A backyard hockey rink on a Quebec lake is getting major attention, thanks to a homemade Zamboni that’s being put to work on the ice between periods.
For Chris Flynn, a Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Mayo, Que., resident, building a rink on Long Lake has been a labour of love for more than a decade.
“In 2010, I decided to start doing a skating rink on the lake,” Flynn said.
Long Lake is approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Gatineau.
For Flynn, keeping the ice smooth was not always easy, but with the help of a neighbour, he’s taken things to the next level.
“In the last year or two, Stephane has helped me take it to another level,” Flynn said.
Together, Stephane Deshaies and Flynn built the machine by hand.
“What we like about it, it’s the same shape as a real Zamboni,” said Deshaies, a Mayo, Que. resident.
The project started with old equipment and a lot of problem solving.
“I had an old lawnmower machine, and I started from there,” Deshaies said.
The homemade Zamboni uses hot water just like the real thing, which Flynn says makes all the difference.
“We’re able to use hot water, which cures and repairs the ice better than cold water,” Flynn said.
The machine even rolls out between periods, turning a pickup game into something straight out of an arena.
“It’s everyone’s true dream. In between periods, this miniature Zamboni came and did the rink,” Flynn said.
While the project has gained plenty of attention, including in an Instagram post that’s gained more than 35,000 likes, Deshaies says the payoff remains simple.
“It’s a lot of work to maintain the rink on the lake. But every time we’ve got people using it, it’s a reward for us,” Deshaies said.
A homemade Zamboni, a backyard rink, and a neighbourhood project all show how far Canadians will go for the love of the game.
