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No more eye strain for hockey fans

Arena score clock gets a $47,000 makeover
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The retrofit complete, preparations are made to hoist the clock back up. (Photo Gerry Leibel)

No more squinting your eyes at the Tamitik arena score clock to see the score on game day – the equipment has been upgraded, complete with bright LED lights.

Kitimat Leisure Services director Martin Gould said the original lighting, electronics and score clock controllers for the Rotomatic four-sided score clock were installed around 1980 when the arena was built.

“After 39 years of service, it was decided that the score clock needed updating,” said Gould, adding that technical failures were plaguing the ageing scoring system.

“Replacement parts for the score clock were becoming extremely difficult to find and the controllers, when they eventually failed, would have had to be sent away and rebuilt from the base control circuit boards up.”

Rather than buying a new score clock, which Gould estimated would have cost well over $100,000 for a similar four-sided clock, the District opted to hire a firm to refurbish the existing clock for just over $47,000.

Harris Time Inc., based out of Oakville, Ontario, were tasked with stripping the score clock down to the shell and replacing all the electronics with new equipment, replacing all lighting with new LED lights and providing modern wireless plug-in controllers for the system.

Gould said the retrofit of the score clock should last another 25 to 30 years before it needs another retrofit, or alternatively, a complete replacement.

In addition, the lift which lowers and raises the score clock was also replaced, allowing for ease of access to the score clock for inspection, repairs and for replacement of advertising on the clock.

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Andrew Harris and Mike Volek put the finishing touches to the score clock. (Photo Gerry Leibel)