World record breakaway, Ottawa group takes shot at Guiness World Record for longest breakaway
EMC News
To Canadians, Hockey Day in Canada is like a national holiday.
It’s become a coast to coast celebration of the sport we love.
This year, Hockey Day falls on Feb. 11, 2012 during the Beaver Cup “4 on 4″ Pond Hockey Festival at Winterlude in Ottawa.
To celebrate our game, a Guinness World Record attempt at the longest hockey breakaway, in partnership with Winterlude, will be made on the world famous (and world’s largest skate way) Rideau Canal at 7 a.m. near the Chateau Laurier.
“When we found out the Beaver Cup was going to be on Hockey Day in Canada weekend and takes place on the world’s largest skate way, we thought (Guinness attempt) would make sense,” said organizer Les Gagne.
In November, he set the wheels in motion contacting the Guinness World Book of Records in the U.K. and submitting a proposal.
Soon after receiving the go-ahead, he moved on to the National Capital Commission. In addition to gaining permission to go ahead with the attempt, they also needed to set a start time.
“We were being a little naive…we wanted to do it at 12 o’clock,” he said with a chuckle, noting the NCC explained there would be thousands of people in their way at that time.
They settled on 7 a.m. to take advantage of the overnight flooding as well as the clearer path.
The ‘goal’, he says, is to have each of six participating skaters skate in a relay format with a puck and stick seven kilometres from one end of the Rideau Canal to the other as fast as possible. The final skater will then shoot on what Gagne says will be a “patiently waiting” goalie with the hopes of scoring the big goal.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience to attempt the world record for the longest hockey breakaway while skating the entire length of the world famous Rideau Canal on Hockey Day in Canada. Canadians and hockey fans are invited to be part of this historic and exciting moment in our nation’s hockey history.”
Mayor Jim Watson will be on hand to cut the ribbon to start the breakaway. It’s also hoped a couple of NHL alumni will be involved.
“We’re pretty jacked,” he said.
As a bonus, Hockey Night In Canada will film the start, then track its progress aboard a security ATV “the way it’s done with the Tour de France.” Footage will then be shown later during the Ottawa Senators-Edmonton Oilers broadcast.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Gagne said.
POND HOCKEY
As Hockey Day in Canada is celebrated across the country, male and female hockey players and fans in Ottawa will be competing for the 2012 Beaver Cup “4 on 4″ Pond Hockey Festival championship on the Rideau Canal at Dow’s Lake.
“This is the only opportunity to play hockey on the Rideau Canal,” said Gagne, who also serves as executive director of the Beaver Cup.
Although this year’s tournament is sold out, one can get their team on the VIP List at www.beavercuppondhockey.ca.
And, if registered before Feb. 11, they could win a free team registration valued at over $500.
Back by popular demand for a second year as part of the Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Festival is the popular media and celebrity Hockey Pondarama. This year’s event will include Senator alumnus, Shaun Van Allen, CTV Ottawa Morning’s Kurt Stoodley, Majic 100 and Ottawa Senators game announcer Stuntman Stu, TSN’s Brent Wallace and James Cybulski, SirrusXM’s NHL Home Ice co-host, Mike Ross and many more.ca.
Winterlude Weekend 2 Highlights
Second weekend of exciting activities includes:
an interactive hockey zone, ice carving challenges,
the Great Canadian Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Championship,
cool science, electrojazz and 24 hour screenings of The Clock
Canada’s Capital Region – The National Capital Commission (NCC) wishes to remind residents and visitors that the second weekend of the 34th edition of Winterlude, the Capital’s winter celebration, promises to be an exciting one. Winterlude continues in the Capital Region until February 20, 2012.
Here is a sampling of some of the activities taking place during the second weekend of Winterlude.
Rogers Crystal Garden in Confederation Park
This Saturday, visitors will learn the secrets of ice carving techniques and how the carvers use their tools to create a work of art from a block of ice. On Sunday, professional ice carvers face off in an ice-carving championship. Kids and adults are invited to make their mark on an ice graffiti wall, using ice-carving tools.
Visitors to the Rogers Crystal Garden can take in a majestic ice sculpture to mark the 20th anniversary of Canadian military service in the Balkans. Also new this weekend, a unique ice sculpture specially made to celebrate the upcoming 41st Annual JUNO Awards to be held in Canada’s Capital, March 26 – April 1.
Ice sculpture enthusiasts will also want to take in the crystalline masterpieces created at the 25th Rogers International Ice-Carving Competition during the first weekend of Winterlude and vote for their favourite sculpture for a chance to win a round trip for two people to any scheduled WestJet destination in Canada.
Confederation Park will also be a popular evening destination this weekend, thanks to the
Sub-Zero Music Series which will get the audience dancing and moving.
Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
Presented by the Ville de Gatineau and the NCC, Snowflake Kingdom is North America’s biggest snow playground. It is the ideal destination for the young and the young at heart. This family friendly paradise features giant snow slides and an outdoor amphitheatre.
On Winterlude’s second weekend, visitors will have the chance to:
•find their way through the A-maze-ing Fort Wellington;
•learn about the life of the people who lived in 1812 through interpretation, demonstrations and games;
•take part in a day in the life of a Coast Guard employee;
•test their physical fitness in the Canadian Forces Winter Obstacle Course;
•experience downhill skiing with qualified instructors;
•feel the rhythm at the Snowflake Stage featuring talented performers and acrobatic stunts;
•visit the Adventure Zone, where they can try Jumpaï trampolines and rock climbing;
The Rideau Canal Skateway
Open for its 42nd season on January 15, this fantastic 7.8-kilometre ice surface offers families and fun-seekers alike a wide variety of services including rest areas, food concessions, skate and sleigh rentals, skate sharpening, and boot check services this weekend.
Skaters at Dows Lake are invited to visit Eco Art at Dows Gallery, an outdoor space in Canada’s Capital where youth express themselves through art. The exhibit features photographic artwork with an environmental theme. These works of art will be exhibited for the duration of the skating season.
While at Dows Lake, visitors can test their skills at the hardest shot, most accurate shot, obstacle course — and much more at the Giant Tiger Interactive Hockey Zone.
This Saturday, the Canadian Paralympic Committee presents a Winter Parasport Festival. Visitors can try sledge hockey and wheelchair curling, and meet members of the National Sledge Hockey Team.
Also this weekend, teams from across Canada will compete in the 4th Annual Great Canadian Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Championship at Dows Lake.
Programming Partners
For the 34th edition of Winterlude, more than 50 programming partners, from Ottawa and Gatineau’s private and public sectors, have come together to offer visitors a wide-range of indoor and outdoor activities aimed at animating the Capital like never before.
Here is just a sampling of what takes place on the second weekend of Winterlude:
•Cool Science Saturday at the Canadian Museum of Nature;
•free, all-night screenings at the National Gallery of Canada of Christian Marclay’s most ambitious video installation to date: The Clock;
•Electrojazz Evening with Misteur Valaire presented by the Ville de Gatineau;
•Shenkman Arts Centre Presents “New” Orleans Dinner and Show With Zydeco Loco;
•Fête Frissons, a celebration of winter that includes an outdoor skating rink, crazy toque fashions, entertainment and ice/snow sculpting;
•an afternoon of classical music with the award-winning Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra;
•winter-themed activities, secret snow codes, and winter scavenger hunt at the Diefenbunker Museum;
•Downtown Rideau CHILL FACTOR.
For more information about Winterlude, please contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the NCC’s website at Winterlude.gc.ca.
Media Information:
Denise LeBlanc
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5750 (office)
613-851-9465 (cellular)
denise.leblanc@ncc-ccn.ca
Charles Cardinal
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5227 (office)
613-851-6924 (cellular)
charles.cardinal@ncc-ccn.ca
Runway ready: 3 designers new to Ottawa Fashion Week
Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Fashion Week runs Feb. 17, 18 and 19, with designers showing their fall and winter lines for 2012-2013.
Does that sound a little early to be looking at clothes for next fall? Not really, says creative director Bruno Racine. Ottawa’s fashion week (OFW) starts after Montreal’s and before Toronto’s.
Last fall’s OFW attracted 5,000 visitors, and the event keeps getting bigger and better, says Racine. This season, OFW has partnered with Winterlude – the Ice Hogs will be stylin’ signature OFW togs – and OFW is aiming to attract 7,000 fashion fans this season.
Read More: Runway ready
Winterlude visitors like it cold and snowy: Thousands descend on Snow Kingdom to enjoy slippery slides and sweet treats
Katia Dmitrieva, The Ottawa Citizen
Winterlude is a veritable rite of passage for Ottawans and creates fond memories for years to come.
But what if the white playground of ice sculptures, snowy slides, and the winding Rideau Canal Skateway were a little bit greener?
Festival organizers are finding it more difficult each year to maintain the winter wonderland as climate change takes its hold over the season.
“Winterlude in Ottawa is all about having the snow, the slides, and the ice sculptures,” said Adam Mullins, who spent the day with nine family members, including his wife, Cara, and two children. “If that would change, it would take away from the tradition.”
To read the full article, go to :
Winterlude visitors like it cold and snowy
Thousands came to the opening weekend of Winterlude, taking in skating, ice sculpting, sledding and more. Residents and visitors alike had a hoot on the icy hills in the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau.
Photo Courtesy of Julie Oliver, The Ottawa Citizen
Would you believe, 30 gallons of stew? From just one contestant?
Ron Eade, The Ottawa Citizen
Tucker’s Marketplace took top honours with judges at the 21st annual ByWard Market Stew Cook-Off, part of the opening Winterlude festivities that drew a record crowd of almost 800 hungry participants on Friday.
Tucker’s winning entry was a hearty beef, sausage and vegetable stew. And the People’s Choice award went to Social Restaurant and Lounge for its venison, chipotle and sweet potato stew.
For full story, go to:
Would you believe, 30 gallons of stew? From just one contestant?
Byward Market Square was a mighty busy place at annual stew cook-off Friday.
Photo courtesy of Ron Eade, The Ottawa Citizen
Skate Safe and wear your helmet during Winterlude
Source: Press Release
The City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and State Farm®, sponsor of the Skate Safe program, have teamed up once again to make an Ottawa winter tradition more fun for everyone through the Skate Safe program. The Skate Safe tent officially opened on Saturday morning on the Rideau Canal Skateway at the State Farm Zone at Concord.
Visitors to the Skate Safe tent will get assistance with helmet fittings, tips on helmet use and a free 15-minute “tips and tricks” skating session from staff and volunteers from Ottawa Public Health (OPH), Ottawa’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department and ThinkFirst. The tent will be open Saturdays and Sundays during Winterlude, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., until February 20.
Downtown Ottawa Event Space’s ‘Winterlude’ Dinner Whets Appetites
Source: Press Release
Utilizing the unique atmosphere of one of the premier downtown Ottawa event venues, Winterlude has arranged an exclusive dining opportunity as part of its February celebration.
Celebrating the joys of winter, this annual event is packed with family activities and the Summit of Winterlude Dinner is no exception, welcoming families as part of the festival’s Family Day observance on Monday, February 20, 2012. Held in the Summit, our revolving event space atop the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, this Ottawa luxury hotel’s revolving dining room will open its doors on the hotel’s 29th floor for Winterlude’s special one-night event, serving up a five-course meal prepared by accomplished, award-winning Executive Chef Mark Steele.
NCC Calls Winterlude Opening Weekend “Very Positive”
Phil Gaudreau
CFRA
The National Capital Commission is quite pleased with the first weekend of Winterlude.
Senior Vice President Guy Laflamme tells CFRA News attendance has been excellent. “If I count the number of smiles I have encountered, I think people were extremely pleased and happy with what they experienced.”
Laflamme is chalking some of the success up to changes in Winterlude’s business plan to focus on arts and culture, educational events, and food. “We still have winter outdoor sports, but we have way more arts and culture…culinary gourmet food activities…as well as scientific activities”.
But he admits the weather was also a big factor this weekend. “This was an A+ type of weather report and hopefully we’ll be able to benefit from the same kind of conditions for the next two weekends.”
Laflamme says over 30,000 people took in Friday’s fireworks at Winterlude’s opening ceremonies, and it was a great kickoff to what he believes is the best edition of the winter festival yet. “Winterlude has grown to a level of quality and sophistication unmatched in past editions.”
Nepean girls’ tournament picks up where NHL All-Star Weekend left off
ALICJA SIEKIERSKA, The Ottawa Citizen
Local arenas around the city were packed on the weekend to check out the Nepean Girls’ Hockey Association’s 32nd annual tournament. This year, there were 86 competitive and 50 house league teams registered, making up 18 divisions representing all levels from novice to midget. More than 200 games were played in nine arenas over three days.
Most teams were from Ontario, although there were a handful of clubs from Quebec and the United States. The fact the event coincided with the start of Winterlude didn’t hurt attendance, either.
“The teams love competing and playing hockey in the tournament itself,” says president of the NGHA Phil Clarke. “But coming to Ottawa this time of year, during Winterlude, makes the experience that much more special.”
Read more: Nepean girls’ tournament picks up where NHL All-Star Weekend left off
He skates and skates and skates … and scores
JOE LOFARO / METRO OTTAWA
Organizers of the Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Festival will attempt to set a Guinness World Record on the Rideau Canal skateway next weekend for the longest breakaway goal.
The attempt will start at 7:15 a.m. on Feb. 11 on the ice near Chateau Laurier, and six skaters will pass the puck to each other in a relay-style trek across the 7.8-kilometre skateway.
The Beaver Cup Festival is a weekend-long four-on- four pond-hockey tournament. Participants in the tournament will include Ottawa Senators alumni and media personalities.
Read full story: He skates and skates and skates … and scores
