JSB Arena Continues Skating Program

JSB Arena Continues Skating Program
Marzec, Junior Coaches Will Work With Jamestown Athletes

July 15, 2011
By Jason Rodriguez (jrodriguez@post-journal.com) , The Post-Journal

A leaner skating club is taking to the ice this summer at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena.

One week after the departure of the Wyse and van den Berg Skating Academy to an ice rink to North Buffalo, officials at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena announced they had forged a new agreement with the local Jamestown Skating Club.

"The skating club remains intact in Jamestown," Kurt Silcott, arena CEO, said Monday. "We are working with them to set up dates and try to continue all programming we have had in the past with the skating club."

Following the planned negotiation with the club in the middle of the week, the arena stated it had created a schedule that would "provide Jamestown and Jamestown-area residents with top-notch programs for young figure skaters and hockey skaters."

The skating club confirmed that one of its leading coaches would remain available at the local arena for instruction. It stated Lindsay Marzec, along with a number of junior coaches, will work with the JSC skaters. The club expects to add to its coaching staff in the very near future and build upon the great program that has been established here in Jamestown.

The arena said its new agreement offers local skaters ice time on Tuesdays and Wednesday from 3:30 pm until 6:30 pm.

Stated Silcott: "We anticipate that they will take more hours in due time. At this point, the club is going to survey the skaters and coaches and see what times will work best. We will do our best to accommodate them once we know the times and number of hours they want."

On Thursday, Mrs. Marzec said she would be coaching for two evenings, but that she was also rendering her services with the departed academy in Buffalo.

With respect to the loss of the expertise of Kirk Wyse and Lenel van den Berg, Silcott said: "They made a business decision to take their business to Buffalo. A lot of their skaters come from Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse."

He noted the academy was a for-profit operation, whereas the skating club remains a nonprofit entity that hosts educational tutelage and hosts a number of year-round competitions at the arena.

Mary Handley, chairperson for Skate Chautauqua, confirmed the annual U.S. Figure Skating- and Skate Canada-sanctioned event will occur in August as planned.

Looking ahead to the fall, the arena stated it has recruited Dan Daikawa, Jamestown Ironmen head coach, to coordinate a "Learn to Skate" class that emphasizes ice hockey.

"It's great to see a tenant of the building take this type of ownership in the community," said Silcott. "Coach Daikawa has volunteered himself, as well as his players to help the program grow. We're all looking forward to having him as a part of The Skating Club's activities."

Wyse and van den Berg, whose offices were found empty last week at the local arena, stated their decision to leave "was not lightly made, nor was it without a fair amount of sadness."

They added an expression of gratitude and humbleness from the "tremendous support" they have always received from their "skating family" in Jamestown.