Donnie MacMillian, ice supervisor at the RBC Center for the Carolina Hurricanes, died of an apparent heart attack Thursday afternoon, police said.

MacMillian, 52, was found unconscious lying beside his bicycle in Umstead Park. Paramedics were called, but they were unable to revive him.

Canes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford released this statement: "It is a very sad day for our organization. A person that was a big part of the Hurricanes has passed on suddenly. Donnie will be missed by everyone whose life he touched, both personally and professionally."

MacMillian was probably best known to Canes fans as "the Zamboni driver" who resurfaced the ice between periods. The machine used is actually made by a company called Olympia. He explained the difference in an article for How Stuff Works.