Love of ice sports

Former NHLers to skate in benefit game in Wellington

Lara loves to spin. The almost-8-year-old skates with the Prince Edward County Figure Skating Association in Wellington and Picton. Even off the ice, she is keen to show how a graceful and athletic spin should be performed.

“Skating backward, I jump into the air, spin around and land, still skating backward,” Lara explains as she demonstrates on dry land—not quite nailing the landing. “It’s harder to do when you aren’t on the ice.”

Lara Lemke (centre) with fellow competitors Marina Guadagnin (left) and Sydney Vanderveen during last season’s end of year ice show in Wellington.

Both Lara and her older sister Maggie skate in the Recreational ranks of the Canskate program under the auspices of Skate Canada. It is the program where they first learned to skate and develop as young athletes.

But it’s expensive. As skaters progress and improve, they need more specialized coaching and skills development. The ice time and coaching is expensive. Many skaters have been forced to abandon the sport they love long before their promise was fully realized.

The Starskate program was developed specifically to enable skaters to continue to train and develop in a group experience. Skaters at various levels practice and train in groups—students get the training they need on a more economical basis, while younger skaters are encouraged and inspired by the older talent on the ice.

Still, it is a costly endeavour.

It is why the County Figure Skating Club jumped at the opportunity to participate, promote and benefit from the NHL Alumni game against the Law Enforcement All-Stars comprised of local OPP officers.

On December 11, Walter Gretzky will be behind the bench at the Essroc Centre coaching a team of NHL All Stars including Rick Vaive, Al Iafrate and Tiger Williams. It isn’t just former Leaf greats in the NHL Alum lineup coming to Wellington. The team includes Mark Napier, who was part of the 1979 Montreal Canadiens’ Stanley Cup Championship team. John Druce was a journeyman toiling on the fourth line through most of his career. But in the playoffs of 1990, after an unspectacular regular season, Druce scored 14 goals propelling his team—the Washington Capitals—to their first ever appearance in the semi-finals. He played seven more seasons in the NHL, but never matched the production of that very special run. Druce is currently coach of the Cobourg Cougars of the OJHL.

Rounding out the lineup are former greats Mike Krushelnyski, Laurie Boschman, Tom Fergus, Brent Gretzky, Dave McIlwain, Bryan Muir, Dave Reid, Dave Hutchison, Mark Laforest and Mike Pelyk. These are the players who are set to lace up in Wellington—but the promoter emphasizes that the lineup is subject to change.

The benefit game will be played against a team comprised of OPP officers from the region.

The chief beneficiaries of the tournament are the County Figure Skating Club and the Belleville Bearcats—a girls’ team of high calibre hockey players. Tickets for the Alumni game are available through County Figure Skating Club members and the Belleville Bearcats.

Lisa Lindsay is the County manager of community centres and marketing. She says the origins of this event go back several years with Constable Anthony Mann, who was then the community officer for the Prince Edward detachment of the OPP. The support of the OPP was essential in landing this highly prized event.

She adds that it is ultimately about putting on a show for this community, with the side benefit of helping kids.

“It’s pure entertainment,” said Lindsay. “It is a wonderful showcase for the love of ice sports— hockey and skating.”

Before the game and during one of the intermissions, the County Figure Skating Club will present a demonstration of their talents and skill for the audience

Perhaps we will see Lara’s spin.