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Attorney Chris Byron, third from right, and others pose with the city's new electric Zamboni for use at the R.P. Lumber Center Ice Rink. Byron is a partner at Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb, LLC.

The Zamboni as it was tucked into its space Thursday at the R.P. Lumber Center.

It will appear most often between periods at hockey games and after figure skating competitions yet before public skate sessions. It is a Zamboni. 

Edwardsville's Parks and Recreation Department added a new Zamboni ice resurfacing machine to the RP Lumber Center — a community ice rink and recreation facility that will open in early June.

Unlike Zambonis used at other ice rinks in the area, this one is electric-powered, a green and more sustainable option that doesn’t produce any harmful emissions like gasoline- or propane-powered machines.

"The quality of our ice is one of our highest priorities and to maintain that we must have the right tools,” said Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy. "The new Zamboni not only creates an optimal ice surface for all users but also is an environmentally responsible option that ensures a healthier environment for our residents and greater community members.”

Risavy added that the facility’s leadership team, led by Facility Superintendent Phil Zamora, will additionally make the center a top tier and regional choice for hockey players, figure skaters and other ice rink enthusiasts.

Generally, ice resurfacers are composed of a snow container, hot water tanks, a wash water tank, a conditioner and a board brush. An electric motor is responsible both for propelling the resurfacer and powering the hydraulics that controls various functions, such as raising the snow dump.

Most of the actual resurfacing components are contained in a heavy device at the rear of the machine, known as the "conditioner," which is hydraulically lowered to the ice surface, its weight providing the friction necessary for a large, sharp blade to shave off the top layer of ice. A horizontal auger conveyor collects these ice shavings, or snow, and funnels them to a vertical auger at the center of the conditioner. The shavings are then carried upward and sprayed into a large snow container, which takes up most of the volume of the resurfacer.

The height of the blade can be adjusted by the driver. This is useful for keeping the ice sheet level, improving the quality of the cut and preventing the snow container from overflowing.

Wash water can be used to further improve the quality of the ice by removing debris and snow from deep skate-blade cuts. Located directly in front of the blade, nozzles forcefully spray water into the ice surface, loosening deep debris. Runners on either side of the conditioner contain the spray, while a rubber squeegee at the rear of the conditioner allows a vacuum nozzle to pick up excess water. This water is then filtered through a screen and recirculated.

Finally, a layer of water is laid down to fill in the remaining grooves in the ice. The ice-making water is released through a sprinkler pipe at the rear of the conditioner, which wets the cloth towel that is dragged behind the resurfacer. The towel ensures a smooth, controlled deposition of water.

Zamora said the recharge time depends on how often you charge it.

"On average, from a full charge, you can get eight to nine ice makes out of it," he said. "This battery is different than previous versions in that you can charge it after every ice make. [With] the older batteries, you had to wait until the charge dropped to a certain level before it could be placed back on the charger." 

Zamora added that while it would be nice to have a secondary or a 'back-up' machine in case something happens to the primary, that will come later in the city's operations. 

Zamora joined the city’s team in the fall of 2021 and previously worked for the National Hockey League's Anaheim Mighty Ducks as an ice superintendent where he maintained a professional-grade NHL surface. He has spent 21 years of his professional career in ice rink management.

The RP Lumber Center houses an NHL-sized ice rink, indoor elevated track, teen center, fitness center and meeting or event rooms that can be utilized by the greater community.

For more information about The Center, go to www.TheRPLumberCenter.com.

The Zamboni was made possible in part by sponsors Edwardsville Bank, and Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb, LLC.

Charles Bolinger covers Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Edwardsville Township and the Collinsville School District for The Edwardsville Intelligencer. A graduate of Webster University in St. Louis, he has been writing for the paper since 2018.