CIMCO Refrigeration "fired up" the just completed ice making system at MTS Centre this week to test the ability of the plant to create the all-important ice surface for professional hockey and other skating events. The first-ever sheet of ice installed in the building, termed "black ice" in construction jargon, achieved everyone's expectations of the new system.

The first step in the ice making process was to fill the system with the brine solution that is used to chill the concrete floor. The brine was then circulated through the pipes embedded in the concrete event floor slab. The brine solution and the rink slab temperature was then lowered to 32 F (O Celcius) and held steady for 24 hours. It was brought down a further 6 F over a two day period to 26 degrees F (-3 C) at which point water was sprayed on the concrete to begin making ice. The sheet of black ice was allowed to harden over a two day period and monitored for thickness and density before it was allowed to thaw.

CIMCO, a refrigeration company that has installed 4000 ice rink facilities in its 75 year history, is the acclaimed industry leader when it comes to installing new systems like the one at MTS Centre. CIMCO is the "NHL preferred ice rink equipment supplier" and the company that installed new ice systems for the Leafs at Air Canada Centre, the Senators at the Corel, the Oilers at Rexall Place and the Flames at the Saddledome. The company has also provided expertise and equipment to most of the other new generation NHL facilities in the United States.

The installation of the ice making plant for MTS Centre started months ago. Over the summer CIMCO has embedded the artificial ice-making equipment in and under the event floor, installed the compressors, pumps, refrigeration equipment and the computer system that will produce and control ideal ice making conditions and placed two hundred tons of refrigeration capability on the roof of MTS Centre.

The Manitoba Moose hope to begin practicing at MTS Centre as soon as "white ice" is available early in November. White ice is the real sheet of hockey ice - surrounded by the new dasher boards and painted white with red and blue hockey lines and embedded with all of the corporate advertising and centre ice logos for opening night. The first regular season Manitoba Moose AHL game at MTS Centre is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17th when the opponent will be the St. John's Maple Leafs.

For more information contact:
Jim Millican
Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications
True North Sports and Entertainment Limited
(204) 989 - 6813

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