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30 / MARCH.APRIL.2021 USICERINKS.COM How arena staff and management executed fresh ice with constant action during the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Pod in Omaha, Nebraska BEHIND BUBBLE THE by Cory Portner, CIRM PHOTOS: MARK KUHLMANN, CORY PORTNER AND NATE WENDEL n unprecedented year has tossed plenty of different challenges at ice crews across the country, often resulting in some pretty creative and unique answers. Enter, bubble hockey. Much like the National Hockey League executed two bub- bles for Return to Play action this past summer, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference— home to Division I men's programs Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska-Omaha, University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University—began its 2020-21 season in a Pod in Omaha, Nebraska. With eight teams and roughly 10 games per team in three weeks, the situa- tion provided lots of learning, lots of work and plenty of interesting behind- the-scenes scenarios—all with a successful completion. Cory Portner, assistant ice technician in the pod, shares more of the details. // How is preparing for a pod different from a regular event? The biggest difference was the sheer volume of teams, practices and games. All of the ice work was multiplied by eight. Taking care of the ice for a single game or a single DI tenant is a lot of work. Increasing the workload with seven additional teams made for some long days and even longer overnight shifts. We stayed one day ahead of all ice activities to ensure the ice crew had a detailed plan for every ice resurface throughout practices, games and main- tenance hours. A , This past December, all eight teams from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference converged on Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska for a total of 40 games.