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CEnter ice Q&A with a rink professional 54 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2016 RINKMAGAZINE.COM PHOTO: COURTESY OF MICHAEL RICCIOLI // How did you get into the rink business? About four years ago I pursued my dream of playing professional hockey. I took a year off of work from my construction job to train and skate every day. I attended several free agent camps but didn't make the cut. Being at the rink everyday I came to realize it's where I belonged. I didn't want my time at the rink to end and I didn't want to go back to a life that just seemed to be passing me by. I started working at the rink as a cleaner at the age of 27—the same rink I worked at as a 15-year-old kid. It was the best decision I ever made to get into the rink business. // You've been all over the map with regional training courses the past two years, what are some of the cool things you've seen or experienced while on the road? Every trip has been special to me. I have traveled to places and seen things I never thought I would have the chance to see. The host facilities have always given STAR guys the VIP treatment. Whether it has been giving us exclusive tours of NHL facilities and locker rooms, or tick- ets to games. It was really cool to talk Zambonis with Don Zamboni and Olympias with Don Schlupp Jr; two guys who have a blood- line that goes back to the invention of the ice resurfacer. Also, it's always important I bring my hockey gear and get a few skates in while I'm at each location. That always makes me feel right at home no matter how far away I am. I would have to say one of the cool- est things happened while at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. I was walking by one of the rink windows while on a lunch break and there he was—Sidney Crosby— getting a skate in with a couple other guys. Having these one-of-a-kind experi- ences while also educating myself was a really great feeling for me. // What's been the best class for you and why? The best class for me was the IMEO Course. It was really exciting to learn things that I could go back to my rink and practice on my next shift. It was a hands-on class that specifi- cally taught me things I do on a daily basis. Also, having the experts from both Olympia and Zamboni there to teach us about their machines was very helpful. It was amazing how knowledgeable those guys are. // What's the best part of your job? The best part of my job has got to be enjoying my time on the ice. Skating and playing hockey is what I live for. Being able to share my passion through teaching hockey skills and making great ice really makes me feel great. The relationships I have made with people at the rinks mean so much to me. I truly love everything about being at a rink. // What's the toughest part of your job? I enjoy my job very much. I forget I even get paid for what I do sometimes. The tough part is being on such a different schedule from my family. I don't get to spend as much time with them as I would like. I am usually just going in to work as they are get- ting finished. They understand I am doing what I love. It still doesn't make it any easier for me and I do miss them a lot of the time. Without their support I would never have had the opportunity to pursue my dream in the first place. // So, what's next for you professionally? This upcoming year I am very excited to be a part of both the Philadelphia Flyers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Ice Crew. I will also continue to work at my home rink, Hatfield Ice, and also my job at Total Hockey. I have a desire to learn all facets of the industry and make myself as valu- able of an asset as possible. My plan is to keep working hard and absorb as much as I can while I enjoy all of these experiences. I would like one day to have a position that would be a culmination of all the things I am passionate about at the rink. // Any advice for other STAR mem- bers that are trying to complete their professional designations? The advice I would give to other STAR members would be to set a goal for yourself and to go for it. Look at these courses as something you are doing for yourself and not just for an employer. I didn't graduate high school or go to col- lege; this is my education. Every time I get one of those course certificates in the mail for me it's like getting a diploma. It's a great sense of accomplishment for me and I take a lot of pride in earning the STAR designations. J Michael Riccioli PROFILE Name: Michael Riccioli Title: Ice Resurfacer Operator, Ice Crew, Hockey Instructor Facility: Hatfield Ice Years in the Industry: 3 years Professional Designation: CIRM Norristown, Pa.