Learning Project #7: Making my own Zamboni our of PVC pipe and a garden hose

ne of the best parts of attending a hockey game is watching the Zamboni resurface the ice. There’s something mesmerizing about the machine’s slow, steady passes, leaving a smooth, shiny surface behind. I actually have some experience with this, having run a Zamboni at 15 Wing in Moose Jaw—a real treat, even if it was just tax dollars at work. A hockey rink relies on an ice resurfacer, and while “Zamboni” is the most recognized brand name, it’s a specific type of machine. For my backyard rink, I need something similar but on a much smaller and simpler scale.

A traditional Zamboni does more than just flood the ice—it actually shaves a thin layer off with a steel razor, which smooths out the imperfections. Then, it lays down a thin layer of hot water, which bonds with the existing ice and freezes evenly, creating that pristine, glassy surface. My DIY version won’t be quite as advanced, but I’m planning to create a tool to flood the rink and level the surface, leaving it as smooth as possible.

Here’s what I’ll need for this setup:

  • Lengths of PVC pipe for a lightweight, easily assembled frame.
  • A towel that will be attached to the bottom of the frame and drag over the ice, smoothing and spreading the water as I pull the contraption.
  • Zip ties to secure the towel firmly to the frame.
  • A valve that will let me control the water flow, so I can adjust it as needed to get an even coat.
  • A hose attachment to connect it all to a standard garden hose.

For the water, hot water is ideal since it melts into any tiny surface cracks and creates a smoother layer as it freezes. Figuring out how to get a supply of hot water out to the rink is a challenge, but I’m working on it. Learnign Project 8 perhaps!

Once I’ve got all my parts assembled, I’ll share a link to a video demonstrating the proof of concept so you can see how it’s supposed to work before I put it all together.

Now, I just need the weather to cooperate and bring on the cold so I can keep making progress. Can’t wait!

Rob

Learning Project #6 Old Fashioned Back yard Rink

As I mentioned in previous posts, there are two main ways to create an ice rink. One approach involves building forms, almost like concrete molds, with a liner to direct water precisely where you want it. However, since this is my first attempt, I plan to go with something more economical and straightforward: flooding packed snow with water—a technique now known as the “Walter Gretzky Method.”

Much like Mr. Gretzky, I’m a broke student and need to keep expenses low. His method was incredibly simple, and no one explains it better than his son. Combining this bit of Canadiana with guidance from this resource on old-fashioned backyard ice rinks, I’ll try my best to make it work.

As we quickly approach mid-November, the long-term forecast shows no days with daytime temperatures below zero—my first challenge. The next hurdle is snow. Without a liner, I’ll need to wait for the ground to freeze, or at least for the frost to harden it enough for water to sit on top. The best way to prepare is to wait for fresh snowfall, then pack the snow down in the area that will become the rink.

For now, I’ll keep learning what’s required to maintain the ice (in theory, at least), and maybe I’ll get creative with the lighting setup.

That’s all for today. Hope you enjoyed the update!

Rob

Learning Project #5. Waiting on Weather, Lets talk equipment.

Building an ice rink in my backyard at the end of October has been challenging due to record-high temperatures. I remember plenty of Halloweens as a kid when my costume had to fit over a snowsuit, but this year, the weather hasn’t been as cooperative. Since we’re waiting on cooler days, let’s talk about some of the essential equipment used in ringette. Of course, the stick is the most recognizable piece, but the cage worn by ringette players is quite unique. Unlike hockey cages, ringette cages are specifically designed to prevent a stick from passing through and contacting the player’s face. Take a look at the images below to see the differences—ringette cages provide a tailored level of protection that sets them apart.

 

Ringette cage Hockey Cage

Moving from protective equipment, we can also talk about the stick. Something unique about the sport of ringette is a lot of the gear in Saskatchewan is made by people with special needs, specifically, Saskabilities. So it is great for the sport that the tools of the trade are made by people who may have difficulty finding other work. So until then, I’ll post a picture of a prepped area ready to be flooded. Sorry for the blurry quality, but I am limited by the upload size!

Rob

 

Learning Project Part 3(B)….Intro to OBS and a little sky view of the Future Rink

So I’ve given a little background on Why OBS would be useful and I’ve done some learning about Ringette! In this post I will add a video that will contain a short Tutorial as to how to download and get started with OBS, I will then display a quick overview of how my rink is being planned.

Hope this helps for all of your recording and streaming needs!

Rob

Learning Project Post #3: Ringette Radically Canadian

Before I met my partner, I had heard about ringette, but it just seemed like hockey with a rubber ring and no blade on the stick. However, after seven years of being around the sport, I’ve naturally learned a lot more about it.

Similarities to Hockey

Let’s start with what’s familiar to the average person, especially if they’ve watched a hockey game. Ringette is played on a standard hockey rink, and many of the markings on the ice are the same. For example, you’ll notice the blue lines, center line, and goal crease look pretty similar to those in hockey.

Each team has five skaters and one goalie on the ice at any given time, just like in hockey. The goal nets are also identical in size and shape to those used in hockey. So, if someone were to walk into their first ringette game, they’d feel at least somewhat familiar with the rink setup and team structure.

Key Differences

Now, here’s where things start to diverge from hockey:

  1. The Stick and Ring: The most noticeable difference is the equipment used to play. Instead of a puck, ringette is played with a rubber ring, and instead of a bladed hockey stick, players use a straight stick with no blade. The ring is much larger than a puck, and the stick has a specially designed tip to control the ring.
  2. No Carrying the Ring Across the Blue Line: One of the biggest rule changes is that players are not allowed to carry the ring over the blue lines themselves. In hockey, players can skate the puck across the blue line, but in ringette, they must pass the ring across the line to a teammate. This promotes more team play and passing, which changes the dynamics of the game significantly. The rule forces teams to rely heavily on passing and teamwork rather than individual skill.
  3. The Free Pass: Instead of face-offs like in hockey, ringette uses a “free pass” to start play after stoppages. The player taking the free pass is given five seconds to pass the ring to a teammate from a designated circle. This helps keep the game moving and emphasizes the passing nature of the sport.
  4. The Shot Clock: Ringette introduces a shot clock, which is not found in hockey. Teams have a limited amount of time (usually 30 seconds) to take a shot on goal once they gain possession of the ring. If they don’t, the other team gains possession, similar to how shot clocks in basketball work. This adds an extra layer of urgency and strategy to the game, as teams need to set up offensive plays quickly.
  5. No Body Checking: While hockey allows physical body checking, ringette is a non-contact sport. Players are not allowed to body check or use physical force to gain control of the ring. Instead, defensive strategies focus on positioning and stick play to intercept passes and block shooting lanes.
  6. The Goalie’s Crease: Another key difference is the goalie’s crease. In ringette, players are not allowed to enter the crease at all, and only the goalie is allowed to play the ring while inside it. This rule is strictly enforced, and any violation results in a penalty or loss of possession. It makes defending the goal quite different compared to hockey, where players often scramble for loose pucks in front of the net.

After years of watching and learning about ringette, I’ve come to appreciate its unique pace and emphasis on strategy and teamwork. While it shares some commonalities with hockey, the differences really set it apart as its own fast-paced, dynamic sport and having a partner who is a player and Referee means I have a living Primary source for my information!

Rob

Poor Planning leads to Poor Execution

Further posts will include more Ringette related material, Right now I am thinking about how I will be making my backyard rink. Currently there is still a garden that is being harvested, but that won’t stop me from using a tape measure. I want my Rink to be 20 feet wide, by 30 feet long. As we can see from the picture there is some yardwork that needs to be done prior to the building of the rink. There are many methods, The Walter Gretzky Method was to simply just use a sprinkler until an icerink formed and then something a little more planned as noted from this blog, https://rogueengineer.com/how-to-build-a-backyard-ice-rink/ will be used. There will be some materials that need to be gathered. but the measuring portion is complete and the cleanup is underway. As mentioned in the Title, Poor planning leads to poor execution!

Rob

If I fix my gate, does that make me secretary of Defence?

For my learning project, I would like to explore the sport of Ringette. This includes learning about the rules, how the sport differs from hockey, and the skills required to play the game, particularly those I will need to develop. Another aspect I want to focus on is finding a place to play and practice, which could include setting up a backyard ice surface.

While I wouldn’t say that Ringette is a sport that greatly interests me personally, it is very important to my partner and her family. In life, sometimes it’s necessary to take an interest in things that may not be appealing at first, not as a chore, but as a way of supporting and connecting with others. I also have a 4 year old who may get into the sport, but wants to learn to skate and what better way then to have your own backyard ice rink.