An ice resurfacer driver in Fort Collins, Colorado has died after an accident on the ice on Tuesday, January 27.
The incident occurred shortly after noon local time at the Edora Pool Ice Center when the driver, whose name has not been disclosed, backed the vehicle into a partially open overhead door. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
No other employees or visitors at the rink were injured.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected, and we are working to support their loved ones and coworkers,” City Manager Kelly DiMartino said in a statement the next day.
DiMartino continued, “The City is conducting a thorough review to better understand the circumstances surrounding the event and to review safety policies and practices. We remain committed to the safety and security of City staff and every member of our community.”
The rink remained closed through Thursday, January 29.
“This pause in our ice rink operations is out of an abundance of caution, to allow for staff support, and to provide time and space to understand the circumstances surrounding the event,” DiMartino concluded.
The facility is home to Colorado State University’s non-NCAA-affiliated ice hockey team, as well as the Fort Collins Area Swim Team and Fort Collins Figure Skating Club.
An ice resurfacer is a vehicle commonly used to smooth the ice at hockey and skating rinks. Zamboni, the brand most associated with ice resurfacers, was not involved in the accident, but has become so synonymous with hockey that its inventor’s son, Richard Zamboni, even got a special birthday greeting from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in August 2025.
“You have been a remarkable partner and friend, to not just the NHL, but to the game of hockey,” Bettman, 73, said, according to NHL.com. “We’re grateful to all of your contributions and congratulations as well for having one of the world’s best names.”
Zamboni, who took over the Frank J. Zamboni Company in 1976, died in November at age 93. He was a member of the Ice Skating Institute Hall of Fame, NEISMA Frank J. Zamboni Hall of Fame and earned multiple lifetime achievement awards for his work growing ice sports worldwide.
When Richard died, the Zamboni Company’s brand director, Paula Coony, remembered him as a student of his industry.
“There was a lot of growth that Richard was not only witness to, but was responsible for,” Coony told the Brantford Expositor. “He stood up for the legacy that his dad built. He was so filled with wisdom and knowledge about the processes, and he was always fascinated with learning more about the science of ice, ice quality, and how we could build a better machine.”
Over the years, the Zamboni has become such an iconic part of ice sports that Dave Schneider, a member of hockey-themed band The Zambonis, told The New York Times in 2009, “It’s kind of weird. Even people that don’t know anything about the sport know the Zamboni.”
He humorously added that even when the Zamboni company found out about his band, he told them, “Please don’t make us change our name to the Ice-Resurfacing Machines.”
