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Miniature Ice Rinks Built in Experimental Lab to Support Jet Ice Research!

Mini Ice Rinks Built in the Experimental Lab to Support Jet Ice Research

Researcher Dr. Stefania Impellizzeri is the inaugural Jet Ice Research Chair in Sustainable Materials Chemistry at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is collaborating with Jet Ice to develop more sustainable ice-making and ice-paint materials and practices for rinks.

All over North America, Jet Ice provides the ice making technologies and paints to hockey, curling, and skating rinks. 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.

The analytical work will happen in the Urban Water Analytical Lab, while new formulations will be tested on ice rink surfaces in the Urban Water Experimental Lab.

In October 2023, specialized cooling plates and computerized controls were built in BC and transported to TMU. While a 15 foot by 9 foot refrigerated chamber was built to maintain the temperature and humidity of the cooling plates. The mini-ice rinks are now installed and being monitored in real time with sensors to measure all of the variables involved in 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.