Netting coming down around ice at Merlis Belsher Place

The second season of University of Saskatchewan Huskies hockey at Merlis Belsher Place will feature a new-and-improved viewing experience for some fans.

Huskie Athletics announced Wednesday that it would be taking down the netting running along the length of the ice surface at its spectator rink ahead of next fall.

Huskie Hockey, now with less netting.

Season tickets are now on sale 👋
💻 https://t.co/zlBTbvJV4e pic.twitter.com/26fkDBwBLW

— Huskie Athletics (@HuskieAthletics) May 15, 2019

Several season-ticket holders, and members of the media, complained through the inaugural season about the netting running the length of the ice, saying it interfered with cameras and the overall viewing experience.

A follow up to my earlier tweet about the side mesh @MerlisBelsherPl. that goes up for hockey. Clear or white mesh won’t make a difference. ANY mesh hinders the view of the ice, the HD screen on the scoreboard and the webcasts. Has to come down. ⁦@HuskieAthletics⁩ ⁦#fyi pic.twitter.com/j8wJqT6OWT

— Wray Morrison (@WrayMorrison) April 25, 2019

One fan, Jason Hynd, tweeted a photo showing an obscured view of the Huskies’ zone due to the connection point of the ice-length netting and zone end netting.

This was my view of the net from my 4 Club Seat season tickets….simply awful. The net is down for curling, DONT PUT IT BACK UP FOR HOCKEY! pic.twitter.com/NRwpNCdnmM

— Jason Hynd (@HyndJason) April 27, 2019

Netting at each end of the ice will stay in place to protect against errant shots directed toward the goals.

Huskie Athletics made the announcement in a comical video message to fans, showing a staff member attempting several “tests” that were thwarted by the netting.

They included attempting a teddy bear toss, a hat-trick celebration and firing a T-shirt cannon from the ice surface.

The video concludes with the message “Huskie Hockey is better in HD, so let’s enjoy it without the netting.”

The Huskies hockey programs moved into Merlis Belsher Place in October 2018 when the $51-million facility opened its doors, moving the teams away from the 89-year-old Rutherford Rink.