The staff at the Cedar Park Center put in some extra work this week to make sure game 1 of the Calder Cup Western Conference finals between the Texas Stars and Toronto Marlies went smoothly Friday.
Game 1 was sandwiched between seven Disney on Ice performances that were originally scheduled to run from Wednesday to Sunday. Once Texas eliminated the Grand Rapids Griffins in the second round, Friday’s ice show was canceled to accommodate the hockey game.
It also put some added pressure on the Cedar Park Center staff to paint, cut down, repaint, and then cut the ice down again in four-day span.
On Tuesday an additional layer of ice was added and painted white for Disney on Ice. After Thursday’s performance it was cut down by a Zamboni, revealing the hockey ice in time for Texas and Toronto to practice Friday morning.
Immediately after game 1, the transition started again. Once again adding another white layer of ice that will be cut down Sunday night in preparation for game 2 on Monday.
“I’m very proud of our staff, we are a very busy building here, especially now,” Texas Stars president and Cedar Park Center General Manager Rick McLaughlin said. “Being able to run the hockey team and the building at the same time is a big plus for us.”
Disney on Ice’s rigging apparatus for lights and curtains was still hanging from the roof for Game 1. As a result the Jumbotron was still retracted into the roof, while time, score and other pertinent information was presented on the LED ribbon boards.
The Disney on Ice schedule also forced Texas to get creative with its practice schedule this weekend. Normally the Stars would practice at Chapparal Ice at the Northcross Mall. Due to ice maintenance at the facility, Texas practiced at The Pond Hockey Club – a two-thirds sized rink that isn’t set up for 5-on-5 hockey.
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