I’ve been an avid Buffalo hockey fan since high school when my brothers and I would go to nearly every game, sit in the Aud’s red section and cheer on the team. But it always seemed the greatest fun would be to ride the Zamboni. (For those who don’t know hockey, it’s the machine that cleans the ice between periods at the game, taking off 1/16th of an inch of ice and laying down a layer of water.)

Thursday, at a great game between the Sabres and Montreal, I joined driver Jim Bender (who has been driving Zambonis for 35 years) on the mammoth machine, riding in circles around the rink. What a blast! The ride and game tickets were won at the recent Cardinal O’Hara High School auction event.

Gillian Sweny, a student at the University at Buffalo, and Lacey Senese, from Rochester Institute of Technology, interns for the Sabres in the public relations department, took my daughter and me to the area under the stands where the Zamboni and its driver were waiting.

The two young women, who clearly love their jobs in community relations, chatted about their work and their hope for full time positions with the Sabres. (They have my vote.)

Jim said his life’s work went from “freezer to freezer” as he began working as a meat cutter at age 15 and at 17, started at Holiday and Leisure Rinks. The first Zamboni he drove was a three speed hand clutch model a long way from the ones used today.

“The youngest person who rode with me (at a Sabres game) was 4 years-old and the oldest, a woman 83,” Jim related. “When I asked the woman if this was her first ride, she said it was. When I asked what took her so long, she replied, ‘I’ve been busy.’ Of course there was the guy who paid $1,000 and when he came with his two young sons, the boys refused to ride.”

The evening was great and the photos and video taken by my daughter and son, who was also at the game, will no doubt end up in the family archives to be laughed at in years to come.

•••

Most everyone around here is still talking about the great fame the North Tonawanda High School Lumberjacks played to win the state title.

Therese D’Angelo went to the game in Syracuse and e-mailed that “we were so proud of our young athletes and their coaching staff. ... All of their hard work and dedication paid off for them. They made our area noticed on the map by their maturity, unselfishness (always giving credit to other players on the team for their success) and motivation. Way to go Jacks!”

While reading her note, the thought of my dad reciting the following ditty every time NTHS played football came to mind. Do you remember shouting:

“Riggity ree, riggity roo, we’re the boys with the red and blue. Some from the east, some from the west. We’re the best, the best, the best.”

And they are. Congratulations.

•••

The first week of December is my favorite of the year.

Dec. 3 is my mom’s birthday, Dec. 4, the feast of St. Barbara and of course, Dec. 6, St. Nicholas Day.

The kids and grandkids are hoping St. Nick comes to visit this year as he has come to our family since my mom was a kid. The nuts and candy thrown in the door are always a surprise. Hope he’s around this year.

•••

One of the first work crew volunteers I ever met at the Riviera Theatre was Nels Terhaar. A quiet, humorous and knowledgeable person, he always went out of his way to make a person welcome. Little did I realize until reading his death notice the other day, that he had been a Brighton Volunteer firefighter for 54 years. He wasn’t into bragging, except about the theater to which he had devoted countless hours over many years. He’ll be missed. Condolences to his family.

Contact community editor

Barbara Tucker at 693-1000, ext. 110 or e-mail barbara.tucker@

tonawanda-news.com