Tuffy and Tie on ice
Published Saturday October 31st, 2009
Television: New Brunswick native Don Sweeney roots for his wife and former NHL rival Tie Domi on 'Battle of the Blades'
Former NHLer Don Sweeney has a message for New Brunswickers when it comes to Battle of the Blades.
"I want them to vote," he said.
For the last four weeks, Sweeney, who grew up in St. Stephen and played 15 seasons for the Boston Bruins, has been watching former NHL rival Tie Domi whirl and twirl his wife and former Olympic figure skater Christine (Tuffy) Hough-Sweeney on the CBC reality show.
And he's been enjoying it so much that he doesn't want to see her voted off just yet. That's why he's appealing to people from his home province.
"I want them to keep them around," said Sweeney, now the assistant general manager for the Boston Bruins.
"I'm just thoroughly enjoying watching her skate again," he added. "It's the first time in 13 years."
Hough-Sweeney teamed up in 1984 with her former skating partner Doug Ladret and went on to compete five times at the World Figure Skating Championship and twice at the Winter Olympics. The duo won a total of six medals at the Canadian Nationals, including gold in 1988. Hough-Sweeney later turned pro and hit the Stars on Ice circuit, performed with Skate the Nation and appeared in the feature film Cutting Edge.
But it's been awhile since she's performed, and Sweeney said he's relishing this opportunity to watch his wife glide once again across the ice on Battle of the Blades.
"I've been to most of the shows," he said. "I've been flying up to be there and flying back."
For the debut performance, he even took his twin 10-year-old sons, Jarrod and Tyler.
"They had never seen her skate live," he said.
Sweeney said he's impressed with the show and with all of the ex-NHLers who've dug deep and worked hard so as not to embarrass themselves.
"The cast has been remarkable," he said. "The former players have really had to work hard to keep up with the ladies and I knew, when they asked her, that she'd jump in with two feet. And I knew Tie would have to be really ready to work to keep up with her."
As far as Sweeney is concerned, former Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy Tie Domi has done just that - even if he refuses to part with his hockey skates. Domi is the only ex-NHLer on the show who hasn't traded in his hockey blades for figure skates, which has been a bone of contention for some judges. But at this point in the competition, Sweeney said, it's probably best he stick with what he's comfortable in.
When Sweeney first learned that his wife was going to be paired with Domi, he thought she must have been hand picked by Battle of the Blades judge Sandra Bezic. Sweeney had never fought Domi during his career, but he had played lots of games against him.
"I thought Sandra Bezic hand-picked Christine (because) she has the patience and the drive to cast Tie in the best light possible... not to mention she lights up a room when she performs... do I sound like a proud and biased husband?"
And he thinks the pairing has worked. He said the show has cast one of the most notorious NHL enforcers in a new light.
"I think we've seen different sides of him," he said. "He's done some softer numbers and he's done the bulk of the press for the show. And he's been nothing but kind to my wife, inviting her over for dinner to his home with his girlfriend."
But he believes Domi and the other former NHLers have learned something from the show.
"I think they have a deeper appreciation now for the figure skating world."
Would he ever consider competing in a season of Battle of the Blades? Perhaps - if he were ever asked. After all, it wouldn't be the first time he's tried figure skating. On a couple of occasions, he's skated with his wife. She's even had him try some lifts with her - off ice, of course.
"But we'll cross that bridge when it comes," he said.
Hough-Sweeney and Domi, who last week performed their routine to Robin Thicke's Superman, were saved Monday joining the three remaining pairs on the show for a chance to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice. Jodeyne Higgins and ex-NHLer Ken Daneyko were the fourth pair iced.
The other three couples still vying for the top prize are Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux, Marie-France Dubreuil and Stephane Richer and Jamie Sale and Craig Simpson.
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