CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t performed a recreation since final April, however this week, you might say the crew “resurfaced.”

The primary preseason recreation on the united heart remains to be a couple of month away, however crucial Blackhawks crew members had been on the ice Monday.

Senior Ice Technician Nick Cotsilis and his 7-year-old son Jake helped ready the enjoying floor with a recent coat of paint.

The concrete beneath the ice is chilled to 16 levels, and the ice on prime is a number of levels cooler. 

Utilizing a specifically formulated paint that adheres to the ice, technicians will take 25 gallons and eight colours to make the strains and the brand for the upcoming season.

“It’s nearly like paint by numbers … keep within the strains,” Cotsilis stated.

Then they’ll apply a slowly sprayed layer of water that may seal the paint for the season.

“After it’s all carried out and painted, we’ll be right here for 2 to 3 days sealing it up good and gradual,” Costsilis stated. “You need skinny, skinny, skinny layers, since you wish to construct up that arduous density ice that the gamers like.”

When it’s all carried out in 48 hours, there might be about an inch and a half of ice on prime of the painted floor. And the white a part of the ice, that’s painted too. 

“That’s a powdered white we use that we run by way of a giant 10-foot lengthy sprayer and that we really spray the white onto the concrete,” Costsilis stated. “That’s to distinction with the puck and brighten it up for our beautiful TV lights and every thing.” 

The video games might be performed with the ice at 21 levels  

“The Blackhawks received one of the best emblem within the league, so when you get all these shiny vivid colours on and also you spray a bit of clear again on there, it simply brightens up the entire place,” Costsilis stated.