After spending the last five seasons at Gateway Ice Center, the Western States Hockey League’s (WSHL) Fresno Monsters have announced they will be returning to Downtown Fresno and to familiar home ice at Selland Arena.

The Monsters will play 21 of their 23 home games of the 2018-19 regular season at Selland Arena.

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“With Selland Arena, we once again have the ability to bring back that exciting atmosphere, the flexibility to create special promotions, and the opportunity to promote hockey to a larger audience here in the Central Valley,” said Monsters coach-GM Kevin Kaminski.

Selland Arena holds a nostalgia factor for many in the Central Valley as the arena was once home to the Fresno Falcons from 1968-2003 and for a brief period in 2008 after the Falcons returned to downtown following five seasons at Save Mart Center. The Monsters also called Selland home from 2009-13.

The rink opened in 1966 and is currently owned by the city of Fresno. In 2006, the arena underwent a $15 million renovation that included the installation of new seats, a new video replay scoreboard, message boards and a new ice-cooling system specifically for hockey games. The arena currently has a capacity for hockey near 7,600, making it the largest home venue for a current team in the WSHL.

“It is truly great for the Monsters and the Western States Hockey League to be returning to play in Selland Arena,” said WSHL commissioner Ron White. “It’s reminiscent of the first season of the Fresno Monsters and the great crowds that came to watch the Monsters and other WSHL opposing teams compete.”

The change in venue for the Monsters came after a set of three home games played at the arena this past February proved that hockey could once again be a viable source of income to the city of Fresno and help revitalize the surrounding downtown area.

The last two games of the 2018-19 season will be played at the Gateway Ice Center due to scheduling conflicts.

— WSHL Staff

(Oct. 22, 2018)