A rink worker escaped with moments to spare before the snow-laden roof of the Sylvan Lake Arena partially collapsed early on Monday.
An employee was driving a Zamboni when he heard cracking noises. He got off the machine, checked that no one remained in the building and left only minutes before a large section of the roof caved in.
The force of the collapse blew out an end wall of the arena, which was built by local volunteers and opened in 1972. It appears one of the main wooden trusses collapsed, pulling down a section of roof with it.
Arena operator Graham Parsons said he got a phone call from the rink worker about 12:30 a.m.
“He said, ‘Get down here. The rink fell down.’ ”