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Wildest Non-TV Story of the Day: Weaving Zamboni Driver in Minneapolis-Area Arena Arrested for Allegedly Being Drunk While Clearing the Ice

Feb 1, 2012  •  Post A Comment

"Police were called to Hayes Arena [in the St. Paul-Minneapolis suburb of Apple Valley] after people at the arena called to report that the man driving the Zamboni over the ice sheet appeared to be drunk," reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The article continues, "When officers arrived at the city-owned ice arena, they saw Joel K. Bruss, 34, of Apple Valley struggling to maneuver the vehicle off the ice. Zambonis are used at ice arenas to clean and smooth ice. Bruss was unsteady on his feet and smelled of an alcoholic beverage, according to a news release from Apple Valley police.

"Police arrested Bruss on suspicion of driving while impaired. He was taken to the police station, where blood-alcohol testing was completed."

According to the account of the incident in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Spectators, hockey players and parents pressed against the ice arena’s glass Monday night, watching as a Zamboni driver at the Hayes Arena in Apple Valley weaved across the ice erratically and smacked the machine hard against the boards.

"About 25 minutes into what should have been a 10-minute job resurfacing the ice, the driver — a part-time employee of the city of Apple Valley — tried to maneuver the unwieldy machine into the arena garage."

The Star Tribune story adds, "Before the PeeWee C players, ages 11 to 13, took the ice, [coach Bryan] Dornstreich said he noticed that the rink attendant was ‘making stripes on the ice.’ But the driver went back and corrected all his mistakes. After the game it was a different story, though. While Dornstreich was working with a referee, a parent ran over to say that the rink attendant was ‘weaving all over, slurring his words.’ "

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