This Sunday will mark the end of an era as “The Guy On The Zamboni” will retire after working his final Halifax Mooseheads game.
“The Guy On The Zamboni” is also known as “The Ice Man!”
Kelly Saunders started out driving the Zamboni in a local rink 50 years ago and worked his way up to being the Zamboni Driver at the Scotiabank Centre, he started at the then Metro Centre in 1987 and has seen it all over the 38 years.
On Sunday afternoon a large group of Kelly’s friends will be in the stands to see him work his last game in Moose Country, plus his 85-year-old mother will be in attendance for her son’s milestone day, as well his relatives will join him in the intermissions on the Zamboni for the last rides
Have a listen to our conversation below and find out how many times he’s circled the rink as we reminisce over the decades from the AHL days to the Mooseheads winning it all on home ice in 2013, The World Juniors here twice, to the hundreds of kids Kelly has given a drive to on the big Zamboni including both my sons Drake and Trent when they were little.
(Above: A young Mooseheads fan at a recent game gets a ride on the Zamboni with Kelly.)
I’ve been lucky to work with Kelly since 1997 at the Moose games and can tell you he is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever met.
(A view from the Referee hole.)
Congrats on a stellar career my friend and you’ll be missed at the games, Kelly.
-Ian (Halifax Mooseheads Public Address Announcer since 1997.)
(Credits: Ian Robinson Photos.)
