Creating the ice surface for Winter Olympic events is more than a job; it’s an art form.

NBC 5 talked exclusively with the “ice man” for the American Airlines Center.

Max Newinski is the assistant director of operations, and he is tasked with not just making sure the ice is ready, but everything in and around it.

While it seems like a job with a lot of responsibility, Newinski said, he loves it!

It’s very relaxing. This is my moment to think about the day,” Newinski said. “My first season here [with the Dallas Stars] was 2013, so this is my 13th season and 12th year at this building.”

Newinski and his team are tasked with making the best and safest ice surface at the AAC.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself. We just have to get it right. We have to make sure where they’re playing will be safe. That’s what the team in Milan is doing. Player safety and fan safety is always our number one priority,” Newinski said.

Newinski knows someone who is leading the way on the work on the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. The Winter Olympics arena that will house hockey has been the subject of headlines for months leading up to the Olympics. There have been questions about whether it would even be ready for the Games. Newinski said there was never a question if the ice would be ready.

“While it does seem problematic, the guys who are in charge are professionals at what they do, and they’ll make sure it’s right,” Newinski said.

There weren’t just questions about the facility being complete, but also concerns about the size of the ice. The National Hockey League acknowledged in January that the ice is about three feet short compared to NHL rinks. We asked Newinski about it.

“A couple of feet, it’s a little bit of a black eye for the construction side, but these guys are going to thrive. These players are elite. It’s not like it’s ridiculously short or unsafe,” Newinski said.

This will be the first time NHL players are participating in the Winter Olympics since the 2014 Games in Sochi.  

The first official test of the ice will be Thursday, February 5, as the U.S. women’s hockey team will face off against Czechia. On that team, Coppell’s own Hannah Bilka.