It's not just hockey players on the ice at the Elgar Petersen Arena (EPA) in Humboldt these days.
Members of Skate Humboldt took to the ice for the first official week of lessons and practices on October 17, reported club president Larry Durand.
There are, so far, about 60 skaters in the club this year, Durand told the Journal during an interview just off the ice surface last week.
"We're still getting registrations," he noted. "There's been a lot of interest in the past week and a half."
Though the last of the registrations has likely yet to come in, the club is already up in numbers from last year, when they had 58 skaters.
"We've got lots of small kids this year," Durand said, gesturing to the ice surface, where the beginner skaters were getting their lessons.
"They all seem to be eager so far," he added. "None seem scared to get on the ice. They're a lot braver and are having a lot of fun, which is nice to see."
Numbers at the club are down from their height two to three years ago, when there were 80 skaters, Durand reported. The difference, he believes, is in the changes they had to institute to the timing of lessons.
Deciding it was too dangerous to have the Star Skaters on the ice practising at the same time as CanSkate lessons, the CanSkaters were moved to an earlier time slot - 4 p.m.
That, Durand believes, collided with other programs and activities, and with some parents' work schedules.
"It's hard to get skaters here at 4 p.m.," he said.
Still, with 60-plus skaters involved, "we're a pretty healthy club," he noted.
Though last week marked the first official week of lessons for the club, they have already held their fall power skating clinics, and their fall skating school.
The club isn't venturing into any new programs this year. They are continuing to offer CanSkate, Hockey CanSkate, Junior Star Skate and the Star Skate program. For the second year, they also have an off-ice training program for their Star Skaters, offered Monday and Friday, and coached by Marie Stevenson.
The Hockey CanSkate program remains a popular program, Durand indicated.
"It's a neat thing to offer for skaters who want to eventually play hockey. They get the skating fundamentals," Durand said, and they get to know a few members of the Humboldt Broncos, who come out to help coach.
"That makes it that much more fun for kids," Durand said.
Though a few years ago, the club offered an adult synchronized skating program, there are no plans to offer it again.
"Not enough adults signed up," Durand said. "Which is too bad. It was nice when we had it."
Though Humboldt Minor Hockey has issued complaints again this year about the need for another ice surface, because of the lack of ice time available at the EPA, ice time for the skating club remains consistent with last season, with time on Monday afternoon and evening, Friday afternoon, and Wednesday morning.
"We could always use more," Durand said, but added that all users are in the same situation.
Skate Humboldt's coaching staff has remained consistent as well. Chantel Norman, who was a member of the club when she was younger, is back again to coach this year. She is responsible for the Hockey CanSkate, the Monday CanSkate session, the Junior and Star Skate programs, and ran the fall skating school and power skating sessions.
"She loves it. And she's so dedicated to the club. We appreciate having her," said Durand.
Michelle Unger is teaching the Friday CanSkate session, and the Advanced CanSkaters.
There are also six program assistants with the club this year: Leah Lucyshyn, Morgan Frank, Abigail Seidle, Samantha Seidle, Kathryn Dickerson and Madisyn Unger.
And two other coaches are coming in to coach the Star Skate program in Humboldt - Sherryl Britton of Rosthern and Julie McDougall of Saskatoon.
