Outpouring Of Community Support At Battle Of The Blades

A standing room only crowd of about 1,000 saw more than a dozen hockey players trade in their sticks and gloves for costumes and dance moves at The Plex in Port Elgin last night.

The Saugeen Shores Skating Club hosted its first-ever Battle of the Blades competition, which saw 15 figure skaters paired up with 15 hockey players to raise money for charity.

Though fundraising totals are unavailable, the proceeds were split between the skating club and the Liv-A-Little Foundation, which raises money to find a cure for cystinosis, a rare genetic disease which affects six-year old Olivia Little of Saugeen Shores.

The adult category was fittingly won by Olivia's father, former Saugeen Shores Winterhawk Chad Little and his partner Mel Marshall.

Little says it was a steep learning curve going from playing hockey to figure skating, but adds Marshall and the coaches helped ease the transition.

Liv-A-Little events in Saugeen Shores have become known for their large crowds and Little says it's something that continues to amaze his family.

"The generosity that we have is just phenomenal, we can't say thank you enough," says Little. "It's just overwhelming the stuff that this community does and rallies behind us a lot, so you know, a big thank you to everybody who is a gracious supporter of ours."

The event also included Saugeen Shores Councillor John Rich and former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Nathan Perrott.