Strange: Ice Melts & Cancels Events at 20 Below

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Strange: Ice Melts & Cancels Events at 20 Below

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It's a problem that seems to defy logic. Despite temperatures all week long that are similar to the North Pole, the ice at the Crookston Sports Arena was melting.

It canceled a high school hockey game here Tuesday night, because the ice had turned to slush.

Reporter: "If it's 20-below outside, can you explain why the ice would melt?"

Bill Johnson, Crookston: "No I can't ha. Some type of malfunction I guess…ha."

While walkers using the facility today can't explain it, the operations manager can.

Scott Riopelle, Sports Arena: "Everything runs through a condenser outside and started slushing up on us. So, we couldn't get rid of the heat we needed to keep cooling."

The fluid in pipes under the ice used to freeze it was actually freezing up, when it hit this chilling tower outside. Tarps were wrapped around it to warm it and the problem was fixed.

Riopelle says he did receive a lot of suggestions to fix the problem by simply opening the doors. He says it's a fix that would not have worked.

Scott Riopelle: "If we open the doors what happens is… there's sensors in the building and that would kick on more heat, throw more heat into the building and work against us."

So, a perplexing problem is solved and the ice is once again chillin'Crookston. The 3 sheets of ice at the Crookston Sports Arena are back in business. It supplies winter recreation for thousands of hockey players and figure skaters every week.

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Strange: Ice Melts & Cancels Events at 20 Below - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Strange: Ice Melts & Cancels Events at 20 Below

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