Six words sum up the challenges hockey players face when transitioning to the world of figure skating: toe picks; tandem skating; standing tall.
Stéphane Richer
In the Battle of the Blades – a new CBC reality series that teams Canadian Olympic figure skaters with former NHL hockey players in a figure skating competition – these challenges became evident to Stéphane Richer the moment he stepped on the ice while at boot camp. The two-time Stanley Cup winner recalls thinking: “Hockey is easy compared to this.” Richer is one of the all-time leading playoff overtime scorers and the last Montreal Canadien to score 50 goals in a season.
The toe pick caught him off guard, literally. It was a challenge to skate elegantly in tandem with a lithe figure skater (Richer’s partner is Marie-France Dubreuil) when you’re accustomed to barreling down the ice. Speaking of which, standing tall is hard when the name of the game is speed and reactivity. And Skating backwards? Tricky. Do all of that while following the beat of the music? Torture.
Richer wants to win so he can benefit his children’s charity in Quebec.
Tie Domi Meet Christine Hough-Sweeney
Christine Hough-Sweeney, who is paired with Tie Domi, laughs at the mention of Day One at the boot camp this summer. “We heard boom, boom, boom. We turned around and a lot of the skaters were on their backs.”
The obstacles are to get the NHLers to slow down and be aware of the figure skater at their side. “We keep reminding them, ‘hey we are back here’.”
As for being paired with Domi she points out the physical challenges, such as during a lift. “I can’t get my arms around him. He’s got a huge chest and shoulders.”
Dancing With the Stars
Hough-Sweeney, who lives in the U.S. with her family, was intrigued by CBC’s show after her friend, Kristi Yamaguchi competed on Dancing With the Stars.
Along with Hough-Sweeney and Dubreuil, the Olympic athletes and World Champion figure skaters who have to make eight NHL hockey stars understand the nuances of pairs skating are: Jamie Salé, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Isabelle Brasseur, Barbara Underhill, Jodeyne Higgins, and Kristina Lenko.
The NHLers bravely rising to the challenge of finding their inner ice ballerinas are Claude Lemieux, Glenn Anderson, Ken Daneyko, Craig Simpson, Bob Probert, and Ron Duguay.
Ron MacLean, Kurt Browning and Dick Button
Ron MacLean (Hockey Night in Canada) hosts the seven-week competition with Canadian figure skating icon Kurt Browning. Longtime TV figure skating commentator Dick Button is judge.
Kevin Albrecht created Battle of the Blades and it was developed by Sandra Bezic. The executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht of Canadian Idol fame and fortune.
Despite the fact that the competition will take place in front of a live audience, don’t expect the series to be influenced by Canadian Idol. So the muscular men won't be clad in glittery spandex costumes. To date, in the press pictures at least, the hockey players are all clothed in elegant black trousers and fitted T-shirts. (But wouldn’t it be titillating if CBC execs paid a wee bit of homage to Blades of Glory with Will Farrell?)
Battle of the Blades premieres on CBC on October 4. (Check local listings for show times.)
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