Ten years ago, Battle of the Blades united everyone at the rink
They both wore skates while excelling at their sport and spent a lot of time in ice rinks.
But that was where the similarities between hockey and figure skating ended — until Battle of the Blades.
The reality show, which paired former NHLers with champion figure skaters, debuted on CBC-TV 10 years ago, in the fall of 2009.
After a six-year absence, it's back on the network with both male and female hockey stars matched with big names in ice dancing and pairs figure skating.
Crossover skills
Before the show began, CBC reporter Michael Dick met two brothers who already knew something about figure skating that the hockey stars would quickly pick up.
"It's very hard," said Dustin Sherriff-Clayton. "It's very powerful. You have to be super strong."
He and his brother Travis laced up for hockey at the start of a practice, and switched to figure skates at the end.
Travis said his figure skating skills had made him a better hockey defenseman.
"You can keep up with the forwards skating forwards [while skating backwards]," he said. "It helps with agility ... and balance."
It's difficult. Who knew?
Besides being entertaining, said Dick, Battle of the Blades was about "breaking down the stereotypes and myths about men and figure skating."
"My parents used to watch [figure skating] all the time," said Ron Duguay, a 12-year NHL veteran who was among the contestants. "And I wondered, what was the attraction?
"Now I know. I know how difficult it is."
'Tremendous athletes'
Another competitor on the show was former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi, who had been one of the first players to sign on.
"We all definitely have much more appreciation for figure skaters," he told the CBC's Peter Mansbridge. "You can watch our journey from start to where we are now and it's quite incredible. They're tremendous athletes."