Why hockey sticks are TransLink’s preferred tool to clear SkyTrain ice

You can call it a “Canadian solution to a Canadian problem” — at least, that’s how TransLink describes it.

With more winter weather in the forecast for Metro Vancouver Thursday, the transit authority says it’s pulling out all the stops and using all the tools in its arsenal — and that includes hockey sticks to clear ice and snow build-up on SkyTrain cars.

“I was out there on the Expo Line yesterday and I saw some attendants out there with hockey sticks at Edmonds Station clearing some snow from the doors,” TransLink spokesperson Dan Mountain said Thursday.

“Really, the reason why they do that is because snow builds up in the doors. If the doors start to freeze, that can cause delays. And if the doors don’t open and close, the train can get stuck.”

This isn’t the first year hockey sticks have been used by SkyTrain attendants to keep cars moving.

According to Mountain, they’ve used a variety of tools over the years. But, there’s just something about hockey sticks that make them the preferred item.

“We’ve actually found that the curved nature of the hockey stick is what fits best between the doors to really clear that snow to prevent ice build-up. And the staff love it, so that’s what we continue to use,” he said.

TransLink explained in 2021 that transit authorities across the globe “have unique ways in dealing with the impacts” of winter weather. This just so happens to be what TransLink attendants have found to be best for them.

Milder conditions in this region compared to others in the world mean TransLink doesn’t have to resort to more extreme measures, like in Chicago, where the Metra commuter rail system has set track switches on fire to prevent freezing.

It appears hockey sticks have a long history of clearing ice and snow from SkyTrain cars in Metro Vancouver. TransLink said in 2021 that they’ve been an effective tool for more than two decades.