How did they resurface the Ice back in the old days when the IHL and the NHL was young?

Answer 1

This I remember from when I was a kid watching OHL games, maybe even at a game where LITY was playing.

First, an army of staff or volunteers would appear on the ice with shovels and in an organized way would scrape the snow off the rink in a big circle.

When they were done four or (or maybe more) guys would pull these cart-like contraptions around the ice to flood the surface with water that was slightly warm. Essentially they were large water tanks on two inflated wheels at the side. The guys would pull the tanks like a rickshaw around the rink in about the same pattern the Zamboni follows.

The water would pour out of small multiple holes on a rack at ice level at the back of the tanks. There was a piece of cloth or tarp on the rack that lay on the ice to spread the water evenly like a three or four foot wide paintbrush.

It took a while to do the ice but not that much longer than today, and the system was much more efficient than they way I've made it sound.

I spent a few minutes searching the net for an old photo but had no luck.

Answer 2

Basically they took big scrapers and walked around on the ice scraping it, shoveled the snow off and then took a hose and spread out water on top of the ice.

LITY could give you a better description, he saw it being done at some point I'm sure, having played back then.

Answer 3

First of all.............Minch and Paul are correct

As a youngster watching games at the forum I saw it done. By the time I was signed (1959) almost all rinks had zambonis.

But, as an aside, I remember watching them water the ice at the forum as a youngster and thinking 'someday...I could do that'

Similar to the MasterCard commercial 'I want to drive the zamboni'

My son went to University and played intramural hockey...and the guys would fight before the game as to would get to drive the zamboni.

Answer 4

Boys who brought their skates were admitted free of charge or at a reduced price and then they were put to work with barrels of water, brooms, scrapers, etc. Hot water in a 45 gallon drum mounted on runners with a pipe arrangement that dribbled water was typical. The same boys usually attended every game so they became reasonably efficient. Thus it was a case of many hands make light work.

Answer 5

Put water on top, shovel, repeat about 3 times each lines.

Took lot of time.

Answer 6

by hand