With summer winding down, winter sports will be heating up.

For Senior Parks and Arena Maintenance Associate Mike Pries that means he has an ice rink to make.

“It takes about a week, start to finish,” explains Pries. “We do about four loads of just water on the concrete at first, and then four loads of white, followed by another 92 loads of clear once we’re done painting.”

The staff of four, including Pries, completed the ice surface on Friday.

“The first booking if August 24th,” informs Pries before suggesting they may have a group in prior to that “just to cut it up a little bit”.

The first week will see a hockey camp and goalie training camp, and be followed by the Steinbach Pistons power camp.

Pries says extra equipment has been purchased and additional sanitizing techniques will be implemented in order to assuage COVID-19 concerns.

Even with the added work, Pries seems eager to begin the season.

“This is my main enjoyment,” offers Pries, “putting the ice in before the winter season.”