Calgary Stampeders receiver Marken Michel trades in spikes for skates

Calgary Stampeders receiver Marken Michel is used to running on the football field, but hitting the ice?

Well, that’s a completely different story.

But Michel was brave enough to join the Calgary Flames for practice on Wednesday morning.

He says it wasn’t easy.

“It’s my first time being on ice. I’ve Rollerbladed and roller-skated growing up, but it’s my first time being on the ice,” the 31-year-old said.

“I had an amazing teacher, and you can’t go wrong with a great teacher.

“At the beginning it was scary, I’m not going to lie. ... As I got going and I got more comfortable with it, it became a little easier.”

Lomberg a great help

For this being his first time, Michel actually did a pretty good job.

He credits Flames forward Ryan Lomberg for helping him out.

“Just telling me to be free, and I feel like after my athleticism took over, it kind of made it easy on him,” he said with a laugh.

“He was definitely giving me some good pointers doing the crossover skating. I tried to do what he was saying and almost failed; nobody saw it, luckily.

“I think some of the things he was telling me was to stay balanced and just try to stay upright and I’ll be alright.”

Turf is a lot different

The ice, of course, is much different than the turf, but Michel says he remembers one game back in November 2023 that was close.

“The game we played in Winnipeg when it started snowing in 2023. Something similar to that but not as bad; I wasn’t sliding as much,” he said.

Would return the favour

Michel says he wouldn’t mind getting Lomberg out to McMahon Stadium to try his hand at football.

“I think we should do that,” Michel said.

“Run some routes and catch some footballs. I think that would be a good idea.”

Lomberg and the Flames are back in action on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres.