Hart Center Rink - Holy Cross Crusaders
- Paul Baker
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex
1 College Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Year Opened: 1975
Capacity: 1,600
The Hart of Holy Cross Hockey
The Reverend Francis J. Hart Recreation Center is part of the Luth Athletic Complex, a multi-purpose facility located on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA (pronounced “WUH-stuh” by locals). Reverend Hart was the guiding force behind intramural athletics at the College for more than 40 years, and his legacy is honored in this athletic center. John and Joanne Luth donated $32.5 million to the college in 2015 towards expanding and renovating the athletic department. Their donation largely funded the massive renovations to the complex in 2016.
The Hart Recreation Center houses not only the Holy Cross hockey rink, but a 3,600-seat basketball arena, a six-lane swimming pool with a separate diving area, rowing tanks, racquetball and squash courts, and the college’s strength and conditioning facilities. Behind the Hart Center is a full-size track, practice fields, soccer field, and a lighted turf field, which serves numerous varsity sports and intramural programs.
Hockey has been played at Holy Cross since 1966. Today, the Crusaders compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association, where they have won three conference championships. Holy Cross has qualified for the NCAA Tournament twice, most recently in 2006. That year, the Crusaders pulled off what is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in tournament history by beating Minnesota 4-3 in overtime. It was the first time a number 15 or 16 seed had beaten a number one or two seed. Two Holy Cross alumni (Pat Rissmiller and Jim Stewart) played in the NHL.
The Holy Cross women’s hockey team, which began play as a varsity program in 1999, has yet to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The women’s team is a member of the Hockey East Conference.
Food and Beverage 4
A pair of concession stands, christened “Crucessions ‘Sader Kitchen” are located in the Hart Center lobby. One window focuses mainly on food, one on beverages.
The menu has undergone an upgrade in recent years. In addition to arena standards such as hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza slices, fries, and nachos, premium sandwiches such as steak and cheese and grilled chicken bacon ranch on naan are available. Enjoy a cup of hot chili, or add some to your dog, fries, or nachos for an upcharge.
A selection of snacks can be purchased at either stand, including soft serve ice cream (Stadium Journey is lobbying hard for Holy Cross ice cream helmets). If you’re looking for a healthier item to eat, a variety of wraps and salads are sold here, too. It’s quite a selection for such small stands.
Pepsi products are featured at the Hart Center. Hot drinks, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and lattes are popular choices on cold Worcester winter nights. Fans looking for adult beverages will be pleased to find a nice selection of beer, including Sam Adams and Holy Cross Lazy IPA, brewed by local favorite Harpoon.
Here’s a Stadium Journey insider’s tip: there are some vending machines located in an alcove just past the concession stands in the main lobby. Bottles of soda can be found here for a lower price than at the concession stands. This can be our secret.
Atmosphere 2
If you haven’t visited the Hart Center recently, the pair of large video boards that were installed at the rink in 2021 will certainly catch your attention. These boards, one at each end of the ice surface, are put to great use with replays, graphics, and game information. It can be hard to keep your attention on the ice with these huge boards hovering right over the ice.
The Hart Center Rink enjoys a nice sound system, which is put to good use throughout the game. Music blares during play stoppages, and the PA announcer leans into his work, adding some energy to the proceedings. The pep band is in attendance at selected games, and that’s always an element that adds a little something to a gameday atmosphere, even though there’s no dedicated student section at the Hart Center Rink. There’s generally not a big turnout at Holy Cross from the student body, anyway.
Neighborhood 3
Worcester is the second-largest city in all of New England, but has never enjoyed much of a reputation as a destination location. That all began to change when the city announced that the Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to the brand-new Polar Park, located just 2.5 miles from the Holy Cross campus.
Holy Cross is located in southwestern Worcester, about three miles from downtown. There isn’t much in the immediate area of campus in terms of dining or lodging options, but the city of Worcester contains many excellent options.
Worcester’s acclaimed “Restaurant Row” on Shrewsbury Street is home to over forty different eateries, shops, and salons. It’s a favorite destination for locals looking to enjoy a night on the town. Fans will find additional options in the downtown area around the DCU Center. The up-and-coming Canal District, anchored by the new Polar Park, is rapidly growing and worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown.
Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable, attractive alternative to those cities. For fans visiting during ski season, Wachusett Mountain is located just ten miles outside the city limits.
Fans 2
Holy Cross annually ranks near the bottom of the nationwide attendance rankings for Division One hockey teams. With Holy Cross enjoying some success over the past couple of seasons, the Crusaders have seen a tremendous increase at the turnstiles, with average attendance doubling from 2023-24 to 2024-25. Still, their average attendance of about 900 places Holy Cross in the bottom ten nationally.
A Crusader hockey crowd will look familiar to many college hockey fans. Consisting mainly of family members, close friends, and die-hard Holy Cross fans, Crusader crowds are generally enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the team on the ice. Unfortunately, there is generally not a big turnout from the student body, even though this is the only Division One program in Central Massachusetts.
Access 3
The Holy Cross campus is located in southwestern Worcester, at the junction of Interstate 290 and Route 146. The Luth Complex is located at the southern edge of campus atop Mount Saint James, adjacent to many of the school’s athletic facilities. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the arena. The College of the Holy Cross’s location gives it spectacular views of the city below.
2016 renovations greatly expanded and modernized the facility. Fans enter into a bright, modern lobby, which houses the ticket booths. The basketball arena and hockey rink share a concourse, which is where you’ll find the concession stands, restrooms, and Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Long gone are the ’70s-style carpeting, trophy cases, and stained-glass windows of the old Hart Center.
The hockey rink is located to your right as you enter the facility. Fans enter the rink at the Hart Center on the near side of the rink, and all the seating is located on the far side of the ice. All seating is metal bleachers, with center sections containing cushioned seating. Standing room is available atop the seating area as well as at ice level. The steeply pitched seating area ensures excellent views of the action from virtually all points. There is minimal netting here to obstruct views. Dress warmly, as it’s very cold in this rink.
With the small crowds present at the Hart Center, lines at the concession stand or restrooms are not an issue.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets to Holy Cross hockey games are affordable, priced at $18 for reserved center ice sections and $13 for general admission seating. Parking is free in the large lot adjacent to the facility. Concessions are prices are comparable to other facilities in the area. Be aware that the Hart Center is a cashless facility.
Extras 2
Holy Cross honors its athletic past at the Luth Complex. The Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the building’s lobby. Several notable names can be found among the honorees, including Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn. Speaking of Cousy, there’s a statue of him just outside the entrance to the Luth Center.
Plaques in the Hart Rink commemorate significant individuals in Crusader hockey history, and banners hang in the rink honoring conference titles and tournament appearances. Displays honor every player to play for the Crusaders and all the program’s 100-point scorers.
Final Thoughts
Several smaller schools in the NCAA’s Division One have built shiny new arenas for their hockey teams recently. Meanwhile, the Crusaders soldier on at the Hart Center. While not as flashy or modern as many area rinks, it’s a solid place for the Crusaders to call home.
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