The Rockies are the Columbia Valley Rockies, a Junior B hockey team and members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey (KIJHL). The team was founded by Eddie Mountain, for whom their home arena, and the KIJHL Division in which the Rockies play is named.
When the Rockies or other minor league teams aren't either practicing or playing, the arena is used for public skating, figure skating and other events. It is a group of those who, at one time, performed annually in an
-like evening of figure skating. For eight years the figure skating club had not produced a show, but in 2015 the local version of the Ice Capades returned to the ice in Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.
Winter Wonderland skates into the Eddie
Posted in News on December 11th, 2015 by Breanne Massey
A taste of this year’s holiday spirit is gliding into town on skates this winter.
The Columbia Valley Figure Skating Club will be performing their Skating in a Winter Wonderland performance to celebrate Christmas in the community at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 13th.
“It’s our first Christmas ice show in about eight years,” said Leanne Beddie, Columbia Valley Figure Skating president. “We have quite a mix (on the ice) this year, so we definitely have some snowmen, snowflakes, snowsuits, pajamas — lots of traditional Christmas songs and some not-so-traditional Christmas songs.”
The performance will showcase new skills that skaters between the ages of two and 16 years old have picked up throughout the year.
Pre-novice dance competitors Cael Elford (a former valley resident) and his partner Pearl Kang will be making a special guest appearance at this year’s show with the goal of inspiring their young counterparts.
“Cael is formerly of Invermere, but now lives in Calgary and works with this new partner,” said Ms. Beddie. “He is travelling all over Canada skating with her in the pre-novice category. They are coming to do a special number.”
Additionally, the Columbia Valley Rockies will be joining the Columbia Valley Figure Skating Club for a special cameo role in couples routines.
“For the first time in years, the Rockies are joining us for a number,” explained Ms. Beddie. “Let’s call it a dance… the Rockies are providing partners for the girls to do ice dances with. Apparently, the (team) did this 20 years ago. Now, they’re keen to participate so it will be kind of a neat number because it hasn’t been done in years and there aren’t a lot of boys in figure skating so we have to pull from wherever.”
The club is encouraging spectators and families to dress up in costumes to set the mood.
The event will be open to the public with an admission fee ($20 for a family, $7 for an adult, $5 for students and seniors), but it’s free for children five years old and under. The fees will help raise money for the Columbia Valley Figure Skating Club.
From the Columbia Valley Pioneer