BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
History has shown when two positive forces combine they can become a powerful entity.
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ThatÂ?s what Sheila Lumley is hoping, now that the Coniston Figure Skating Club and the Nickel Centre Figure skating Club have joined forces to become a stronger, more vibrant skating club.
The new club is known as the Nickel Blades Skating Club and Lumley is the new president for 2003-04.
Â?When Sudbury and the outlying areas amalgamated, we realized ice fees would be going up and our expenses would go up,Â? said Lumley. Â?We wanted to be proactive in meeting those challenges and the two clubs merged together.Â?
The two historic clubs had already worked together in the past and it just seemed to be a natural union.
Last year, both clubs came together on an interim basis and the temporary merger proved successful.
Â?It turned out well for us because the city allocates ice time depending on the size of your registration,Â? said Lumley. Â?We ended up getting more ice time than we would normally get, from 12 to 19 hours a week.Â?
The merger will offer a tremendous amount of benefits, says Lumley.
The new club will be able to offer a wider variety of programs and competitive skaters will get more full training schedules.
Â?It will make it easier for families to take full advantage of our programs because they will be offered at different times,Â? said Lumley.
The amalgamation will also ensure fees are kept low.
Â?We will now fundraise together, which makes up about 40 per cent of our ice bill, and that helps keep fees and allows more people to join,Â? said Lumley. Â?If we donÂ?t have the membership numbers, then our fees would have to be raised.Â?
The new club will have about 200 skaters from every level, including learn to skate to gold level skating. This mixing of young and senior skaters will prove to be beneficial to all members and coaches, says Lumley.
Â?One club had more senior skaters and the other had more younger skaters,Â? said Lumley. Â?The senior skaters will be role models for the younger skaters and provide professional assistance to our coaches.Â?
Lumley is proud of the dedicated coaches because they offer a full range of skills and worked together to help design an elite program for the kids next year.
Coach Kathy Swick knows the merger will be a positive experience.
Â?This keeps all our coaches together because weÂ?ve previously worked together,Â? said Swick. Â?Now we can make it a true team effort and better utilize the ice time we have for the kids.Â?
Skater Ashley Rienguette doesnÂ?t anticipate any big changes for the skaters.
Â?This will give the clubs more recognition,Â? said Rienguette. Â?We will still be on the ice skating, so itÂ?s not that big of a change for the skaters, but it will be fun to meet and be around new people.Â?
The union took a lot of vision and effort to make it a reality, but it was worth it.
Â?The new club is already officially recognized by Skate Canada,Â? said Lumley. Â?They encouraged us to do this because when smaller clubs join together, they become a stronger entity.Â?
The Nickel Blades will still conduct their programs at the Coniston and Garson arenas and carry on the traditions of both the former historic clubs as they grow.
Â?The skating scene in Sudbury is absolutely strong and vibrant,Â? said Lumley. Â?We had great numbers last year and the enthusiasm was evident in all the skaters.Â?
The Nickel Blades have also been chosen as the host club for the 2004 Regional Inter-Club Competition slated for the end of January 2004. The event will feature skaters from clubs all over the region and will be held at the
Garson Arena.
