The rink maintenance team is responsible for keeping the ice on Dwyer and Schmidt in top condition so that not only all five of the school’s hockey teams but also students from Indian Mountain and the Salisbury School can train.
Led by Mr. Michael Cleveland, ice rink technician, the team supports the ice hockey programs by handling everything from skate sharpening and running the Zamboni to rink upkeep and cleaning.
Mr. Cleveland has worked at the school for eight years. In the spring and fall, he also takes care of the golf course. He said, “What really stands out are the compliments that we get from other teams that come in and genuinely appreciate how well we maintain our rinks.”
Work on the rinks starts in the late summer and early fall when the ice is laid out. The ice is composed of twelve or more layers, with lines and logos painted on the inner-most layers.
The maintenance team faces many challenges and must work together to solve them. Small irregularities in the ice are a common occurrence. In the fall, water dripping from the ceiling due to the temperature of the rink interacting with the moisture in the air creates stalactites. In the winter, when staff members walk onto the ice, salt from their shoes can bore a hole through to the concrete. Groundskeeper Mr. Ian Lane, who has worked at the school for three years, said, “You have to make sure you fill these holes correctly, so it’s nice and smooth before laying another sheet of ice.”
The Zamboni is a critical piece of equipment that resurfaces the ice between periods and games. It scrapes the ice and sprays a layer of hot water, which freezes before it can fully melt the ice underneath, creating a smoother surface than cold water would. This process is called “cutting the ice.” “We have to do ice cuts between each team’s use of the rink,” said Mr. Cleveland. This means the team often does up to eight cuts a day.
Tracking data is also an important part of rink upkeep. Statistics such as temperature and humidity are tracked by the compressors that cool the rink. Members of the team must closely monitor the data, both on-site and remotely, so that problems that arise can be fixed immediately.
Although the work of the maintenance team often goes unseen, skaters know how essential it is. Evan Seow ’26, member of Boys Varsity Hockey, said, “We are all so grateful for the work that is done to keep the rink ready for us. We truly couldn’t do it without them.”
