Gloucester StarSkaters work out the kinks

The gala shows went “very well” both weekends, says club head coach Darlene Joseph, as the youngest pre-preliminary and preliminary skaters performed two weekends ago, with the junior bronze-and-above athletes taking the stage this past Sunday, Jan. 31.

“It helps them to simulate what it’s going to be like to compete the EOSIC championships,” Joseph notes. “They get to skate on the ice by themselves – which they don’t normally have in training. It’s a little bit different when the ice is all yours.”

Fifty-seven out of over 100 Gloucester athletes in the StarSkate program will be competing in the EOSIC event. The Gloucester skaters will enjoy a bit of a home-ice advantage as they perform at their own rink at Bob MacQuarrie for the Feb. 19-21 competition.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Joseph says, adding they’ve got many volunteers on board to set up and help run the event. “It’d be great to see the community come out to support the event. There should be lots of very, very great skating.”