A 53-foot tractor-trailer housing the world's largest mobile refrigeration unit, containing state-of-the-art ice-making and ice-monitoring equipment, was delivered to the venue to begin the process of building an NHL-caliber ice surface.

TORONTO -- Exhibition Stadium has taken on several different forms in the past few weeks, but Friday marked the first step toward converting it to the outdoor hockey rink that will host the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 1 (3 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV).

"Basically, all the refrigeration equipment that's on the inside of the truck is the same that is in any NHL facility, but it's all packed into a refrigeration truck," said Mike Craig, NHL senior manager of facilities operations.

Since the end of November, Exhibition Place has hosted the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup, Major League Soccer's conference finals and the MLS Cup final on Dec. 10. Once the rink setup has been configured, including covering the field with boards to protect the turf and running pipes to allow the temperature of the ice to be controlled, the expectation is the ice-making process will begin by Tuesday. By Dec. 26, the ice will be ready to paint; white that day, logos and lines the next. That will allow two more days to build up the ice to just over two inches thick -- a little thicker than the typical 1-1/4 inches used in indoor facilities -- in time for the players to begin practicing Dec. 30.

On game day, Craig said, the ideal temperature is about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But even if it gets warmer, the quality of the ice will not be a concern.

"That's why we have the nice trailer here," Craig said, "with 300 tons of refrigeration back there that is just as big, if not bigger, than the capacity that we have at any NHL facility so if it's a few degrees above freezing, that should be able to handle it."

On Thursday, temperatures dipped below 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Though that might sound like good news for making ice, extreme cold provides its own challenges. Mild temperatures can lead to soft, slushy ice, but extreme cold can cause the ice to chip more easily.

Video: The Centennial ice truck arrives in Toronto

"We have the refrigeration truck to cool the ice but we also have an inline heater so we are able to control the temperature of the coolant that is running underneath the ice," Craig said. "Between those things, we are able to get the ideal temperature for the surface for the players, which is between 22 and 24 degrees Fahrenheit."

Once the process of making ice begins, Craig said he tends to fall into a habit of compulsively checking weather reports to prepare for upcoming storms that could bring snow or to gauge when he needs to alter the coolant temperature.

"How often do I check? About every 30 minutes," Craig said. "We definitely want to keep on top of it."

The process of making the ice itself takes time. Using a spray-boom pole about 10 feet long with 10 water misters, the ice is built up gradually, leading to a dense, thick sheet.

"Our crew will spray the ice probably between 200 and 250 times once we start the ice-making process on December 20," Craig said.

Once the rink is ready, the expectation is that the Red Wings and Maple Leafs will feel as comfortable on the outdoor surface as they would at any NHL arena.

"Our crew, we have very high expectations of what it should be out there," Craig said. "Our goal at the end of it all is to make sure we are playing an NHL-caliber game on an NHL rink, and that means the ice needs to be at that level as well. Our expectation is to get there no matter what the conditions are."

Craig, who, along with his father, Dan, has overseen each of the 20 NHL's outdoor games since 2003, said the responsibility to ensure the rink is in the best possible condition is a heavy one.

"It's a big event, there's a lot of pressure not only for putting on the game but there are a lot of spectators here and viewers on television," Craig said. "So it's a pretty big job."