Canadian Football Hall of Fame QB Chris Flynn goes viral for epic outdoor hockey rink, homemade Zamboni

Chris Flynn is arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of Canadian university football, but his playing ability apparently paled in comparison to his prowess as an outdoor rink builder.

The 59-year-old went viral this week after sharing a video of his impressive pond hockey setup with his 268 followers on Instagram. That clip, featuring a homemade Zamboni, was picked up by TSN‘s BarDown page and has since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times across multiple platforms, receiving more than 29,000 likes on the original post alone.

Nothin’ like a fresh sheet on the outdoor ice 🧊

(via IG/chrisflynnfootballcap) pic.twitter.com/1jOVSqgBQh

— BarDown (@BarDown) January 3, 2026

According to Flynn’s caption, he’s been erecting the outdoor rink on Long Lake in Mayo, Que., for the past 16 years. His operation improved substantially last winter when a neighbour, Stephane, rigged up a homemade Zamboni that uses hot water to flood the ice between periods. The rink is also open to the community, meaning that all can enjoy the dedication and innovation.

Prior to establishing himself as a premium D.I.Y. arena creator, Flynn was a dynamic and ultra-productive quarterback for Saint Mary’s University. In four seasons for the Huskies, he recorded 7,292 passing yards, threw a U Sports record 87 touchdowns, reached two Vanier Cups, and won an unprecedented three Hec Crighton Trophies as the top player in Canada.

The native of Buckingham, Que., would go on to spend two seasons as a backup with the Montreal Machine in the World League of American Football, before moving to France and playing four years with the Fighters de Croissy sur Seine. He would wrap up his career in 1996 with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

In 2011, Flynn became the first player to ever be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame for their accomplishments at the university level. In 2019, his jersey was retired in 2019 by Saint Mary’s. He has also been decorated off the field, as in 1994 he was awarded France’s Medal of Honour for Courage and Bravery after saving a woman from drowning in the river Seine.

Three decades after his retirement, Flynn is still slinging the pigskin for the Buckingham Falcons in the Ligue de Touch Football de Buckingham, posting a 7-2 record this past season.