What it’s like to drive a Zamboni? Lake City man shares his story

One of the first things Tom Klep checks when he arrives for work at Erie Insurance Arena are the propane tanks that fuel the Zamboni machines.

If they’re even close to being empty, he replaces them.

“The most important thing is to check your fuel,” said Klep, a 48-year-old Lake City resident. “The last thing you want is to run out in the middle of rink.”

Klep works as the building and grounds manager for the arena and UPMC Park. This time of year, one of his main duties is to operate the Zamboni.

Zambonis, named after their inventor Frank J. Zamboni, are tractor-like vehicles that resurface ice rinks.

They have gained an almost mythical status among hockey fans after watching them weave their way around various rinks for decades, transforming the roughened surface into a smooth sheet of ice.

“The first time I drove the Zamboni was after I came here from the Bayfront Convention Center in 2008,” Klep said. “I watched videos, but it really is on-ice training. … That first time you worry about who is watching you. It took a full hockey season to really get comfortable doing it.”

Zambonis work by shaving, cleaning, washing and resurfacing the ice — all in one pass. It takes between 10 and 15 minutes for one machine to resurface an entire rink.

The arena currently has three Zambonis. One was recently purchased, Klep said, while the oldest one is about 30 years old.

“Zambonis are very expensive, but they last a long time,” Klep said.

Zamboni breaks down? Make sure to turn off the water

It might surprise some hockey fans that Zambonis spray hot water to resurface the ice. Hot water can actually freeze faster than cold water and it creates clearer, harder ice, Klep said.

But Zamboni operators must shut off the hose if the machine stalls on the ice.

“Once I was driving during a Gannon hockey game and the throttle cable broke,” Klep said. “I had to shut off the hot water immediately or it would have melted a hole in the ice.”

The crowd did not boo Klep when the Zamboni broke down, though he said they applauded when he drove another Zamboni back onto the ice.

Besides Gannon, other organizations also rent out the arena’s ice rink for hockey games and other activities. When Disney on Ice comes to town, it creates challenges for Klep and his fellow Zamboni drivers.

“They only skate on about half of the rink and there is eight-feet of seating for kids along each side,” Klep said. “It’s a challenge for the Zamboni to make those tight turns. I always make a few practice runs before it starts.”

Klep is now a certified ice technician. What does that mean?

Klep’s job involves a lot more than driving Zambonis. He recently became a certified ice technician, one of about 12 in Pennsylvania, after attending classes over the last three years, including one in Boise, Idaho, in October.

He learned the intricacies of making ice, painting logos and lines, and how to maintain an ice rink. Another lesson from his training: Don’t drive too fast. It can create wavy ice.

“Having the education and practical knowledge is important to maintaining quality ice,” said Ray Williams, Erie Events director of sports facilities and also a certified ice technician. “Tom is dedicated to his job and his attention to detail is impressive.”

Has Klep ever taken a Zamboni into a drive-through?

People sometimes ask the Zamboni drivers interesting questions, Klep said. One question linked two great hockey institutions.

“Someone asked me if I had ever taken the Zamboni through the Tim Hortons drive-through during the offseason,” Klep said with a smile. “The only trip outside is when we take them across (Holland Street) for maintenance.”

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: What it’s like to drive a Zamboni? Lake City man shares his story

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