TULITA/FORT NORMAN - Robin Langille is probably humming "The Zamboni Song" in his head these days.

The recreation co-ordinator in the community will be on his way to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver as an ice resurfacer, having just been chosen by the selection committee overseeing the hockey competition at the Olympics.

Tulita's Robin Langille sits atop an Olympia ice resurfacer during a training session in Vancouver on Nov. 15. Langille will be riding the very same machine as a resurfacer at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. - photo courtesy of Robin Langille

Langille said he didn't think he would get the chance after he signed up later than most.

"I was looking at some different websites dealing with recreation and I stumbled upon one from B.C. asking for volunteers to resurface ice," he said. "I put my name in and I managed to get an interview."

Langille was contacted by Erin Thornton, the co-ordinator for the Ice Hockey Vancouver Organizing Committee 2010, shortly after applying. Langille said it was just like any other job interview.

"There was a committee of around five people and they just went over my qualifications and experience," he said. "Time had passed and I eventually got a second interview, but it was more technical this time, testing me on my knowledge of resurfacing and other stuff like that."

Langille won't be driving a Zamboni-brand resurfacer at the Olympics. He'll be aboard an Olympia model, built specifically for the games, Langille said.

"The big difference between this one and the Zamboni is the automation," he said. "Everything is automated except the adjustment of the blade that scrapes the ice. You're normally able to control the amount of water that goes on the ice, but this one controls that to make sure there's just enough water going on."

Langille was in the host city from Nov. 13 to 15 for a training session on his duties. He said there will be certain things he has to remember while out on the ice.

"There will be two machines out on the ice every time," he said.

"That will be tough to get used to because I'm only used to having one out there. There's also going to be a headset I'll be wearing to keep in contact with the supervisor at all times because there's a certain pattern I have to follow. I also have to remember to not do anything silly because I'll be on TV in Europe. They don't go to commercial during intermissions and they follow the resurfacers."

Langille will not be at Canada Hockey Place, where all the main action will be. He'll be at the UBC Winter Sports Centre, but he said that's OK with him.

"I'm just happy to be there," he said. "I don't care about not doing games at the big arena. This is just a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I'm happy to be a part of it."