Beginners learning skating skills with figure skating club
New session of classes will start next week
released in the Niagara Advance
December 30, 2010


Alika Elliott, Christy Engemann and Kaityn Wiens
learn basic skills with the
Niagara-on-the-Lake Figure Skating Club.
Not sure figure skating is the right sport for your child?

How about hockey, ringette, or just learning to have fun and be safe on the ice?

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Figure Skating Club offers programs for beginners of all ages, designed to develop a variety of skating skills. The CanSkate program focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development.

It is beneficial to any skater with an interest in ice sports, including figure skating, hockey and ringette.

Skaters are grouped according to ability and taught by certified professional coaches assisted by qualified program assistants. Skaters develop forward and backward skating skills, stopping, turning, jumping, edges and crosscuts. Badges are awarded when all skills have been achieved.

"We might have the next Sidney Crosby or Joannie Rochette among us. If we do, we want to find them," says NOTL Figure Skating Club spokesperson Darlene Dortono.

And for those who will not reach the level of a professional hockey player or Olympic figure skater, she said, lessons will give them an opportunity to learn new skills.

With the next session about to start, it's especially timely for youngsters who will be skating with their schools during the winter, she adds.

Coaches make the sessions active using teaching aids, music and a variety of theme and fun days held throughout the season.

Skate Canada and the NOTL club strongly recommend a properly fitted CSA hockey helmet for all beginner skaters.

The skating club offers a pre-school CanSkate session for beginners ages three to five at the Virgil arena Thursdays, from 4 to 4:45 p.m., and Mainstream CanSkate sessions, for beginners aged five and up, from 4-4:50 p.m.

On Saturdays, the Pre-school session is from 3 to 3:45 and Mainstream from 3:45 to 4:35.

Students can choose one or class or attend both, says Dortono.

The club also offers an adult session on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 7:50 p.m.

All programs begin next week, Jan. 5 for adults, Jan. 6 and 8 for kids.

Registration for the January session can be arranged by calling the club at 905-468-7465 or emailing the office at notlsk8r@hotmail.com. Information is also available at www.notlskatingclub.com.

Parents or guardians of pre-school and CanSkate skaters must remain at the arena during lesson time for their children's safety and encouragement.

that's my niece!!

Niagara Blades bring home gold

released in the Niagara Advance
09 December 2010

The Niagara Blades, a novice girls travel team playing
in a Niagara Falls girls league, traveled to Stratford
recently and won each of their five games,
coming home tournament champions.
The Niagara Blades of the Niagara Falls Girls Hockey Association traveled to Stratford to bring home a tournament trophy in the novice division—and they did.

The team of Niagara-on-the-Lake girls—there is no girls travel division in NOTL—played three preliminary and two playoff games to capture the gold.

Not knowing what to expect, the team came out strong beating London 5-1. Goaltender Lauren Viviers stole the spotlight making numerous saves to earn the game star. Emma Penner and Katie Miller each scored two goals with Avery Penner adding the single. Assists went to Jessica Paul with two, and singles to Emma, Avery, and Abbey Penner.

Playing against the host team, Brooklyn Clark paced the way scoring five in an 8-1 win over Stratford. Emma Penner collected two and Miller one. Single assists went to Isabella Antonucci, Emma, Avery and Abbey Penner.

The third game Niagara won over the Twin Centre was a lopsided 12-0 victory. Miller and Clark potted four each and Emma Penner and Emma Andres two a piece. Assists went to Emma Penner, Clark, Paul and Abbey Penner.

These same two teams hooked up in the playoffs with a totally different outcome. Great defence by Antonucci and Tiana Hollowchuk combined with great saves by Viviers, Niagara snuck by with a 1-0 victory.

Great plays from Emma Andres, Alice Hellwig and Berlin Wiens just couldn't get by the goaltender. A fine pass from Lexi Buis went to Clark in a breakaway with Avery Penner trailing to pick up the rebound and score a late goal.

In the final match the Blades held off a London team 3-1. With the Blades up 2-1 late in the game, Miller sealed the championship with seconds remaining.

Hollowchuk, Hellwig and Ana Laura Mancuso got in on the scoring action picking up single assists as did Miller. Clark and Emma Penner added the other goals.