University of North Dakota Hockey Statue

Artist: Stanley O. Johnson

Commissioned by: UND Alumnus Paul Bridston

Installation: 1983

Medium: Steel with touches of brass and copper

Location: Ralph Engelstad Arena

Description: The hockey player statue that originally greeted fans outside the old Winter Sports Center stands in the lobby of “The Ralph.” Commissioned by alumnus Paul Bridston and created by Stanley O. Johnson, it stands 9 feet tall, weighs 700 pounds, and is made of steel with touches of brass and copper.

Johnson worked 1,630 hours on this statue. In its original location, the statue stood on top of a 6-foot pedestal formed by a circle of steel “hockey sticks.” The slightly oversized proportions of the upper body, including the head, were intentionally designed this way so they would appear correct when viewed from 6 feet below.