Most people take beach vacations or tour Europe or the USA during the summer. Not this hockey fan! For the last three summers, I have spent the penultimate week of August at the Lake Placid Camp for Adult Figure Skaters.

This year I had the honor to be a part of a skating tribute to renowned skating coach Evelyn Kramer. Also on hand to pay tribute to Evelyn were Dick Button, Don Jackson, Marie Jelenik, Oleg and Ludmilla Protopopov, Ken Shelley and Evelyn’s family, friends and students.

Our adult production (skated by 22 adult figure skaters of all ability levels) was a hit at the tribute. We usually do the group number at the end of every August Adult Skate Week Exhibition. This year, we were asked to be part of this tribute show by our friend and mentor, choreographer Scott Brown.

As a bonus, I got to see the USA Ladies under Age 22 Hockey team play a tournament with the Canadian girls. The Canadians are a tough bunch. They won the two games I saw. Team USA played a passing, peripheral game while the Canadian girls crashed the net. I thought I was at an early last season Ranger game.

Last, but certainly not least, all the guests and cast members were treated to a gala reception in the Hall of Fame Room and a private viewing of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum in the Herb Brooks 1980 Arena. I touched the actual goal net that Jim Craig tended when Team USA won the Gold. All the uniforms equipment and 1980 memorablia was awesome.

This week Ice Hockey and Figure Skating peaceably shared the ice surfaces and their ouevres in Lake Placid. Each sport learned a little about the other. Figure skaters and skating fans enjoyed some great hockey. Hockey players got to see some great skating and learned that beneath all the sequins and glitter beat the hearts of serious athletes.

A beloved skating coach from my past taught me skills and gave me an avocation that will last my lifetime. He taught me what Mr. Lussi taught him, what Evelyn teaches now and what all Mr. Lussi’s students and their descendents know. It’s all about the edge.

All in all, it was a great summer skating vacation.

Posted under Uncategorized

By now, I am sure y’all have heard just about enough headlines and thread titles that rhyme with Peca, sophomoric “pecker” euphemisims and plays on words. Time for the Peca Puns to stop.

On the eve of what might be the signing of Michael Peca, one has to primarily be concerned with Peca’s physical health. You can’t question Peca’s track record. A two time Selke winner, Peca has great record as a checking center, faceoff man, penalty killer and all around pest.

Aside from obtaining a puck moving defenseman, the Rangers need to replace two of their best penalty killers lost in this off season, Jed Ortmeyer and Matt Cullen. Matt Cullen along with Blair Betts were their two best faceoff men, percentage wise. Losing Matt hurt.

If healthy, Peca will fill the bill nicely. His track record is excellent. He can be had for less then Matt Cullen. And, most importantly, he has expressed a desire to play for the New York Rangers.

So let’s hope that, if now healthy, Peca can stay healthy and contribute to the Rangers run for the Cup. He will bring more depth at center and you know what they say, you can’t be too deep at center. Signing Peca just expands the Rangers options and that can’t be a bad thing.

Peca picked a peck of pickled peppers… D’oh.

Here’s an idea. If we sign him, we should nickname him MP, policing the oppositions best scorers.

Posted under New York Rangers