By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Aiden Gao blasts on to the straightaway at the Sands meet. |
In January of 2025, the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club wasn’t able to host any meets at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval due to the month mainly having temperatures colder than -25 C. It is against the regulations of both Speed Skating Canada and Speed Skating to Saskatchewan to hold outdoor competitions in temperatures which are that cold or colder.
This past January 3 and 4, the Lions hosted the Sands meet in pretty much ideal conditions where temperatures averaged around -14 C. A steady light snow that fell throughout the second day of the competition did offer a slight challenge with volunteers and staffers having to keep the track clear sweeping the snow away with brooms.
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| Keegan Beausoleil (#28) leads a group of skaters at the Sands meet. |
The lead
picture of our photo roundup sees Lions skater Aiden Gao jet out of the corners
on the south end of the Oval on to the track’s main straightaway on January 4.
Gao had a strong meet claiming a number of first place finishes.
The second
shot shows Keegan Beausoleil leading a group of skaters down the Oval’s
front straightaway during a 10-lap mass start race that wrapped up all the
races for the event on January 4. Beausoleil won the mass start race and
claimed few other first place finishes over the event’s two days. The third
picture shows one of the medal presentations that occurred at the Oval after
the Sands meet concluded on January 4.
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| A medal presentation is made at the conclusion of the Sands meet. |
It includes pictures from baseball, cricket, football, skating, skiing,
softball and ultimate disk. A lot of the shots come from the Indoor Training
Centre.
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.
Incoming
heat
A young pitcher from the Going Yard Baseball Academy lets a pitch fly to home plate during a training session at the Indoor Training Centre on December 10, 2025. The instructors at Going Yard have a keen focus in helping players master their skills.
Big stretch
An outfielder from the 222’s Fastpitch program comes up with a catch after making a big stretch reach for the ball during a training session on December 10, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. The 222’s have called the Indoor Training Centre their home base since the facility opened on March 1, 2019.
Looking for an escape
An offensive player, right, looks to make a pass to get out of trouble during a pick-up game played by Saskatoon Ultimate Disc-Sport Society members on December 15, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. While the Saskatoon Ultimate Disc-Sport Society hosts a large number of regular season games at the Indoor Training Centre, teams will also take part in practice sessions at that facility too.
Going Deep
Huddle Buddies quarterback Jaxson Stanford fires a deep pass during a Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League contest against Blue Ballin on December 16, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. Blue Ballin edged the Huddle Buddies 43-39 in this encounter.
Let it fly
A young bowler fires a toss during game action at the Indoor Cricket Tournament hosted by Cricket Saskatoon for youth aged players on December 20, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. Cricket Saskatoon hosts this event annually as a way to give youngsters winter game action in cricket.
Lift off
A young batter drives a hit during game action at the Indoor Cricket Tournament hosted by Cricket Saskatoon for youth aged players on December 20, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. The youngsters that took part in this event came away having a great experience with the sport of cricket.
Coming together
Understanding it takes a community to make everything go, Cricket Saskatoon had everyone gather for a big group photo following its Indoor Cricket Tournament for youth aged players on December 20, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. The photo included players, parents, coaches and volunteer staffers.
Power shot
A hitter from the JQFP Softball program drives a ball hard into a net during a training session on December 30, 2025 at the Indoor Training Centre. The players from the JQFP Softball program took part in skill building drills of all sorts on this day.
Fun out on the ice
A group of skaters enjoy taking part in a public skating session on December 30, 2025 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. The public skating sessions are open to skaters of all skill levels, and all sorts of fun action takes place at the Oval at these times.
Helping hand at the Oval
A really young skater gets a helping hand during a public skating session on December 30, 2025 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. Public skating sessions at the Oval allow for some fun bonding time between family and friends.
Special Delivery
A pitcher from the Saskatoon Selects program sets to deliver a pitch during a modified game action on January 2, 2026 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Selects coaches were using this session to evaluate players for the upcoming spring and summer season.
Here comes the pack
A large group of skaters jets down the front straightaway on January 3, 2026 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval during action at the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet. The seven-lap race for Youth 1 skaters saw those that participated have fun and make some good memories.
Spectators come in numbers for
Sands meet
A healthy gathering of spectators and supporters packed into the second-floor observation deck at the K+S Potash Canada Multi-Sports Centre on January 3, 2026 to watch the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet hosted by the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club. The observation deck provides a comfortable viewing area.
Necessary sweep
A staffer sweeps the surface of the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval during a break in the action at the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet on January 4, 2026. Thanks to a light snowfall that fell for most of that day, the facility’s Zamboni was neutralized causing more traditional methods for ice clearing to be utilized.
Ready, set, go
A group of youth skaters take off at the start of a race during action at the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet on January 4, 2026 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. The Sands often provides the lone time the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club can host a long track event during the skating season.
Learning the downhill ropes
A young skier from the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club practices going around an obstacle during an instructional session on January 4, 2026 on the ski trails that run over the Glenn Reeve Fields. The local ski club provides numerous instructional sessions for young and junior aged skiers at the Glenn Reeve Fields.
Out for some fun
A skier enjoys some time on the trails that run across the Glenn Reeve Fields on January 4, 2026. The fun days on the ski trials provide some of the best days on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds during the winter months.
