16 Dec Webinar Recap featuring the Past-President of the O.R.F.A. with the Team Lead of Carleton Place, ON
How Ross Rankin ( Past-President of the O.R.F.A) and Connor Edwards (Team Lead Operations) navigated due diligence, financial incentives, and a mid-season installation to transform their arena operations.
In our recent “Operator-to-Operator” webinar, we sat down with Ross Rankin (Past President, ORA) and Connor Edwards (Team Lead) to discuss a topic that makes many facility managers nervous: switching to REALice in the middle of the season.
Ross admitted that when he first mentioned installing REALice at an ORA meeting, peers looked at him “as if he had two heads.” Cold water flooding challenges decades of traditional ice-making wisdom. But for Ross and Connor, the decision wasn’t a gamble—it was the result of a calculated process that started with rigorous research.
Here is how they moved from skepticism to a successful mid-season launch.
1. Research First: “Better ice quality”
Ross emphasized that he would never make a recommendation without operator buy-in and thorough investigation. During his due diligence, he reached out to peers across Ontario who were already using the system.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, but one specific detail stood out. Peers reported that curlers—who are notoriously particular about ice clarity—could finally see their lines clearly after the facility switched to REALice. This confirmation of superior ice quality was a key factor in moving forward.
2. The Financial “No-Brainer”
While ice quality was paramount, the financials had to make sense. Ross explained how they leveraged provincial incentives from the IESO and Enbridge Gas. These programs covered the majority of the equipment costs.
When Ross presented the numbers to Council, the Return on Investment (ROI) was so strong that the approval was, in his words, a “no-brainer.”
3. Overcoming Hesitation: The Mid-Season Install
With the decision made, the team faced the logistical challenge of installation. Waiting for the off-season wasn’t an option, so they executed a mid-season install.
The stakes were high. They had to shave the ice down to the paint and rebuild it just hours before a scheduled Junior A game. Despite the pressure, the process was seamless. The team successfully rebuilt 3/4 inch of ice in a single day, proving the system’s efficiency and putting to rest any fears about transition downtime.
4. The On-Ice Reality: 68°F Water & Higher Brine Temps
Now that the system is running, the operational changes are undeniable. Connor reports that the facility has successfully lowered their flood water temperature to 68°F, yet they are running significantly higher brine temperatures.
The result? The compressors run so infrequently that the facility is seeing massive energy savings. In fact, they run so little that the team had to adjust their snow pit strategy because there wasn’t enough waste heat to melt the snow!
Missed the webinar? We have condensed the full hour-long conversation into a focused recap video, highlighting exactly how Ross and Connor managed the switch.
