Propane leak from Zamboni blamed for explosion at Taber ice arena

Officials in the southern Alberta town of Taber say a propane leak from an ice resurfacing machine triggered an explosion that damaged the community’s main hockey arena earlier this week.

According to the town, the leak occurred inside the arena on Dec. 17, allowing propane gas to build up into a cloud. That gas was later ignited by an electric heater, causing a fireball that blew open a garage door, shattered windows and knocked down interior walls separating the facility’s two ice rinks.

Town spokesperson Meghan Brennan said more than a dozen people were inside the building at the time of the blast, but no injuries were reported. Emergency crews responded quickly, and the building was evacuated as a precaution.

Fire Chief Steve Munshaw said an initial investigation found that standard maintenance procedures for the Zamboni had been followed and that there was no indication of negligence or wrongdoing.

The extent of the damage and the timeline for repairs remain unclear. Brennan said the town has received an outpouring of messages from across Canada offering support, underscoring the arena’s importance to a community where hockey plays a central role.