Fans, skaters, and players at the Vernon Arena are in for something new – Sioux Center’s new Zamboni.
The sleek, black machine is replacing the Zamboni that has been part of the All Seasons Center’s indoor ice arena since it opened 22 years ago.
The new Zamboni is equipped with upgrades that will make ice faster, harden it quicker, laser-level the ice automatically, and add consistency through all the drivers. It is powered by a lithium iron battery that has less maintenance and charges faster than the previous lead acid-style battery. New safety features like built-in auger washers will also improve work for the Zamboni operators.
“The Level-Ice system can shave the surface down to 1/1000th of an inch, allowing us to maintain a more consistent ice surface and, in turn, provide a safer playing environment for skaters.” says Sam Rens, who heads up operations at Vernon Arena and drives the Zamboni.
The Zamboni has already been at work crafting the arena’s 1.25 inches of ice for the hockey and skating season. Fans will see it debut at hockey games this fall or when open skate begins, starting Sept. 7.
The Sioux Center Youth Hockey Association paid for about half of the new Zamboni, with the remaining cost split by Dordt University and the City of Sioux Center.
Rens, who has been behind the wheel of the Zamboni since his freshman year of college, answers the age-old question: is driving the Zamboni as cool as it looks?
“Yes, it is,” he says. “We’re very lucky to have an ice rink in Sioux Center. It’s a great environment, and it’s fun to be the reason the ice is the way it is.”