By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| The Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on Jan. 3, 2024. |
The
conditions outside helped make one feel that the spring sports season is just
around the corner. The expected cold elements that arrived on January 5, 2024 leave a
reminder that the spring season is still about three-and-a-half months away.
The lack of
snow due to the warm weather has meant the Nordic skiing community has hardly
been on our grounds at all to this point in time. Usually, the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club is teaching
child and teenager aged athletes the skills of the sport on trails that are usually
created on the Glenn Reeve Fields for a lengthy time by now.
Still, the
conditions have been cold enough that the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval was flooded. Public skating started on December 17, 2023 and the Saskatoon
Lions Speed Skating Club began holding long track practices there one day
later.
One of the
different sites at the Oval had been seeing the infield of the Track and Field
Track inside of the skating track. A number of skaters took photos
with the snowless infield in the background.
Our lead picture
of our photo roundup shows the Oval with the K+S Potash Canada Multi-Sports
Centre in the background. The picture was taken on January 3, 2024, and it is a
neat shot to have to show how warm it actually was on that day in the future in
a “believe or not” type fashion.
We made
some rounds on January 3, 2024 taking photos of our facilities and a couple
more pictures will show up in this photo roundup from that day. The photo
roundup also includes happenings at the Oval with public skating and the Lions.
As has become
the custom during the winter months including winter months with warm
conditions, the Indoor Training Centre is a busy hub of activity. It is filled
with athletes training to prepare for the upcoming spring, summer and fall
sports seasons and athletes taking part in league play for flag football and
ultimate disc.
The pictures in this photo roundup 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 17 shots we hope you enjoy.
You still got it
Former Saskatoon Hilltops star quarterback Jordan Walls sets to gun a pass downfield during Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League action on December 12, 2023 at the Indoor Training Centre. Walls was a member of five straight CJFL championship winners with the Hilltops from 2014 to 2018.
Slick toss
An athlete makes a clever toss to a teammate during Saskatoon Ultimate Disc-Sport Society league action on December 18, 2023 at the Indoor Training Centre. It has been a joy to host league games from the Saskatoon Ultimate Disc-Sport Society and witness some of the slick plays the athletes can make.
And they are off
A group of young skaters elect to have a fun race during a night public skating session at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on December 18, 2023. Public skating sessions are always a great time at the Oval.
Olympian makes the kids happy
Olympic gold medalist Christine Nesbitt signs a few autographs for a group of children gathered at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on December 22, 2023. Nesbitt was helping coach at Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club practices over the holiday season. She won gold in the women’s 1,000-metre race in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.
Long distance drive
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A youngster hammers the ball during action at the Indoor Junior Cricket Tournament run by Cricket Saskatoon at the Indoor Training Centre on December 23, 2023. It was amazing to see how well the young athletes could smash the ball.
Letting it fly
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A youngster unleashes a pitch during action at the Indoor Junior Cricket Tournament run by Cricket Saskatoon at the Indoor Training Centre on December 23, 2023. The young players who took part in the games showed great enthusiasm and joy.
Building speed in the corner
Skaters from the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club jet around a corner during a practice on December 28, 2023 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. The Lions are slated to host their annual John Sands Classic Long Track Meet on January 20 and 21, 2024 at the Oval.
Bringing the heat
A pitcher fires some major league fastpitch heat across the plate during the final day of The Frosty Fundamentals Camp run by 222’s Fastpitch at the Indoor Training Centre. The camp allowed players from various age groups to sharpen up skills in all parts of their game.
Olympian lends a hand
Larissa Franklin, who is an outfielder from Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team, helped out at the Frosty Fundamentals Camp run by 222’s Fastpitch during the holiday season. Franklin, second from right, talks to a group of young players about aspects of a bunting drill they are about to take part in on December 29, 2023 at the Indoor Training Centre. Franklin helped Canada win bronze at the Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021.
Eyeing up to perfect a bunt
A member of the Saskatoon Giants sets to lay down a slick bunt during a team training session at the Indoor Training Centre on January 2, 2024. The Giants were going through a series of drills to perfect fundamentals.
Working on a sweet swing
A hitter from the Saskatoon Giants drives the ball into the net during a team training session at the Indoor Training Centre. The Giants were working on all sorts of fundamentals on this night including working on all aspects of a swing at a hitting net.
Winter rest for Joe Gallagher
Field
Joe Gallagher Field looks peaceful on this warm winter day pictured on January 3, 2024. Normally at this time during the winter season, the stands are all packed with snow and the snow on the field is a couple of feet thick. The park strikes a peaceful pose with a snow-covered infield to go along with the grass outfield.
Cairns Field waits for the WCBL’s
Berries
Cairns Field sits at rest during warm winter weather conditions on January 3, 2024. Come May, it will be home to the Saskatoon Berries Baseball Team, who will be playing their inaugural campaign in the Western Canadian Baseball League.
Big line dive
A young hitter lines a hit into the outfield during a scrimmage/modified game that closed a one-day holiday time camp run by the Going Yard Training Centre at the Indoor Training Centre on January 5, 2024. Hits during the scrimmage/modified game started all sorts of action on the base paths.
All about fun
Members of a team celebrate scoring multiple runs doing a scrimmage/modified game that closed a one-day holiday time camp run by the Going Yard Training Centre at the Indoor Training Centre on January 5, 2024. The contest turned out to be tonnes of fun for all involved.
Winter finally arrives in true
fashion
Saskatoon Minor Football Field sits looking serene after a dump of snow on January 5, 2024. The dump of snow that came during that day and stayed ushered in a true feeling that winter had finally arrived.
Sunday fun day on the ski trails
Those involved with the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club finally got to enjoy a scene like this on January 7, 2024 as Sunday fun days returned to the ski trails that covered the Glenn Reeve Fields. The ski club was holding instructional sessions for youth aged skiers on this day. After what was a warm winter, the skiers were pumped to be out skiing on snow.
