From Richard Nimtz:
>The time it takes to resurface the ice depends on the skill of the zamboni
>driver. Larry (the best zamboni driver in the CCHA) can do the Notre Dame
>surface in about seven minutes. The driver at Ferris takes nine minutes.
>The Univ of Michigan starts with two zambonis then one finishes the job
>off. The two zamboni crew is no faster than Larry.
>
>Are all zamboni drivers men?
 
I won't argue "the best zamboni driver in the CCHA", but the two zamboni
crew is much faster.  They are usually done in about 5 minutes, which is
good because about 75% of Michigan home games feature youth figure
skating between periods.  About 1-2 times a year, things get fouled up
and the intermission is too long, which peaves the coaches.  I believe
this happened when Notre Dame was in Ann Arbor this past season.  Now,
if we could get the people who handle the nets between periods to be a
little more efficient...
 
I don't recall seeing a female driver in college hockey, but I've seen
female drivers several times at Veteran's Arena in Ann Arbor.
 
From Tom Kirkman:
>St. Cloud State U (in MN) presently uses two zambonis to resurface between
>periods...I'm not sure it really reduces the time (but it may double the
>advertizing potential).
 
Bingo!  I've noticed the "double advertizing" load at Michigan.  Also,
the between periods Score-O (shooting the puck from the red or blue line
through a hole about double the size of the puck) exhibition has multiple
sponsors.  Even Michigan's C-YA signs have sponsors!
 
From [log in to unmask]:
>I had always wondered if there was any competition
>for Zamboni.  For the past 15 or so years I had just
>assumed that Zamboni was a monopoly and no one else
>tried to make ice resurfacers.  I guess it's not that
>big a business or we would see Ford and GM trying to
>build there own.  Actually I heard the engine in the
>Zamboni is built by Volkswagen, a Golf engine modified
>to run on Propane.  Just a few rambling thoughts.....
 
As last I recall, Western Michigan University has an Olympia rather than
a Zamboni.  The driver wears a tuxedo.  As he enters the rink, the PA
announcer says something like, "And now, the best dressed Zamboni driver
in all of hockey," to which a few Michigan fans respond, "That's not a
Zamboni, that's an Olympia!"  Too funny.
 
C-YA,
 
  John H
  U Mich