Hockey fans get taste of speed skating during MJHL intermission
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This article was published 20/12/2022 (1116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It wasn’t just the Niverville Nighthawks and Steinbach Pistons who competed at the Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre (CRRC) Dec. 9.
While the Manitoba Junior Hockey (MJHL) players waited in their locker rooms during the first intermission, the skaters of the Eastman Speed Skating Club went out for a series of demo races on a freshly flooded ice surface.
Greg Bieber hosted the extended intermission, giving play-by-play and explaining the sport to fans inside the CRRC. The Eastman Speed Skating club also practices out of the facility, after relocating there from Steinbach two years ago.
“Niverville got an introduction to the sport of speed skating in their own backyard,” Bieber said, noting across the races, fans got a chance to see kids at various levels strut their stuff.
“It’s a sport built on technique, so we saw how it’s done.”
In addition to explaining how skates are different than hockey skates, Bieber gave fans a quick rundown of the history of the sport, which has hundreds of years of history.
“Manitoba punches above its weight on an international level,” he said.
“People wonder what’s in the water in Manitoba at the speed skating level, given the fact that we have so little population, yet we produce some absolutely amazing speed skaters.”
While any casual Canadian sports fan will be familiar with the exploits of Olympic champions like Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen, Bieber said it all starts at the club level.
“This club is well coached, and has very passionate skaters,” he said.
“I’ve got a front row seat to that passion. If you talk to any of these kids, they’re chomping at the bit to get on the ice… you talk to me in three to five years, you’re going to hear from some of the Eastman club skaters, I’m very confident of that.”
Niverville will be hosting the short track provincial championships in 2023 on March 4/5.