BRUNSWICK, Maine - The NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Committee has selected Lewiston as the site for the 2014 championship finals. Hosted by Bowdoin, the semifinals and final will take place at Androscoggin Bank Colisée on March 21-22, 2014.
"We are excited to bring the championship to Lewiston, Maine," said Don Olson, chair of the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Committee and director of athletics at The College of St. Scholastica.
The 2014 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship will be the first time the finals have ever been held in Maine. The bid for the event was jointly submitted by Bowdoin and the Maine Sports Commission.
"Ice hockey is a part of our sporting heritage here in Maine, especially in the Lewiston-Auburn area where the Colisee has a long-standing tradition," said Kerry Hoey, the Executive Director of the Maine Sports Commission. "We recognize the significance of hosting the event and the tremendous impact it will have on the area's storied hockey industry as well as the local economy, and are honored to welcome the best hockey teams in the country."
The Androscoggin Bank Colisée, formerly the Central Maine Civic Center and Lewiston Colisée, was built in 1958 and has undergone a $4-million renovation since 2005. The venue has a rich sporting tradition that includes the famous 1965 Clay Heavyweight Championship rematch between Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston. The arena was also home to the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League and, more recently, the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Colisée seats 3,677 for ice hockey, surpassing the NCAA's minimum of 3,000 for championship sites. Bowdoin's home rink, Sidney J. Watson Arena, has a capacity of 2,400.
"The facility is newly-renovated and will provide an outstanding student-athlete experience," said Olson. "In addition, Lewiston is located within driving distance of a majority of our East Region membership which should help with attendance. Our committee has great confidence that Bowdoin College will do an outstanding job as the host institution."
"Bowdoin is proud to be working with the Maine Sports Commission to bring the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship to Maine," said Bowdoin Interim Director of Athletics Tim Ryan. "Few places can match the passion for the sport of ice hockey that Maine possesses, and we're looking forward to hosting a first-class event in this vibrant hockey community."
This will mark the second time that Bowdoin has hosted the finals round competition of an NCAA Championship as the school previously hosted the 1989 Division III Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.
--- will take place at Androscoggin Bank Colisée on March 21-22, 2014.