N’ice one Charley as toddler dresses up in Zamboni machine costume at hockey match

TODDLER Charley Haywood melted the hearts of players and fans at a professional ice hockey match.

The two-year-old dressed up early for Halloween after the Glasgow Clan had beaten Manchester Storm 5-2 at the intu Braehead Arena and wandered on to the ice rink dressed as a Zamboni machine.

A Zamboni is used to resurface the ice and give it a smooth finish in between periods of an ice hockey match.

Charley’s dad, Matt Haywood is The Clan’s longest-serving player having played for the team for ten years and is in his Testimonial Year.

When Charlie appeared on the ice as the team celebrated their victory, Matt carried her round the rink so more than 3000 fans at the game could get a better look at her amazing costume.

And yesterday, Charley was back at The Arena to be given a chance to sit in the driving seat of the real Zamboni.

Matt explains: “We were having a special Halloween-themed match night and my wife, Jennifer thought it would be a great idea to make a costume in the shape of a Zamboni machine for Charley to put on.

“Charley loves watching the Zamboni driving round the ice when she’s at the ice rink and says she wants to be a Zamboni driver when she grows up.

“There was a great reaction from the crowd when Charley came on to the ice as a Zamboni with everyone cheering and she absolutely loved it. She did very well and we’re very proud of her.”

Matt adds: “All the credit for the costume must go to Jennifer who came up with the idea and made the costume from cardboard boxes, then painted it and added decals to the side.”

Scott Martin, intu Braehead’s leisure general manager said: “Charley’s costume was fantastic and was just like a miniature version of our own Zamboni machine.

“And if we’re ever short of a Zamboni driver sometime in the future, I’ll know exactly who to ask to take over driving the machine!”