Fifteen years ago, there were talks of cutting the BGSU hockey program for good due to a lack of funding. That’s when Scott Slater, ‘73 alumnus, stepped in, remembering the roar of a packed ice arena in his college days and bringing his children to practices at the rink day in and day out through the decades.

“I was really scared. I couldn’t envision this town and this community without this facility because it’s not just a university facility,” Slater said. “In my mind, it’s a community asset because the whole community uses it and gets access to it, and it wouldn’t be the same without it.”

The Slater Family Ice Arena is more than just a rink– it’s a community hub. Few understand that better than Slater. He began attending hockey games during the 1968-69 season when he was still in high school, he said.

“I was still in high school and came with my future in-laws. They were professors here,” Slater said. “The coolest thing was always getting in and how much excitement there was.”

As a college student, Slater lined up Monday mornings at Anderson Arena, or Memorial Hall, to buy tickets for upcoming hockey games, the orange and brown alum said.

“I actually had to wait in line because it was allotment. There weren’t enough seats for everybody, so games were sold out in the early years.”

All six of Slater’s children grew up at the rink, originally known as the BGSU Ice Arena before being renamed the Slater Family Ice Arena in 2017. His four sons played hockey, while his two daughters figure skated.

“I was all for saving the program,” Todd Slater, Scott Slater’s son and ’95 alum, said.

Todd attended his first BGSU hockey game before he was even a year old, he said.

“Growing up here in town, hockey was always a part of our lives and part of the community, so it was something for the community to rally around.”

From young figure skaters to high school hockey teams, the arena has been a constant cornerstone in the Slater family and the BG community.

“In the skating and hockey world, families help take care of each other because a lot of people have multiple kids playing,” Slater said. “One night, one kid’s at home. One night, another one’s away, and families team up and take care of their each other’s kids.”

Slater remembered seeing ‘94 alum and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton skate at the rink while taking his daughters to practice, he said.

“I still know him today, and we’re good friends. I remember seeing him skate when he was a single-digit skater,” Slater said.  

Today, men’s hockey is one of the university’s top programs, proudly competing at the Division I level for over 50 years.

Several Bowling Green alumni have made their mark in the NHL, including George McPhee, president of the Vegas Golden Knights; Rob Blake, general manager of the Los Angeles Kings; and Brian MacLellan, president of hockey operations for the Washington Capitals.

“It’s nice for the guys here, they know that there are NHL people looking here, watching here, and they’ll be seen here,” Slater said. 

In November, the rink underwent a makeover thanks to Slater’s $2.5 million donation, which included a new entrance, locker room upgrades, and luxury suites.

During the renovation project, Slater put in some words to ensure the roof design kept the arena’s signature noise.

“They wanted to put a white cover over the ceiling and make it nice, and pretty, and quiet. And quiet is the last thing we want in here. So we left the ceiling the way it is,” Slater said.

The Slater Family Ice Arena serves year-round as a hub for student-athletes, youth teams, and families, offering summer camps and public skates long after hockey season ends.

“Come here and have fun. It’s an exciting place,” Slater said. “We just wanted it to be a place that people will enjoy, come to, and be proud of. And I am.”

For details on figure skating, hockey programs, or public skate times at the Slater Family Ice Arena, visit here.