"Everybody wants to give me a high five or watch me on the zamboni," jokes Jimmy Carolla, local zamboni driver, "Who doesn't love a zamboni driver?"

Mr. Carolla started working at the ice rink the very first day it opened. "They made me work there," starts Mr. Carolla. "Not really. I just thought it would be an easy transition since I work at the marina."

"Happy Holidays. Howard Ice Arena. What can I do for you?"

"Sorry about that. Now where were we?" laughs Mr. Carolla "There is more to being a zamboni driver than people know." The zamboni machine, contrary to popular belief, doesn't just smooth out the ice. It serves four key functions.

"I call it the 4 step process...." starts Mr. Carolla glancing over toward the phone.

"Oops! Sorry man. I forgot you were on hold. Open skating starts at 1 p.m."

Hanging up the phone, Mr. Carolla chuckles to himself. "Man, that guy was

on hold for like three minutes. He must of been like 'what the hell. Nice service you got here.'"

First, the zamboni cleans the ice. The next step is that the zamboni machine augers the ice into the middle and then up into the dump tank. "Yeah, that's where Jimmy uses the bathroom when he's out on the ice," one employee remarks. Mr. Carolla just starts to laugh: "When you gotta go, ya gotta go."

The third step comes when the six-foot long, razor sharp blade cuts the ice. Lastly, the zamboni lays down a smooth layer of hot water. "You use hot water because it freezes faster than cold water," Mr. Carolla explains.

However, being the zamboni man is not Mr. Carolla's only job at the ice rink. He also oversees the facilities. "I have an inside man who handles all of the money and does most of the paper work. I'm the ice man. People could call me 'Jimmy the Ice.' Naw, just kidding."

As far as accidents go? Mr. Carolla knocks on his wood desk, "I haven't had an accident yet. But when the zamboni is full it weighs 81,000 pounds, so I guess anything is possible."

"Jimmy. Do you mind if we stay on the ice for another fifteen minutes?" asks a local hockey player.

"No go ahead... and I won't even charge you," said Mr. Carolla.

"Thanks."

Then Jimmy turns to me; "A lot of maintenance and a lot of late hours. But what can I say, I'm 'Jimmy the Ice'."