siouxforeverbaby Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 I have not seen this posted, but either way...it deserves a thread. One Last Zamboni Ride Denny Gunderson, the Zamboni driver at the Ralph has decided to retire with this week being his last week. The article goes into how well he has cared for the ice and how long he has been doing this. I just wanted to tell him thanks and for always having a smile at hockey games and when he cleaned the ice right before ice skating class for us....PS: that made it really slippery for skating...I only fell twice that day!!!! Quote
Goon Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 I have not seen this posted, but either way...it deserves a thread. One Last Zamboni Ride Denny Gunderson, the Zamboni driver at the Ralph has decided to retire with this week being his last week. The article goes into how well he has cared for the ice and how long he has been doing this. I just wanted to tell him thanks and for always having a smile at hockey games and when he cleaned the ice right before ice skating class for us....PS: that made it really slippery for skating...I only fell twice that day!!!! Denny is an institution at the REA. Quote
The Sicatoka Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 I guess someone else can win at cards in the Zamboni room now. We so often think of sending people from UND Hockey to the pros when really we've had one here all this time. Quote
Ray77 Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 NOOOO...say it ain't so, Denny! I just know that Denny could have gone pro driving the Zamboni, but chose to stay at UND...he'll be missed. Quote
dagies Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 It's always great to have these kinds of people involved in the program. He will be missed, and hopefully he's trained good people to take over for him. I was struck by how, in 45 years, the story says he's seen 6 head coaches. Wow. Quote
Let'sGoHawks! Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 Congrats Denny! One has to wonder if the ice conditions will suffer now that "the master" is gone. He could stay on as a consultant and make a little money on the side. Quote
mikejm Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 Denny was the guy who took the chicken off the ice that I threw there back in the 70s. Quote
Shawn-O Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 Denny was the guy who took the chicken off the ice that I threw there back in the 70s. I would'a thrown stuff too if I had to sit through the Bjorkman era. Quote
mikejm Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 We were all pretty stoned, so it wasn't all that bad. I would've hated to have to go through it without a buzz on, though. Quote
70'sguy Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 We were all pretty stoned, so it wasn't all that bad. I would've hated to have to go through it without a buzz on, though. I also went through the Bjorkman era and do not remember any chicken . Could you please be more time specific as to when you attended and when exactly this incident took place. Quote
mikejm Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 pretty blurry on specifics: I'd say '74 or '75. Not '76 as I was gone by then. Quote
70'sguy Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 I left in 77. For the better part of 3 years I worked in the penalty box as an off ice offical. I must have missed the game with the chicken. To bad I would like to have seen it. Quote
mikejm Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 It would've been to your left, toward the zamboni exit/entrance. I wish my memory was not so foggy (about this and other things from that era ). You would've seen me right above the visitor's box when you worked the penalty box. Somehow a seat was always available to me. I always wore a referee's shirt. Quote
70'sguy Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 Yes, memories you can't beat them. Always remember the old days. Quote
Hayduke Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 He's the coolest ginger ever. I mean, ever! Have a long and happy retirement! Quote
fightingsioux4life Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 It would've been to your left, toward the zamboni exit/entrance. I wish my memory was not so foggy (about this and other things from that era ). You would've seen me right above the visitor's box when you worked the penalty box. Somehow a seat was always available to me. I always wore a referee's shirt. Hey, that's the area I used to sit in the Old Ralph (1993 to 2000)! Perfect place to heckle opposing players in the box. Man, do I miss that place. Quote
UND85 Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 I had the opportunity to work with Denny for three years(1983-85) while working in the athletic dept. Always a smile on his face and a great guy to work with. I hope they give him life time passes to hockey games at UND for his work. Just imagine seeing all the games that he has and he probably never sat in a seat in the arena! Enjoy retirement Denny! Quote
siouxforeverbaby Posted August 17, 2009 Author Posted August 17, 2009 I love getting to hear all of your memories about the older teams and Denny....unfortunately, I don't remember that time period either (for a completely different reason) , I get to hear about it through you guys! Quote
Siouxman Posted August 17, 2009 Posted August 17, 2009 It would've been to your left, toward the zamboni exit/entrance. I wish my memory was not so foggy (about this and other things from that era ). You would've seen me right above the visitor's box when you worked the penalty box. Somehow a seat was always available to me. I always wore a referee's shirt. That means that you would have been pretty close to Dave Suess. I think that his specialty was a long trench coat and harrassing the opposing team member in the box. Quote
mikejm Posted August 17, 2009 Posted August 17, 2009 Ahh, Dave... Yes. Perhaps the smartest man I've ever met. He was recruited by some men in suits with sunglasses to go to work for an unnamed "company". I haven't seen him since we were at a LA Kings game in '84. Quote
siouxforeverbaby Posted August 17, 2009 Author Posted August 17, 2009 What years did you attend school at UND? I attended UND from 2004-2009, so relatively recently. What I was referring to is the fact that I was not around in the 70s when all of the interesting things that you all talk about doing where happening. Quote
mikejm Posted August 17, 2009 Posted August 17, 2009 ...I was not around in the 70s when all of the interesting things that you all talk about doing where happening. Things weren't that interesting. Colorful, to be sure. Chaotic at times. But not particularly interesting. Quote
70'sguy Posted August 18, 2009 Posted August 18, 2009 I attended UND from 2004-2009, so relatively recently. What I was referring to is the fact that I was not around in the 70s when all of the interesting things that you all talk about doing where happening. I was curious as to when you attended. You were not around during the lean years. The team was not as successfull as it has been in the last 25years so to speak. However it was college hockey and Sioux Hockey just to be at the games at ice level knowing all the players as I did made for some interesting times. Quote
sprig Posted August 18, 2009 Posted August 18, 2009 It would've been to your left, toward the zamboni exit/entrance. I wish my memory was not so foggy (about this and other things from that era ). You would've seen me right above the visitor's box when you worked the penalty box. Somehow a seat was always available to me. I always wore a referee's shirt. We were usually above you several rows; thought the referee shirt and trenchcoat guys were nuts (and possibly dangerous) Quote
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