TABER — A hockey-loving town in southern Alberta that lost its only two ice rinks in a Zamboni explosion says it may cost about $11 million to rebuild the facility.

Derrin Thibault, Taber’s chief administrative officer, says council recently agreed to spend about $6.2 million to rebuild its large ice rink after the December blast shattered the walls around it.

But the town still needs about $5 million more to fix the second ice rink and remaining parts of the community centre.

Thibault says the town has also requested $8 million from the federal government for upgrades.

The Town of Taber has said it was a leaky Zamboni that set off the blast.

The leak was ignited by a nearby electric heater, creating a fireball that shattered glass around the ice rinks, damaged the roof, toppled concrete walls and bricks, and hit gas lines.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2026.

The Canadian Press