Hub Staff

Three weeks into their practice sessions and skating routines are now coming together for the teams that will be participating in the Battle of the Blades competition fundraiser on April 1 at The Plex in Port Elgin.

The concept was inspired by the CBC television show of the same name where a hockey player and a figure skater, past or present, come together to perform a routine and compete against other teams. The event is presented by the Saugeen Shores Skating Club (SSSC) with half the money raised going to the Liv-A-Little Foundation for Cystinosis research.

“The teams have been coming out when they can and a lot of them are pretty keen,” said Event Chair and Saugeen Shores Skating Club Coach, Janet Dawson. “They've definitely gotten better from the first night,” she said. “They've kind of relaxed a little wee bit and I really love the good natured, competitive spirit. Not a whole lot of name calling but some,” she said with a smile.

Dawson, who is helping with some of the teams' choreography and music for their routines, said that their routines are just starting to come together. “I'm just chipping in where I can, giving them some artistic licence themselves to add their own thing.” She added, “it's been a lot of fun and there's always a real buzz on the ice with the energies here.”

“It's going well, we're having fun,” said Lisa Clarke who is partnering with former Toronto Maple Leaf player, Nathan Perrott.

“It's hard,” laughed Perrott. “I've got lots of experience skating but not figure skating. It's definitely a new experience.”

Former Saugeen Shores Winterhawks and father of Olivia Little, for whom the Liv-A-Little Foundation was founded, Chad Little, echoed Perrott's challenges. “I can't get used to how figure skating works,” laughed Little. “It's just like organized chaos, all these people going every which way.” He added that from a hockey perspective it's all about drills. “Everybody lines up here and everybody skates the same way and everyone shoots the puck. It's very organized practices that you're used to. There's like a rhythm to it. Out here everyone does their own thing which is great because they all have their own routines but you're always looking over your shoulder.”

Little's skating partner Melanie Marshall has choreographed their routine and she is also helping out another team with their routine. “He's doing so well,” said Marshall about her partner who added that they're at the stage of tweaking their routine. “We can do it beginning to end with a few bumps but we can do the whole thing now and it looks like a performance.”

Saugeen Shores Skating Club President, Steve Clarke, who is also in the competition with his partner, Amy Thompson, a coach at SSSC, said that everything was going great. “It seems like everyone's working hard at it that's for sure,” he said. “It's going to be a tough competition.”

Competitors continue to have the opportunity to practice twice weekly, as their schedules allow, and all their hard work comes together April 1 at The Plex. The event kicks off with a 6 p.m. social hour. Entry is by donation.