Without actual dehumidification, it can be tricky to keep the building cool and dry for the placement of the ice. Even with the coolant flowing through the floor, Huffman must take into consideration the climate inside and outside of the arena in order for the process to continue smoothly.
Last night, Huffman took over operations and laid down a few base layers, spraying coats of water on the floor to eliminate imperfections in order to create a smooth surface for paint.
Early this morning, the crew was back in action, ready to take on another day. This morning, the crew started marking the lines and putting in the logos as well as setting the paint with a few light sprays from the hose. Areas such as the blue lines, faceoff circles and goal creases are painted by hand, while the center ice logo is actually a large decal that is applied.
"After that it will be about two straight days of building ice, flooding and spraying with the hose," Huffman said. "Hopefully by then we will have it ready for camp on Thursday morning, Sept. 23."
When the players take the ice that morning, they may not realize the 1½ inches of ice they stand on had taken four days and roughly 15,000 gallons of water to create.
The fun doesn't just end there. The thin layers of water sprayed in the beginning of the process create clear and smooth ice, but through daily wear and tear,
maintenance is required throughout the season
through the efforts of Huffman and his crew.
