Frank, Lawrence and a cousin opened Iceland Skating Rink in Paramount, California, in 1940. Eventually, they covered it with a roof to keep the ice out of the sun and needed to maintain the indoor surface. Long story short: In 1949, after years of tinkering with ways to do the job most efficiently, Frank invented what we now know as the Zamboni, a machine that shaved the ice, removed the shavings, washed and squeegeed the ice, and held snow in an elevated tank.
Frank founded the Zamboni company in 1950. The first time one of his machines was used in the NHL was Jan. 1, 1954, at a Boston Bruins game at Boston Garden. Frank died July 27, 1988, in Paramount, but his legacy lives on. The company continues to be based in Paramount near the rink that is now called LA Kings Iceland. Modern machines operate all over the world.
Utah’s two machines were manufactured in Brantford, Ontario, and shipped to Salt Lake City. Logan Wescott, regional sales manager for Zamboni, said Utah is one of 19 NHL teams using the newest technology FastICE, billed as an accurate and automated high-pressure fine-mist water application system.
“It makes better ice,” said Paula Coony, brand director for Zamboni. “It makes clearer ice. It’s harder, less snow, and then they use less water. They really get to kind of control that, where a person without FastICE isn’t going to have that, so it’s exciting to see them adopt that technology. A lot more teams are doing that.”