Abstract: A water pump assembly for use with a slab type commercial ice maker of the type having an ice storage bin cavity at the bottom thereof and further having an inclined refrigerated plate and water recirculation pump system located within an ice maker compartment wherein the pump is submerged in the low point of a reservoir having a water surface therein directly exposed to the bin storage cavity to collect water recirculated across the refrigerated plate, the pump supplying water to the refrigerated plate and including an impeller shaft directed vertically therefrom through a shaft seal assembly coaxially located with respect to a bearing assembly in a motor for driving the impeller; a cup shaped deflector having an open end is supported on the pump housing and a cover thereon has an opening for the impeller shaft at a point interposed between the seal assembly and the bearing assembly so as to intercept spray from a pump shaft seal leak to prevent impingement thereof against the bearing assembly and to restric