BOTCHFORD: WHO COULD THE CANUCKS GET FOR KESLER?
Heritage Classic: Mike Craig was tasked with a near-impossible job — making viable outdoor ice in Vancouver in March
When the Canucks and the Senators play the Heritage Classic on Sunday at B.C. Place Stadium, you may not be able to see it very well, but the contest should be about as game-like as it gets for a temporary rink set up in a massive stadium.
That’s thanks to NHL ice-maker Mike Craig, who has been in Vancouver for a week to supervise the building of the rink and the creation of the 200-by-85-foot ice surface. Craig, the 37-year-old son of well-known NHL ice-making guru Dan Craig, spoke with The Province during the run-up to the Heritage Classic.
Q Jim Jamieson: Your dad became a household name among hockey fans when the NHL first started playing games outside of North America in the late 1990s. How did you end up following in his footsteps?
A Mike Craig: Basically, I didn’t know what else to do when I stopped playing hockey. We were having those father-son conversations about what to do with your future, and this decision allowed me to stay in hockey and be around the rink, to still work in the game and be around something I loved.
How far did you get in competitive hockey?
I played Tier 2 junior in Bonneyville (Alberta) and finished up in Creston (B.C.). Then I played at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, in Calgary). At that point, you decide whether to go to minor pro or start work.
You went right into ice-making from there?
I took courses on refrigeration at SAIT and my first job was in Kelowna at Prospera Place, right out of school at about 22. I worked for the Oilers in Edmonton — where I grew up — as facility co-ordinator for a time, but now we’re back in Kelowna. I have my own arena consulting company there, but since last fall I’ve been senior manager of facility operations for the NHL.
The NHL has put on 12 outdoor games since 2003. You’ve been involved in all but two of them. How does the Vancouver game rank in terms of challenges?
The games have definitely become easier as we’ve gone along. We’ve learned a lot with each different setup. We’re still building a rink from scratch and making ice and playing a game. There’s some dynamics to that, but it is fairly straightforward. It’s nice it’s in a controlled environment (the ability to close the stadium roof ) so we’re not going to have to deal with a ton of different weather issues. As far as it being a little bit warmer, our refrigeration truck has as much, if not more, capacity as any NHL facility.
What’s required in terms of equipment?
We have one refrigeration truck and then we have four container trucks that have all of our aluminum ice pans and our equipment where we build the floor.
Then we have some for our dasher boards. Probably about 11 or 12 trucks.
What is the process for making the ice?
We put plywood on the floor and then bring in the ice pans and hook them together and install the piping. Then we charge that system (with coolant) and connect it to the refrigeration system.
When we’re down to the right temperature we start spraying the water and building it up. It takes maybe 200 sprays to get to where we need, which is between 1¾ to two inches.
What’s the ideal temperature you want to keep the ice at?
About 24 degrees (about 4.5 C), which is a little bit warmer than you’d find in an NHL facility, but you’d also have a lot more control over the system.
What’s the biggest challenge in Vancouver?
You’ve got a real narrow window in Vancouver to get in, setup and then get out. That’s the challenge with this one. Basically, we have a 24-hour production schedule when we’d usually book ourselves at 16 hours a day. We’ll have two crews — a day shift and a night shift. For the ice crew, we usually have 12 people, but in Vancouver we’ll have 18, plus myself.
Considering these events only come along once in a while, where do you get your crew people from?
We’ve put together a Winter Classic crew that we’ve compiled over the years. Having different events at different times, we’ve split those guys up and hired some new people. Their places of employment are very good at allowing them to experience something like this. Guys come from all over Canada.
These events are special in the cities where they take place. You are so busy and focused on the job at hand — are you able to enjoy that
part of it?
We try. We are definitely busy and get wrapped up in it, but we do try to take a few minutes to appreciate what we have accomplished. Once you get to practice day (Saturday) and seeing the guys out there skating and really enjoying the experience themselves. During the game, you take some deep breaths and look around and appreciate the experience. That’s what these things are. When people show up they have a great time and really enjoy the hockey experience.