2008 Woodie Awards
Zamboni drivers share experiences maintaining Goggin 's 2 ice rinks
Katie Morgan
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
With so many skates digging streaks and splashing up snow in the ice rinks at Goggin Ice Center, there is a huge need for smooth ice, especially for a school that boasts the No.1 ice hockey team in the country.
"If there are a lot of grooves in the ice a lot of people fall down and that means more accidents," Goggin skate guard John Meyer said. "If you didn't Zamboni it once in a while there would be ice shavings and cuts everywhere."
Jeff Hucke, assistant director for building operations at Goggin, explained what a Zamboni does to the ice.
"The main goal of the Zamboni driving is to make the best sheet of ice you can," he said.
However, Goggin employee Jon Elliot sees another reason for needing the ice in the best condition possible-for the customers and the hockey team.
"If it's not in good condition then our customers and users aren't happy," he said. "If it's bad and the team has practice, Rico (Blasi) will tell us and we try to make the ice the way they like it."
The Goggin currently employs four full-time workers and one part-time worker to drive the Zamboni.
"I drive the Zamboni during the hockey games because my shift is Tuesday through Saturday and that's when the games are," Elliot said.
Elliot has been working for Goggin for a year and a half. Elliot said he applied for the job as a way to get him started at Miami University.
"I like working at the Goggin but I eventually want to work on the (Recreational Sports Center) side of things either in intramurals or program planning," Elliot said.
The job of Zamboni driver falls under the category of maintenance at the Goggin. This includes a wide range of jobs from changing light bulbs and resurfacing the ice, to taking care of the Zamboni and monitoring refrigeration equipment. Some Zamboni drivers double as skate shop workers-like part-time employee Andy Rolfes, who began working at Goggin when he was 16 and has been an employee for the last 10 years.
"If there are a lot of grooves in the ice a lot of people fall down and that means more accidents," Goggin skate guard John Meyer said. "If you didn't Zamboni it once in a while there would be ice shavings and cuts everywhere."
Jeff Hucke, assistant director for building operations at Goggin, explained what a Zamboni does to the ice.
"The main goal of the Zamboni driving is to make the best sheet of ice you can," he said.
However, Goggin employee Jon Elliot sees another reason for needing the ice in the best condition possible-for the customers and the hockey team.
"If it's not in good condition then our customers and users aren't happy," he said. "If it's bad and the team has practice, Rico (Blasi) will tell us and we try to make the ice the way they like it."
The Goggin currently employs four full-time workers and one part-time worker to drive the Zamboni.
"I drive the Zamboni during the hockey games because my shift is Tuesday through Saturday and that's when the games are," Elliot said.
Elliot has been working for Goggin for a year and a half. Elliot said he applied for the job as a way to get him started at Miami University.
"I like working at the Goggin but I eventually want to work on the (Recreational Sports Center) side of things either in intramurals or program planning," Elliot said.
The job of Zamboni driver falls under the category of maintenance at the Goggin. This includes a wide range of jobs from changing light bulbs and resurfacing the ice, to taking care of the Zamboni and monitoring refrigeration equipment. Some Zamboni drivers double as skate shop workers-like part-time employee Andy Rolfes, who began working at Goggin when he was 16 and has been an employee for the last 10 years.
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