Jet Ice Research: Pioneering Sustainable Ice Making Technology!
Mini Ice Rinks Built in the Experimental Lab to Support Jet Ice Research
Dr. Stefania Impellizzeri, the inaugural Jet Ice Research Chair in Sustainable Materials Chemistry at Toronto Metropolitan University, has been collaborating with Jet Ice to develop more sustainable ice-making and ice-paint materials and practices for rinks.
Jet Ice supplies ice-making technologies and paints to hockey, curling, and skating rinks across North America. Through the Jet Ice Research Chair in Sustainable Materials Chemistry, the company has been working to establish scientifically proven, sustainable practices for ice-making and ice-painting.
The analytical research is taking place in the Urban Water Analytical Lab, while new formulations are being tested on ice rink surfaces in the Urban Water Experimental Lab.
In October 2023, specialized cooling plates and computerized controls were manufactured in BC and transported to TMU, where a 15-foot by 9-foot refrigerated chamber was built to regulate temperature and humidity. Now fully operational, the mini ice rinks are actively monitored with real-time sensors to track key variables for high-performance ice-making.
More on Jet Ice – An Amazing History!
Doug Moore was Maple Leaf Gardens’ Chief Engineer in the ’70s and developed new ways of maintaining a high-quality ice surface, experimenting with paints and purified water. In the ‘80s he founded the company Jet Ice, which is still in the family and led by his daughter today (Deborah Wilcock, President).
Recognizing that TMU acquired Maple Leaf Gardens in 2009 (now named the Mattamy Athletics Centre), Jet Ice has gifted hockey scholarships for TMU student-athletes and health and wellness programming, the MAC’s Engine Room is now named in memory of Doug Moore, and the Jet Ice Lounge is a feature event space overlooking Mattamy Home Ice.
With the Jet Ice Research Chair in Sustainable Materials Chemistry, the company looks to solidify proven scientific principles for sustainable ice-making and ice-painting for generations to come.
