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Technical Corner

Loss of Industry Leader Dan Berry, CIT – Snowmass, Colorado

November 24, 2025

The industry is a collection of characters who often never vision a career on ice - Certified Ice Technician (CIT), Daniel (Dan) Berry was one of these characters. There are ice technicians that will provide a long overview of their experiences and longevity in the business to try and reconfirm their status, while others merely prove their worth by their effort everyday on the ice. Dan Berry was this type of individual. A student of the business of ice – always wanting to learn more and share his experiences with those with similar interest.

Dan Berry was ORFA’s first U.S. based CIT. His hunger to learn more brought him to Ontario where he mingled with members and industry leaders to try and achieve a level of higher learning before Serving The American Rinks (now known as the U.S. Ice Rink Association) was launched. He never viewed himself anything more than a student of ice – no aspiration to be in front of a group but truly a behind the scenes team player on emerging issues or challenges. Anyone who knows anything about the ice industry realizes there is a natural hierarchy of ice technicians. Professional curling and speed skating ice when compared to traditional hockey and figure skating ice have little room for imperfection. Dan’s passion was speed skating ice and was awarded as being part of the “World Record Ice at the Olympic Ice Oval in Salt Lake City” receiving the title of the “Fastest Ice in the World”.

In my time with ORFA, I along with many other staff have had the privilege of calling Dan a friend. His loss, although small in the grand scheme of things, seems insignificant.  The fact is however, that it will be felt as the industry has truly lost a professional ice maker.

Knowing Dan, if he was to leave a legacy to embrace, it would be to lead by example on and off the ice…

R.I.P. our friend. You will be missed.

Obituary: Daniel Berry | AspenTimes.com

    Comments and/or Questions may be directed to Terry Piche, CRFP, CIT and Director, Training, Research and Development, Ontario Recreation Facilities Association

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