Hamilton College announced it has been awarded a $1,975,000 grant through New York State’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap) to support continued renovations to Russell Sage Rink, the oldest continuously operating college hockey rink in the country.
The competitive grant program supports capital improvements at independent colleges and universities that strengthen campus facilities and enhance the student experience, and it requires a 3-to-1 institutional match. Hamilton’s funds were provided by supporters, including alumni, parents, friends, and foundations, the school announced.
Improvements will include the addition of new locker rooms for the men’s and women’s hockey teams, a conference room, and office space. The work is part of a multiphase renovation plan for Sage Rink, which first opened in 1921 and is named for financier and railroad magnate Russell Sage, whose widow included Hamilton among the institutions she supported philanthropically. The upcoming renovations will build on a $13 million investment the College made in 2024, when the rink received extensive infrastructure upgrades including a new roof, mechanical and HVAC systems, refrigeration equipment, ice surface, and state-of-the-art boards and glass.
Earlier this year, the men’s ice hockey team captured its first NCAA Division III championship.
“Sage Rink is more than a hockey arena; it’s one of the places where generations of Hamilton students have challenged themselves, built lifelong friendships, and celebrated unforgettable moments,” said Hamilton athletic director Kristine Fowler, via statement. “Our programs are competing at the highest level of Division III, and these improvements ensure our facilities match that standard while honoring the history and traditions that make Sage Rink so special.”
Construction will begin in October and continue throughout the 2026-27 academic year without interrupting the men’s and women’s hockey seasons, the school said. The renovated spaces are expected to be ready in time for the start of the 2027-28 season.