Post by mike2005rulz on Sept 17, 2009 20:44:30 GMT -5
TORONTO - All eyes will be on former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi and NHL tough guy Bob Probert when they renew their storied rivalry on Oct. 4. But this time, their fight to the death will involve spins, music and sparkly costumes.
Probert and Domi are two of eight former National Hockey League players paired with a collection of Canada's best female figure skaters for CBC's new reality show, Battle of the Blades. They will take to the ice at Maple Leaf Gardens for seven weeks and 14 episodes of choreographed routines on Sunday and Monday nights. Viewers can vote for their favourite pair, and the bottom two will face each other in a "skate-off" on the Monday show, where a four-judge panel will decide who will move on. And when burly hockey players are involved, there is always potential for trainwrecks.
"They have no equipment on, no helmets, nothing, and they have to hold a girl's hand and skate to music. That can be nerve-racking and stressful and crazy sometimes," says Olympic gold medallist Jamie Sale. "But they are handling it really well and having a blast trying to do it."
The biggest obstacle the NHLers face is the change in skates. While the switch to figure skates is not mandatory, and some players have opted to stick with what they know - others, like Domi, tried out the different blade. Hockey skates are built so the player can move forward quickly, while figure skates are designed for upright posture and require a different technique. But if players can't master the six little blades on each figure skate that make up the toe-pick, it can result in some pretty nasty falls.
"I just switched back to hockey skates," Domi says. "I skated three weeks on my figure skates, I was totally used to them. Last Thursday, I toe-picked and I switched the next day. Now the figure skates are back on the shelf."
Veteran Ron Duguay, who switches between figure skates and hockey skates, was known for his glamorous lifestyle when he played for the New York Rangers in the late 1970s. While he was no stranger to Studio 54, his moves on the ice will be a different story.
"It's a struggle for all of us, we're used to stepping on the ice and reacting," he says. "Now we have to think about the steps and think about a partner while doing it to a beat. All of those together are a lot harder than you think."
Duguay did not always appreciate the hard work and hours of dedication the sport requires.
"Growing up as hockey players, we thought the guy who did figure skating was too passive to play hockey - kind of like a sissy," he said. "Now, I have such great respect for them. These guys were not what I thought a figure skater was."
Three-time Stanley Cup champion Ken Daneyko admits his former teammates gave him a hard time about learning how to figure skate, calling him "twinkletoes." But he says the notorious bruisers on the show shouldn't be counted out from taking the crown home.
"The tough guys are forming a pact that one of us has to be the upset and win,'' he said. "Unless we get frustrated and want to beat the crap out of each other on the ice."
National Post
evalois@nationalpost.com
Probert and Domi are two of eight former National Hockey League players paired with a collection of Canada's best female figure skaters for CBC's new reality show, Battle of the Blades. They will take to the ice at Maple Leaf Gardens for seven weeks and 14 episodes of choreographed routines on Sunday and Monday nights. Viewers can vote for their favourite pair, and the bottom two will face each other in a "skate-off" on the Monday show, where a four-judge panel will decide who will move on. And when burly hockey players are involved, there is always potential for trainwrecks.
"They have no equipment on, no helmets, nothing, and they have to hold a girl's hand and skate to music. That can be nerve-racking and stressful and crazy sometimes," says Olympic gold medallist Jamie Sale. "But they are handling it really well and having a blast trying to do it."
The biggest obstacle the NHLers face is the change in skates. While the switch to figure skates is not mandatory, and some players have opted to stick with what they know - others, like Domi, tried out the different blade. Hockey skates are built so the player can move forward quickly, while figure skates are designed for upright posture and require a different technique. But if players can't master the six little blades on each figure skate that make up the toe-pick, it can result in some pretty nasty falls.
"I just switched back to hockey skates," Domi says. "I skated three weeks on my figure skates, I was totally used to them. Last Thursday, I toe-picked and I switched the next day. Now the figure skates are back on the shelf."
Veteran Ron Duguay, who switches between figure skates and hockey skates, was known for his glamorous lifestyle when he played for the New York Rangers in the late 1970s. While he was no stranger to Studio 54, his moves on the ice will be a different story.
"It's a struggle for all of us, we're used to stepping on the ice and reacting," he says. "Now we have to think about the steps and think about a partner while doing it to a beat. All of those together are a lot harder than you think."
Duguay did not always appreciate the hard work and hours of dedication the sport requires.
"Growing up as hockey players, we thought the guy who did figure skating was too passive to play hockey - kind of like a sissy," he said. "Now, I have such great respect for them. These guys were not what I thought a figure skater was."
Three-time Stanley Cup champion Ken Daneyko admits his former teammates gave him a hard time about learning how to figure skate, calling him "twinkletoes." But he says the notorious bruisers on the show shouldn't be counted out from taking the crown home.
"The tough guys are forming a pact that one of us has to be the upset and win,'' he said. "Unless we get frustrated and want to beat the crap out of each other on the ice."
National Post
evalois@nationalpost.com