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![\"MIKE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4632553_web1_Heritage-Classic_Derek-King_Mike-McIntyre-Photo-1.jpg\")
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MIKE MCINTYRE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Derek King, the NHL\u2019s vice-president of hockey operations and facilities operations, shows off the league\u2019s mobile refrigeration unit at Princess Auto Stadium on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely going to be a fun event to be part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
King is leading a crew of nearly 150 people \u2014 the majority being local contractors \u2014 who will be working long hours to get Princess Auto Stadium ready for the outdoor game, which is set for Oct. 25 and will be the 34th of King\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
Surely he can do this work in his sleep by now?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to think I can, but there\u2019s always something that comes along that can surprise us,\u201d King said with a laugh. \u201cThere\u2019s always challenges, which is what makes it interesting and fun. That really keeps the spark alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Exhibit A, see the 2016 Heritage Classic at the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers which endured a lengthy delay due to the bright afternoon sun. There will be no such issues this time around, with puck drop now happening just after 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t MIKE MCINTYRE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n Derek King, the NHL\u2019s vice-president of hockey operations and facilities operations, explained Tuesday that approximately 3,000 gallons of glycol coolant are pumped into custom-made aluminum trays to keep the ice surface at an ideal temperature for outdoor games.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThat was by design. We know we\u2019re not going to beat Mother Nature,\u201d said King.<\/p>\n The league\u2019s massive mobile refrigeration unit left Oakville, Ont., this past weekend and arrived at the stadium on Tuesday. The piping, which runs under the ice surface, is now starting to be installed while the field begins to get covered. The ice will start to go in this coming Saturday, a process which will last nearly a full week depending on the weather.<\/p>\n Regular folks may not love the cloudy and cool conditions we saw Tuesday, but that\u2019s absolutely perfect for King and his staff.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we could have this leading up to the game, that would be great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot more to this process than standing in the middle of the rink with a garden hose. King said the 53-foot, 300-ton capacity refrigeration unit removes heat from the surface and stabilizes the temperature to ensure NHL quality ice. They\u2019ve now done this in below-freezing temperatures and balmy conditions in California, Florida and Texas.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t MIKE MCINTYRE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n Preparations have started at Princess Auto Stadium for the NHL Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 25.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n How? Approximately 3,000 gallons of glycol coolant are pumped into custom-made aluminum trays that are configured on the field of the stadium and connected to the refrigeration unit, keeping the ice at the ideal temperature of 22 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately -5 Celsius).<\/p>\n The ice at Canada Life Centre is about 1-1.25 inches thick. The surface at Princess Auto Stadium will be double the thickness \u2014 requiring approximately 25,000 gallons of water in the process.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want everything to be perfect,\u201d said King.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want everything to be perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s basically control what we can control. Both these teams have had a good start to the season. We want them to enjoy the game. The last thing we want them to worry about is conditions at puck drop.\u201d<\/p>\n Nostalgia is the name of the game for the NHL when it comes to these types of outdoor games, which is why you now see multiple ones every season.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look back to where this game started, everyone was out on a pond or a lake playing hockey. So we\u2019ve tried to do that with what we\u2019re doing with the outdoor games,\u201d said King, who began volunteering at the Hazelridge Sports Complex when he was a teenager, working various jobs including driving the Zamboni.<\/p>\n He eventually became arena manager and vice-president, then joined True North Sports + Entertainment in 2004 to oversee ice operations for the Manitoba Moose. That carried over to the Jets in 2011 when the NHL returned before King took an even bigger role with the league in 2016 which has now taken him around the world.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t MIKE MCINTYRE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n Former Winnipeg Jets forward Eric Fehr \u2014 who is on the Jets\u2019 roster in the upcoming alumni game at Canada Life Centre on Oct. 24 \u2014 has played in three outdoor games. At Princess Auto Stadium on Tuesday, Fehr joked the former Jets are panicking to get back in shape for the alumni game this month.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Although he admitted to being a bit rusty on his skates \u2014 \u201cIt\u2019s been quite a while\u201d \u2014 King may dust them off to take a lap or two around the ice once it\u2019s ready to go.<\/p>\n His excitement is shared by both current and former members of the Jets.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying an outdoor game, I remember watching them growing up. It\u2019s a really cool thing to be a part of, and fortunately, we get to do it at home,\u201d forward Cole Perfetti said Tuesday prior to his team\u2019s game against the Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got lots of family coming in, everyone\u2019s got lots of family coming in, so it\u2019ll be a great game, a great time. When the time comes, really enjoy the moment and soak it up.\u201d<\/p>\n Eric Fehr, a member of the 2011 Jets, was at the stadium on Tuesday to survey the scene. He\u2019ll be participating in the alumni game which is being held on Oct. 24 at Canada Life Centre, joining the likes of Dustin Byfuglien, Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little and Toby Enstrom, among others.<\/p>\n \u201cGuys are panicked, trying to get back into playing shape in time for the game,\u201d Fehr cracked. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be exciting to get the guys together and play hockey again. To share the memories of everything that happened years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be exciting to get the guys together and play hockey again. To share the memories of everything that happened years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Fehr, the pride of Winkler, finished up his NHL career in 2019 with Minnesota, then played three more years overseas before hanging up his skates for good.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to have a lot family and friends coming to the game to watch. It\u2019s a unique experience for sure,\u201d said Fehr, who has played in three outdoor games during his NHL career.<\/p>\n \u201cThis event is so special for the players. This is not just another game. It\u2019s one you mark on the calendar, and it brings the best out of everybody. The league does such a good job putting it together and giving the guys good ice. Hopefully it will be cold enough to keep the ice cold. It should be a great atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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