The Bring Ice Home initiative aimed at funding a hockey arena so St. Olaf’s men’s and women’s teams can play on campus has raised 75 percent of the cost, a threshold allowing the school to start building this winter.

More than 125 alumni, parents and friends have committed $4.5 million in capital gifts and pledges of support for the project. The school has earmarked $1.5 million. The $8 million hockey arena, which will be located inside the Skoglund Fieldhouse, is part of St. Olaf’s “For the Hill and Beyond” comprehensive campaign that aims to help the college better reflect promises made to students to meet their financial needs, help them find their purpose and prepare them to lead productive, fulfilling and purposeful lives.

The design calls for an NHL-sized ice rink with seating for 800 fans, locker rooms for varsity hockey and other ice-related programs. New locker rooms also will be built for St. Olaf’s varsity baseball, softball, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer programs.

“We are incredibly excited to start building,” says Athletic Director Ryan Bowles. “I am grateful for the generous support we have from donors to do this now. In a little over a year St. Olaf will have an operating ice arena that benefits a number of our athletic programs and our campus community.”

Coaches, players and administrators, in a series of videos on the St. Olaf website, say the on-campus arena will improve team camaraderie, provide players with more time to talk to teachers and improve the overall student athlete experience. Currently the hockey teams play at the Northfield Ice Arena, an off-campus municipal structure a couple miles from campus.

The college hopes for a spring 2019 opening.