[ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, 2025 Oct. 21,] The hum of the Zamboni fills the arena as the smell of fresh ice drifts through the air. It’s late evening at Adrian College’s Arrington Ice Arena, and while most students are heading home, Brian VandeZande or one of his two coworkers is just getting started. The team rotates night shifts to keep the rink running smoothly, ensuring it’s ready for another day of hockey, figure skating, and community events. Their work isn’t flashy, but without them, the show couldn’t go on.
Arrington Ice Arena is one of Adrian College’s busiest athletic facilities, hosting hundreds of games, practices, and special events throughout the season. For 18 years, Brian has handled custodial work, from maintaining the ice and cleaning locker rooms to making small repairs, controlling ice compressor temperatures, and sharpening skates. He even cut the ice for the inaugural games of the men’s and women’s NCAA teams, as well as the men’s Division II team.
“My favorite part about this job is doing games. Mostly making sure I get the ice as good as possible before the game and during intermission,” Brian said. He takes pride in creating the best possible conditions for Adrian’s teams, especially during big matchups. The atmosphere at Arrington during an NCAA hockey game, men’s or women’s, is electric. “It’s not unusual to have eight or nine hundred people in this building for a game,” Brian said. Locals, students, and families fill the stands or gather upstairs in the rink’s WOW Café, creating an energy that’s hard to match.
What makes Adrian College hockey special, Brian says, is the sense of family that connects all the teams. “It’s not as isolated team to team as it was at one time. I think the entire program has begun to embrace everybody else’s programs.” With seven hockey teams and a figure skating team sharing the ice, that sense of unity is strong. “It makes my day when somebody just walks by and says, ‘Hi, Brian,’” he added. Around the arena, everyone knows each other, and everyone says hello.
“Brian’s the reason we can hit the ice every day without worrying about anything,” said Devon Cavaliere, the captain of the Adrian College Women’s Division II hockey team. “You don’t really think about how much work goes into keeping the ice perfect until you see Brian stay at the rink till 2 a.m. working.” Devon, who has a good relationship with Brian and learned to sharpen skates from him, added, “He takes pride in what he does, and we all notice it.”
As the arena empties and the echo of skates fades, Brian steers the Zamboni across the rink one last time. For the players, it’s just ice. But for Brian and his crew, it’s the result of hours of unseen dedication that keep Adrian College’s rink, and its spirit, alive. The behind-the-scenes work of staff like Brian VandeZande ensures the arena remains a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for all who visit.
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college in southeast Michigan. Known for its innovative programs and student-centered mission, Adrian College continues to build partnerships that support academic excellence, workforce development, and lifelong learning. For more information about Adrian College, visit adrian.edu.
