"The biggest factor between baseball and football stadiums is the leveling of the field. Now that we've done it a number of times, we know that we are level," Craig said. "In this particular venue, we are really still trying to figure out the wind that comes through here compared to yesterday; you come in here today and there's not much, so that's really what I concentrate on. The weather within the parameter of here, where the wind comes and goes from. Whenever we put this type of (ice) system together, the wind does affect one end of the rink compared to the other end, so we have to make sure we're on top of all of that."
The students got to be up close on the glass of the rink and saw the ice, which was covered by a reflective blanket. Craig explained the process of making the ice and answered questions from the kids.
With rain potentially being in the forecast for Saturday, Craig explained how the crew deals with the weather.
"You just have to learn the environment that you're in," he said. "We've got a great crew, all of our equipment is top of the line and now whatever Mother Nature throws at you, we just make sure everybody is prepared, everybody is rested, everybody is ready to go."
With the Flyers and Penguins scheduled to skate on the rink later Friday, Craig said everything as far as the ice is concerned was on schedule.
