Greetings sports fans! 

Four weeks in and we are delighted with the progress and fun on the ice.We remind you that there are no classes this Sunday October 12 as we break for Thanksgiving.

Two notes:
Lacing Up – All skaters, especially new skaters who are still building ankle strength, need to have their skates properly tied up.  To properly perform, the skate boot needs to be consistently tight from the toe, through the arch, and to the top eyelets of the skate.  Here are some tips:

1. Wear a thin athletic sock, and pull the sock tight over the foot with no wrinkles
2. Once the foot is fully in the boot, tap the heel of the boot against the floor to ensure that the heel is nested in the back of the skateboot
3. Pull the skate tongue up 
4. Start near the bottom and pull on each set of laces eyelet-by-eyelet with equal pressure.  The goal is to have firm and equal pressure all the way up the boot.  If the foot starts to hurt or feel numb after 10 minutes, that is a little too tight.  Otherwise, create the tightest bond possible between the foot and the skateboot  
5. Use all the eyelets.  Do not leave any top eyelets unused
6. Once you have reached the top eyelets (after pulling tightly after each set), tie the skate like you would a running shoe with no slack.  If the laces are a little long, do a double knot.  Do not wrap the laces around the boot as this negatively impacts stride mobility.  If the laces can reach the ice after a double knot, the laces are too long. See above example.
7. Once done, have your skater stand up and move the ankles side-to-side.  If you notice that the foot and boot are not moving as one, you need to re-tighten.
8. Coach Paul prefers non-waxed laces to maximize consistency; Coach Oliver likes waxed because they grab the eyelet a little more after each set of pulls.  This is a personal choice
9. Finally, thread the laces through eyelets from the inside of the boot out, not over the top and then underside.  You can do this, but it complicates the tying process
10. As with all matters skating and hockey, if you need help, please ask any instructor.

Registration of the balance of the 2025/2026 season – We have assessed our numbers and determined that we will not be taking additional registrations at this time.   While we try to accommodate everyone, our priority is safety and the quality of instruction.  

Have a magnificent Thanksgiving.  Hug your loved ones often. Go Jays.

Your Ted Reeve Arena Skating-Hockey School Volunteers

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“There may be skaters better than you, but there is no excuse for anyone working harder than you!”