By Gordie Howe Sports
Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Logan Hofmann fires a throw at the Indoor Training Centre. |
These days at the
Gordie Howe Sports Complex it feels like winter is in the home stretch and
spring is just around the corner.
At the moment, the
Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval is still a hub of activity. During evenings,
the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club is often practicing, and the Lions have
been holding club skating meets usually on Saturday mornings.
When the Lions aren’t
on the track, the Oval is busy with public skating sessions, which continue to
be popular. Skaters of all skill levels love coming down to soak in the day.
As spring nears,
business is picking up at the Indoor Training Centre. Since the start of
January, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team has been stopping
in for conditioning training sessions to prepare for their season ahead.
They are one of a few
football groups who stop in to train.
On the baseball side,
we’ve had some professionals stop in to sharpen their skills. Pitcher Logan
Hofmann, who is playing in the minor league system of the MLB’s Pittsburgh
Pirates, has been fine tuning his pitches during throwing sessions and has been
helping coach some of the younger players.
Hofmann is pictured in
our lead photo firing a throw from the mound inside the Indoor Training Centre.
As January closed and
the calendar turned to February, Saskatoon’s softball zone programs became more
frequent visitors in preparation for the spring season.
These photos capture
some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, all
of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren
Steinke.
Without further ado,
here is a selection of nine shots we hope you enjoy.
A great day to be on the ski trails
A gentleman enjoys a pleasant afternoon
doing some classic skiing on January 31. The ski trails on our grounds and on
the neighbouring Holiday Park Golf Course typically fill up on the weekends.
That one is out of here
A Saskatoon Hustlers hitter takes this ball
for a ride during a session at the Indoor Training Centre on January 27.
Huskies build power and strength
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies
Football team has taken part in inventive workouts at our Indoor Training
Centre courtesy of Ignite Athletics. During this conditioning session on
January 13, a Huskies player strides over some low hurdles while carrying a
water bag.
All in technique
A member of the Saskatoon Lions Speed
Skating Club works on technique before taking part in timed races on January 15.
The Lions fastest skaters have mastered striding in this low position.
Reminder winter is still here
While a lot of winter time fun can be had
on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds, the winter season still flexes its
muscles from time to time as a reminder it is here. One of those reminders came
on January 31 with the blowing snow seen here in front of the K+S Potash Canada
Multi-sport Centre and over top the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval.
Bringing the heat
A pitcher from the Going Yard Training
Centre unloads a wicked throw during a training session on February 2 at the
Indoor Training Centre.
All smiles at the Oval
A couple of skaters enjoy the outdoors on a
beautiful Sunday afternoon during a public skating session at the Clarence
Downey Speed Skating Oval on January 30. The trees located in the opposite
corners of the Oval offer scenic pictures.
I want to drive the Zamboni
Greg Brotzel makes rounds on the Zamboni
flooding the ice surface at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on January
25.
Finding power in new ways
The Saskatoon Phantoms found an inventive
way to improve power at the plate during a session at the Indoor Training
Centre on February 3. The Phantoms had their hitters drive a soccer ball into a
net in this particular drill.
Lions just want to have fun
During a practice session on February 8,
these two members of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club share in a fun and
good-natured moment. The Lions work hard at their craft, but they like to have
fun too. They make the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval a great place to be.
