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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Ted Kulfan

Ex-Red Wings Zamboni driver Sobotka files lawsuit, reveals reason for firing

DETROIT — Longtime Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka has filed an age and disability discrimination lawsuit against Olympia Entertainment after his termination earlier this year.

According to the Tuesday filing in Wayne County Circuit Court, Sobotka admitted to urinating Feb. 2 into one of the arena's drains that leads into a sewer designed to handle ice runoff from Zamboni machines. That incident was reported to management, which prompted a series of meetings that led to his dismissal.

Sobotka has been the popular Zamboni driver at Little Caesars Arena, Joe Louis Arena and the Olympia, having worked with the Red Wings for the last 51 years before being terminated in February.

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