An ice piece release and formation system (and associated methods) including a chilled compartment, a warm section, a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, and a reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section. The tray includes ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles. The reservoir assembly includes chambers in fluid communication with the cavity and a driving body for moving the chambers. The system further includes a heat-exchanging fluid that resides in the chambers and the cavity of the tray. The driving body and the reservoir assembly are further adapted to move each of the chambers to a position above the cavity, and the other of the chambers to a position below the cavity, such that the fluid within the chamber positioned above the cavity flows into the cavity.