Ice Time Sports in the Town of Newburgh welcomed members of the Empire State Winter Games for the 44th annual Torch Relay on Sunday, January 28. The Hudson Valley Figure Skating Club, a 10 member group, will join other athletes for a weekend of competition and fun while also representing themselves and their community.

Mike Leahy, Vice President of Rink Operations for Ice Time Sports was overjoyed for the team and their opportunity to attend this weekend. “We’re honored to be part of this, to be selected to be one of the, the torch locations on the torch pass,” said Leahy. “This event means a lot to me, my daughter was an international figure skater who participated in the Empire State Games for over 10 years. She’s now, she’s off to college.”

The Empire State Winter Games is a three-day long community-driven celebration at Lake Placid which celebrates the athletes, the season of winter and the Adirondack Mountains. There will be various competitions, an opening ceremony and a 700 mile torch relay. Over the course of the weekend, athletes ranging from eight to 80 years old will compete in 25 winter sports.

“I just want to wish all the girls best of luck. I know they train hard. I’m here every day to watch them train and they put in long hours and win or lose it’s just a great event for all of them,” he said.

With all the work Ice Time performs in the community, Leahy also extended his gratitude to Zeidan Neaheiwat and the MJN Center (Majed J Nesheiwat Convention Center), the parent company of Ice Time Sports, for their continued support and supporting his work here in Newburgh.

For Coach Kaylan Wojcik, it is a surreal experience and moment to see her athletes, who once were like her and competing in this event. “It’s been a tradition for this rink for years. Even since I was a little girl, I competed in it,” she said. “This is just a really beautiful opportunity for them to shine and represent the Hudson Valley.”

Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio alongside Deputy Supervisor Scott Manley, Parks Commissioner James Presutti and members of the Town of Newburgh Police Department, the New York State Troopers Office and the United States Marine Corps joined in celebrating the athletes.

“Very proud of them, really and it’s a great feat to get here,” said Supervisor Piaqaudio. “So this is really, I think, a great thing for the town, the whole, the whole community.”

The Torch Relay was scheduled to kick off Sunday from two starting points, the McCann Ice Arena in Poughkeepsie and the Buffalo area’s Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, N.Y. The five-day, 700-mile journey will culminate in Lake Placid for the Opening Ceremony on Thursday, February 1.

“The Empire State Games is quite the event. It’s one of the biggest multi-sport winter events in the country and to be able to be affiliated with it just gives me a lot of pride. And just to see the excitement on the figure skaters faces as they are performing for us and the Olympic team in the background, it just it cuts to my heart,” said Greg Borzilleri, Torch Relay Director.

Borzilleri had the opportunity to attend the hockey game known as the “Miracle on Ice” between the United States and the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980. That’s when the U.S. team ulled off a stunning upset, on their way to a gold medal in men’s hockey.