Nov 28-04

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2004: November: Nov 28-04
Smooth operators    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo Courtesy Zamboni Co.
At the Armory    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Charlie Hopper


By
Charlie at Pasty Central on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 09:15 am:

Today's Shoebox Memory is another creative device used before Zamboni solved the ice making problem. Hockey season is in full swing - for high school, college, and pee wee's, that is - but not for the pros this year. To folks in the future who visit this electronic time capsule known as the "Pasty Cam", the 2004-2005 season was interrupted by a strike, sending many die-hard fans into withdrawal (including my wife). But there's plenty of action at the high school level, some of which you can hear on Pasty.NET... like last night's win/loss by Calumet against Hancock in the Copper Island Classic. (Calumet won the second game, but Hancock scored the most overall points.)

Another pre-Zamboni
Winter weather has arrived in earnest across the U.P., after a lengthened Indian Summer which gave us pleasant hiking-in-the-woods weather for a few extra weeks. Time to break out the snowshoes. Hey... maybe there's a good topic for next week's Shoebox Memory:o)
By Mr. Bill on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 09:21 am:

Finally, some white stuff


By RD, Iowa on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 09:24 am:

Did you notice the trailing guy in today's shot looks like he's adjusting the on-board computer?
at the keyboard


By Margaret, Amarillo TX on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 09:35 am:

We didn't have the "old fashioned" zamboni when the hockey fad started here. We've got the new kind.


By Sandstone Gal on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 10:22 am:

I spent many nights and A.M.'s at the Armory, both boys were in hockey. Brings back great menories. How did I live throught that?


By L-O-V-E Pastycam! on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 10:23 am:

I get such a kick out of this site, I cannot express...! That's some interesting contraption! Did anyone keep either of those machines for a museum someplace in the Copper Country??


By Anita, Calumet, MI on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 10:27 am:

Great shoebox photo of the old ice resurfacing methods. Does anyone know the date or names of fellas? Reminds me of cute old guy I knew in Troy, MI working at the same ice arena I did back in the 60's. He was originally from Calumet, Stubby Capell. He ran the Zamboni at the Troy arena, but used to tell us stories about his days of cleaning ice at the Olympia in Detroit when he pushed one of those contraptions with his little dog trailing behind. The crowds loved him and his little pal.


By David S. - FL on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 10:55 am:

Wow, what happened to the bridge cam; looks like it's face down in a snowbank.


By julie b., MI on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:11 am:

Just another example of what good ol' Yooper ingenuity can come up with! The big expensive zambonis are nice for sure, but this shows what can be done with less $$$ and some smarts!

Enjoy the snow everyone! Its about time!


By Jack, K Falls Oregon on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:13 am:

Anita - Did you work at the rink at the end of Eton? If so, we met many, many times. A few years later I too, pulled a 'hot mop' around a rink in Ferndale. I understand that the missing link, a converted jeep with an ice cutting blade, is still being used in Sacramento California.


By NKR Mishawaka IN on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:34 am:

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. More great pictures this morning. Not being a big hockey fan (sorry), what exactly does the Zamboni do? I thought it just scaped and swept the ice to keep it smooth. Also is there a website that tells about the history of hockey? Would appreciate any information.


By Josh, MQT on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:43 am:

Well, not all pro leagues are cancelled. The Minor Pros are in full swing too, and lots of locals have been doing great this season. NMU and MTU have alums in the AHL, ECHL, or UHL that have "lit the lamp" lots of times early in the season :)

NKR, The zamboni has small cutting blades under it that shave the ice (1/8"-1/4" at a time) and a large hot water tank to lay a new layer to the ice to smooth it out. (Way over simplified, but thats how a lot of us understand it)


By troll, mi on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 12:07 pm:

julie b.

Run your mouse cursor over the large B/W photo and you will find that it was provided by the Zamboni Co.


By interested party on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 12:20 pm:

Hey,

Check out
http://www.zamboni.com


By Alex Tiensivu, Georgia on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 12:38 pm:

By the looks of those photos, it's amazing what a long way we've come. I never really stop to look at things we have today and then compare them to what they used to look like and how they used to operate. I love the shoebox memories on here. One of my favorite features.

Is the bridge cam on strike today? ;)


By Jon, Ypsilanti on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 03:06 pm:

Charlie,

Technically the NHL is in lockout not a strike.

It is my personal opinion that the players want to play, but the owners want a new CBA (collective bargining agreement), but the players will not accept the owners terms.

The difference I guess is that a strike would be started by the Union, where as a lock out is started by management.

Still it looks like there will be no NHL in the forseeable future.....


By Al, SoCal on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 03:57 pm:

Played on non-check, co-ed league team for quite a few years with alternating games in Paramount, Ca. There is an early model Zamboni parked along side of the really odd-shaped rink; wider than the Olympic ice sheet.


By Larry - IN on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 05:59 pm:

NHL hockey will only be back with a reduced number of teams and a salary cap. Not great for players, but needed to keep the league viable.

Hope to see the new zambonis running soon in NHL rinks. Have watched great college & AHL hockey on Direct TV, have gone to a UHL & USHL game so far,but do like to see the "Big Boys" on the ice!


By Amber, Lakeport on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 06:04 pm:

I remember that kamakazie on ice.


By Lance, MI on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 06:08 pm:

That is too bad that there is no NHL this year!


By Amber. ;ale[prt on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 06:09 pm:

Things are a little foggy, maybe I should have posted on Wazzup!


By Greta, Milwaukee on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 06:22 pm:

Great shot - I'm going thru NHL withdrawal but at least I get to see college hockey on TV. Go Badgers.....and the Milw Admirals in AHL.


By Ralph, stuck in Florida on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 10:36 pm:

Is this the Calumet Armory or the Dee??


By Charlie at Pasty Central on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:30 pm:

Ralph,

The rear view of the Zamboni is in the Calumet Armory. The photo of the hand-drawn ice smoother was on display in the Dee earlier this year during the 100 year hockey celebration.


By Sarah, Stuck in Ohio on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 07:28 am:

I had the priveledge of learning how to ice skate in the Calumet Armory. My favorite part was sliding across the ice on my knee-pads though! Those were the days!


By Yooper Stuck in PA on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 02:44 pm:

The Calumet Armory had natural ice long after Dee Stadium had "artificial" ice. I remember sweeping the Armory with 12 or 13 of my best friends with corn brooms every night after practice so that the ice could be flooded with a hose and the boards would not have an upward curve because of snow build up. This was 1960,61, and 62. We were the older guys and had to sweep the ice every night. I don't think the Armory ever had one of the manual Zamboni's. By the time they put the pipes in to freeze ice, the modern Zamboni was everywhere.


By Lin, trollville on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 03:23 pm:

I miss the RedWings too - withdrawl is right! I hate to see what will happen to Pro Hockey if this lasts all year. A strike (or walkout) wasn't real good for baseball (they're JUST getting their fans back to the stadium) or basketball a few years back. I hope they just get back on the ice before all my heros are too old to play!


By Brendan Doud, Milwaukee, WI on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - 06:22 pm:

I love the picture of the Armory, it looks good. The Milwaukee Admirals are the best pro team in hockey right now, they can't be stopped, two Calder Cups in a row? Go Calumet Wolverines! Watch out Houghton and Hancock, Milwaukee Pius XI Hockey coming to town this weekend.


By Erin, Ga on Thursday, December 2, 2004 - 03:02 pm:

I love a good ZAMBONI!!!!


By Rick, Wisconsin on Thursday, December 2, 2004 - 03:36 pm:

I am glad there is no hockey this year. Don't miss it one bit. I was a mild Hockey fan until our pros were allowed to go to the olympics. It not so bad that they did not play well on the Ice but their actions and comments off the ice turned me off to the sport forever!!


By Scotty, WI on Saturday, December 4, 2004 - 05:39 pm:

The Hancock H.S. hockey Dawgs ate a big bowl of Pius Popes for dinner last night, and I don't think it was a very close game. A certain Pius alumnus from Milwaukee owes me a buck. By the way, there would have been similar results had the teams from the mid-90's met!


By Your Auntie, Mi on Sunday, December 5, 2004 - 08:26 am:

LOL... Way to go Scotty! I'll be waiting to hear when your debt is paid up by Brendan... HCH and Pius hockey rivalry extended to rivalry between cousins is too funny.


By C Julien Copper Country on Monday, December 6, 2004 - 11:56 am:

Great picture of the zambonis!
Does anyone have any old pictures of surfacing the ice here on rinks here in the Copper Country?
I would love to add them to my Copper Country Hockey History webpage and credit you for the photo:
www.cchockeyhistory.org


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