CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — The owner of the Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga is now offering to pay the medical expenses of those impacted by the high levels of carbon monoxide detected at the facility on December 27.
This comes after 2 On Your Side obtained a video where people on the ice can be heard discussing the detectors going off on December 23, four days before the incident that sent over 100 people to nearby urgent cares and hospitals.
In a statement to 2 On Your Side, Holiday Twin Rinks owner Mark Grundtisch said:
"On behalf of Holiday Twin Rinks, I am VERY sorry that this situation has occurred. I personally feel terrible for those who have been affected by this, and we have committed to cover all medical expenses incurred.
I promise that, as a company, we take the health and safety of all of our customers very seriously.
I only WISH we could go backward and correct what went wrong, but at this time we can only move forward, and fix the air quality issues we have been working through, with the help of the Town of Cheektowaga, National Fuel and private contractors."
Grundstisch also told 2 On Your Side that his building supervisor was notified about the alarms going off on the morning of December 24, but he personally "was not aware of what occurred in the video on Saturday night at 11:30 p.m."
News of the video, and discussion about the detectors going off days before the incident, have caused anger and contention amongst the hockey community in WNY.
"Accidents happen, I get it," said Amherst Red Knights team manager and assistant coach Jay Calabrese. "But if this was brought to their attention last week, and nothing was done, and obviously at this point, it seems as though that's indeed the case, there's gonna be some tough questions that they have to follow at the rink."
Calabrese and his son were at the rink for two games on December 27 when the incident occurred. His team played the first game, but many of the parents and players grabbed lunch elsewhere. One of his players, however, stayed behind at the rink.
"He was the one that was actually the most sick out of our whole team, vomiting and a garbage can in the locker room after the second game was called," Calabrese said.
After the second game started, more players on both teams began getting sick, tired, and saying they were light-headed.
"There was about five minutes ago, in the second period, and the referee skated over to me on the bench and said, 'Hey listen, we're gonna have to call the game, the other team has kids vomiting all over the place,'" Calabrese said.
Calabrese and his son decided to go to Lockport Memorial Hospital for an evaluation. They were treated with oxygen for several hours because of the elevated CO levels in their blood.
He said 13 out of 16 players on the team went to the hospital.
Calabrese said he and other parents appreciate the offer to have their medical bills paid but believe other actions could be taken.
"we've been checking on each other but as far as answering questions and being held accountable, I don't see how they can escape the situation," Calabrese said.
After 2 On Your Side aired the video from December 23, a source with direct knowledge told WGRZ that the video had been forwarded to the Cheektowaga Police Department and that detectives were reviewing it.
While there is no investigation at this time, the source said the video could change that.