Success Stories
A few of the stories that stood out — from NHL practice rinks to small-town arenas.
San Jose Sharks Install REALice at Sharks Ice
Three REALice systems now run across five rinks at the largest indoor ice complex in North America by square footage — the official practice facility of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and home of the AHL's San Jose Barracuda.
Projected savings: over $50,000 USD/year · 250,000 kWh · 230 tonnes CO2 annually
Read the press release →Pechanga Arena San Diego: 35 Years of Ice, One Chief Engineer
Home to the AHL's San Diego Gulls, Chief Engineer Ralph Bedoe has made the ice at this 14,000-seat arena for 35 years. "The ice is like one of my kids," he says — now treated with REALice since 2018.
14,000-seat facility · running REALice since March 2018
Read the interview →City of Guelph Converts Every Indoor Arena
"I was the biggest skeptic," says Ange Tassone, Supervisor of Facility Operations — until her team converted all four of Guelph's indoor recreational arenas and found the ROI came in at just 1.3 years.
Quarter-million kWh · 36,000 m³ natural gas · 102 tonnes CO2 saved annually
Read the story →St. Albert Converts All Five Arenas
Following early success at Servus Credit Union Place, St. Albert expanded REALice to the Jarome Iginla Arena and Kinex Arena — making it one of the first communities in Canada to convert its entire rink portfolio.
"Installing REALice makes the ice smoother and more compact." — City of St. Albert
Read the story →The 50th System Installed in Canada
The University of Alberta became the first university in the country to adopt REALice, bringing the technology to the historic Clare Drake Arena as part of the university's broader sustainability push.
2,600-seat arena · running REALice since 2018
Read the story →Uxbridge Wins Enbridge Gas Efficiency Award
The Township of Uxbridge received an Energy Efficiency Achievement Award and a $5,902 incentive from Enbridge Gas after converting its twin-rink arena — with a 25-year projected lifespan on the system.
$36,000/year projected savings · 57 tonnes CO2 reduced annually
Read the story →Best Ice in the ECHL
The Rapid City Rush's home ice at The Monument won the ECHL's Best Ice Award. "To this day, officials tell us how great this ice is," says Engineering Manager Nathan Kleinschmit. "We always had good ice here, but REALice makes it better."
ECHL Best Ice Award, 2020–21 season
Read the story →90% Approval and 12 Track Records: Lake Placid
Skeptical at first, Lake Placid's team took road trips and demanded hard data before buying in. After a phased rollout across the historic '32 and '80 rinks and the Olympic sliding track, the results speak for themselves.
90% user approval (up from 86%) · 12 speed skating records · 4–5 luge world records
Read the story →Trico Centre: Twin Rinks, One System
"It feels fast — faster than before," says Ryan Matity, Facility Operations Manager at this community-owned Calgary facility, after a single REALice system took over resurfacing for both of Trico Centre's NHL-sized rinks.
30,000 m³ natural gas · 150,000 kWh electricity saved annually
Read the story →Saanich: A Second System, A $20,000 Rebate
The District of Saanich added a second REALice system at Pearkes Arena's Green rink, backed by a FortisBC rebate covering a large share of the cost — part of the District's push to cut emissions 50% by 2030.
$20,000 FortisBC rebate · 36 tonnes GHG cut annually
Read the story →"When My User Groups Are Happy, I'm Happy"
Tyler Shores, Grounds Specialist at Colby College, on the Jack Kelley Rink's switch to REALice — home to a Men's hockey program over 100 years old and a Women's program over 50.
NCAA Division III · Waterville, ME
Read the story →From Skepticism to a Mid-Season Install: Carleton Place
Ross Rankin admits peers looked at him "as if he had two heads" when he first proposed REALice. He and Connor Edwards walk through the due diligence, the financial case, and rebuilding the ice hours before a Junior A game.
Flood water lowered to 68°F · brine temps up, compressor runtime down
Read the story →Alberta's Finest Ice: Slave Lake
For the annual Treaty 8 Cup, the ice needs to be fast, smooth, and durable. A provincial case study documented Slave Lake's transition as a sustainability success story for facilities across Alberta.
Over $95,000 in total funding accessed via MCCAC
Read the story →FortisBC: The Energy to Help BC Conserve
FortisBC's own video coverage on how REALice is helping BC rinks cut energy use — independent utility recognition, not REALice's own marketing.
Produced by FortisBC
Watch the video →See how much your rink could save
REALice is already running in 200+ rinks across North America.
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