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| John S. Glas Fieldhouse |
The John S. Glas Fieldhouse debuted as the
fourth home of the Bemidji State men's ice hockey program on
Nov. 17, 1967 with the introduction of the Fieldhouse Expansion
to the BSU Physical Education Complex. In the 35 season since,
the BSU men developed one of the most-secure home-ice advantages
in college hockey playing at the Glas, and in 1998 the storied
Fieldhouse became the home of the BSU's women's ice hockey program.
The Bemidji State women have posted a 32-74-15 record all-time
in their home arena, including a school-record 8-7-2 home-ice
campaign in 1999-00. BSU finished 4-7-5 at home in 2001-02,
but that record came against a brutal schedule which saw the
Beavers play 12 of 16 home games against teams ranked or receiving
votes in the coaches poll.
Final plans for the $970,000 Fieldhouse expansion were laid
in the mid-1960s under the direction of then-BSU President Dr.
Harry Bangsberg and athletics director Dr. Vic Weber. The Minnesota
legislature granted authority to built the expansion in 1965,
and the fieldhouse expansion was dedicated on Feb. 10, 1968.
In addition to its role as BSU’s home facility for both
men’s and women’s ice hockey, the Glas Fieldhouse
also plays a promient role in a variety of events for the BSU
and Bemidji communities. High school contests and area youth
figure skating shows occur while the ice is in place, while
when the ice is removed the building plays host to events varying
from the annual Jaycees Home, Sport and Travel Show to BSU’s
commencement ceremonies.
John S. Glas
From the time of its completion until Oct. 1, 1975, BSU’s
hockey facility held the name of BSU Fieldhouse. But it was
renamed in honor of the retiring John S. Glas (right), the acting
president of Bemidji State University at the time of the arena’s
completion. Glas arrived in Bemidji in 1939 to serve as business
manager under then-BSU President Charles R. Sattgast and would
remain with BSU for 36 years. When Glas arrived, the campus
consisted of just two buildings - Deputy and Stanford halls
- which served as the educational environment for the institution’s
340 students.
In 1957, Glas was appointed Assistant to the President, and
in 1968 he was elevated to Vice President for Administrative
Affairs and later earned the title Vice President Emeritus.
The decision to rename the Fieldhouse was recommended by the
Men’s Physical Education Department. The Long Range Planning
Committee endorsed the change, and President Dr. R.D. Decker
submitted a request to the State Uniersity Board that it officially
name the fieldhouse for Glas, “in recognition of his long
and dedicated service to Bemidji State University.”
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