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News you can use
Two skaters race each other at the open skate Wednesday November 28, 2018 in Havre, Mont. Skaters of all ages and skill levels had space to skate during the event.
Mandy Naber helps Emma Miller, 3, skate without a trainer during an open skate at the Havre Ice Dome Wednesday in Havre. Wednesday was Miller's first-time-ever ice skating.
Jayce Morris, 4, hesitates before getting on the ice Wednesday November 28, 2018 in Havre, Mont. Jayce came with his father Andy, who spent the evening teaching his son to skate.
People skate their way around the edge of the rink at the Havre Ice Dome Wednesday November 28, 2018 in Havre, Mont. The open skate was held from 5:45 to 7:15.
Emma Miller, 3, tries to remain balanced on her ice skates Wednesday November 28, 2018 in Havre, Mont. Miller had assistance during her first time skating, but many younger children fell to the ice while working on their skating abilities.
Open skate has been a long-standing tradition for some in Havre, spanning close to 40 years, moving to different locations until it found its present location at the Havre Ice Dome.
"It gives people something to do," volunteer Kasey Shettel said. " ... Families can do it. It's nice to have something that families can do together."
The Havre Ice Dome is run by volunteers and the Havre Youth Hockey Association. Shettel, who has been doing registration for hockey for two years, said Open Skate this year has seen an average 50 to 70 people a night.
Open skate takes place Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7 p.m., Fridays from 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. and Sundays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. before hockey practice.
The ice rink was previously in the Bigger Better Barn on the Havre fairgrounds from 1996 to 1998 when the Ice Dome was built and before that was outdoors on the 1100 Block of Fifth Avenue, north of the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.
Kaare Engebretson, the hockey association's treasurer, said he grew up playing hockey wanted to be involved in the program after moving back to Havre. He added that he would like to see the program grow in Havre and the association has been trying to do special events to attract more people. He said for Thanksgiving the Ice Dome did a special open skate where more than 100 people attended.
Erin McLain said she has been involved in open skate for 17 years and her two boys both went through the hockey program. She added that the Ice Dome tries to do different things to get different people involved such as a food drive. If people donate canned goods they get $2 off skating and $2 off rentals. The normal prices are for skating $4 and rentals $4.
Engebretson added every parent involved in the ice hockey and program is required work at the Ice Dome and help with the program. He said the program has 130 people participating and the Havre ice hockey teams have "by far the lowest-cost for hockey in the state.
Shettel said the association has six age groups for boys hockey, a girls team and two adult leagues. She added that the Ice Dome also hosts a curling team.
Rogan Sayers, 11, said he likes to come to open skate to stretch his legs before practice.
"We have practice right after, so it's a good warm-up," Sayers said.
Sayers said he has been skating for seven years and is on the Ice Hawks hockey team.
Terri Welter was at the open skate event Wednesday with her granddaughter Hailey Heydon, 12. Welter said it was the first time Hailey has ever ice skated.
"She use to roller blade when she was living back east," she said, adding that she was happy to see her on the ice.
Welter said many of her family members have gone ice skating before and she was glad her granddaughter was having fun skating.
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