On Nov. 7, Tyler McDonald takes the wheel of the Zamboni, resurfacing over 1,500 square metres of ice in under 10 minutes. After working at the rink in Nepean for five years, operating the five-ton machine has become a part of the daily routine. [Photo © Lisa Xu]
After the last pair of skates exits the ice – leaving only an empty rink with scores of blade marks on the surface – Tyler McDonald and Dylan Gervais get to work.
The duo operate behind the scenes at the city’s Howard Darwin Centennial Arena in Nepean, taking care of everything from ice maintenance to facility cleaning.
With McDonald manning the Zamboni and Gervais providing support, the ice is resurfaced in less than 10 minutes. It’s something that happens five to seven times every night.
When the next group of athletes arrive, a fresh sheet of ice greets them, and McDonald and Gervais take a breather before doing it all over again.
McDonald is in the driver’s seat of the Zamboni in the garage as he waits for athletes to finish. McDonald is required to wear a helmet and protective gloves while manning the machine. [Photo © Lisa Xu]
Dylan Gervais waits for the Zamboni to finish the round before stepping in. Resurfacing the ice is a two-person job. He shovels the ice and positions the nets. [Photo © Graham Neysmith]
Extra Zamboni blades are propped against a wall in the garage, labelled according to sharpness. “They’re sharp enough to cut your finger off,” says McDonald. [Photo © Graham Neysmith]
Gervais drills a hole near the goal crease where the hockey nets are located. Steel pegs that secure the net go in the holes. Goaltenders generally like choppy ice in their crease, so the area requires extra attention from the maintenance crew. [Photo © Lisa Xu]
McDonald prepares to dump the snow stored in the Zamboni into a pile behind the building. The Zamboni scrapes excess snow and slush from the ice and stores it in its front compartment. [Photo © Graham Neysmith]
