By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Central Lions Speed Skating Club taking rebuild in stride

Nov 4, 2018 | 10:36 AM

The Red Deer Central Lions Speed Skating Club is in somewhat of a transitional phase.

Zero skaters are in the running for spots on Team Alberta for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, but there’s a good reason for that and the club is hopeful things will change sooner rather than later.

Nick Schultz, a coach with the club, explains that a large group of skaters aged out a couple of years ago.

“We are in a bit of a rebuilding stage at the moment and we’d like to have more, but the club only caters to skaters until about 16 years of age,” Schultz says. “We’ve got a few in that in between age, so in the next couple years, I’ve got probably 15 kids coming up that’ll be at that elite level and we should start seeing some more depth.”

On Saturday, the club hosted a short track meet at the Kinex Arena which featured skaters from other clubs in Rocky Mountain House, Edmonton, Calgary, Lloydminster and Banff/Canmore. 

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Soon, things will transition outside to Setters Place at Great Chief Park where the long track oval will be installed ahead of the upcoming 2019 Games. That is expected to happen by mid-December.

Asked if there has been an impact on the club in the run-up to the Games, Schultz says not yet.

“I want to say that there will be and we do expect that next year, but as of right now, there hasn’t. It isn’t quite in the limelight just yet,” he says.

The Central Lions are currently down to about 35 athletes from the usual 60-80.

“We’re looking to build it up, but we’re not looking for 60 to 80 because we don’t have the depth of coaching or actual ice time to accommodate that many kids.”

Luckily for members of the public, if one has ever wanted to see how they’d fare, the club does offer free tryouts for all ages.

“It’s for anyone and basically on any night. They can inquire through social media or email,” Schultz says. “You do not have to have speed skates or any equipment to tryout. We will provide all the safety equipment, but we just ask that they at least have hockey skates.”