The main rink is named for the late university President Brendan J. McDonald, who advocated the team's move to Division I hockey.

The Brooks Arena was once regarded, by a visiting team, as a difficult place to play in the WCHA and NCHC.

Cloud State, University of Minnesota, and Miracle on Ice hockey coach Herb Brooks.

[2] The same year, the National Hockey Center reopened after an extensive addition and renovation by JLG Architects which included a new atrium and entrance, west-end seating, expanded suites and club level seating, wider concourses, a new team store and improved training facilities.

Cloud State received $1.3 million in gifts to significantly improve the fan experience at the Brooks Center; these funds were used to replace the analog video scoreboards with the latest in digital technology, add new video boards above the entrances from the concourse in the rink, and to improve the audio and acoustics of the building.