Mackenzie House: Skating on Slick Ice

17 February 2013Katie R, Mackenzie '13

On Saturday, January 26th, Brentwood’s most anticipated competitive performance was in full swing. After the seats in the Kerry Park Arena filled with bustling students from both Shawnigan Lake School and Brentwood College, Showcase Hockey began.

The question is, what happens after Showcase? After the players have made their ways to the changing rooms, sweaty and sore? After the buses drone their engines and proceed back to Brentwood?

After the insanity of signs and screams from Showcase, most Brentwood students dwindle back to campus; however, there are a small number that surge into the Kerry Park lobby. Every year, as a Mackenzie House tradition, the Mr. and Mrs. Flynn treat the girls, and their friends, to Mack Skate.

Boyfriends, best friends, and Mr. Norwood were among the guests invited; of course, everyone vies for an invite from the Mackenzie girls, but only a lucky few are selected. In the lobby, pros fasten their skates and speed out onto the ice while some others need more time (and help) to secure their laces. As the Zamboni clears the rink, talk of the game ensues; people evaluate the excitement of the game, how Shawnigan came so close this year, and of the players that shone.

On the ice, music booms as people fill the rink. At first it is chaos but soon the pace settles as all the Mack skaters make their rounds.

The variety of skill is the same year after year; there are those who play hockey or who have figure skated, racing around the rink and boasting their skill. On the other end of the scale are embarrassed Canadians (such as myself) who barely skate, or international students whose first game of hockey was observed only an hour beforehand. Cold hands are held as couples and friends make loops, or as we see Sara S ’13 teaching Palauan, Gayle B ’13 how to skate. And finally, Mr. Norwood’s first attempt at skating was one to be admired as he awkwardly balanced himself on the ice.

By the end of the night, some knees were bruised but smiles were abundant. Like the end of most Brentwood outings, a group photo was taken, displaying the tired, yet happy-they-came faces. The buses lined up at 11:30pm, as students made their ways onboard to return to Brentwood before turning into pumpkins at midnight.

I took my time to say goodbye to my last Mack skate and my last Showcase game before my graduation as I parted Kerry Park. Like every year, Mack skate was a booming success.

Katie R, Mackenzie ‘13