Ice Capades lightning has struck twice at the Brockville (Ontario) and Area Sports Hall of Fame with 2 of our alumni being honored for their contribution in sports over the years.
Gloria Lor Spoden was just inducted on June 13, 2024. This is what the plaque read – Gloria Lor Spoden was born and raised in Brockville. She started taking skating lessons with the Brockville Figure Skating Club. At the age of 21, she applied for a position with the world famous Ice Capades. In 1966 she earned a position with the group and went to Washington DC to be part of the ice show. Two years later in 1968 she was the Line Captain for the Ice Capades which meant if any members of the line could not skate, she would replace them in a performance. She was also responsible for teaching other skaters how to do their performances. She left Ice Capades in 1971 and taught figure skating in California for a number of years. She has organized two Ice Capades reunion in Las Vegas with 500 retired skaters attending. She still skates and creates a monthly newsletter in Toronto for retired skaters.
Susie Geneau (Sue Pyke) was inducted in the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame on June 13, 2014. This is what the plaque read – Sue Pyke has enjoyed a love for figure skating since a very young age with the Brockville Figure Skating Club. After a decorated amateur career, she began a two-year professional stint with the world famous Ice Capades in 1965 at the age of 18. In the early 1970’s she began her coaching career at the Athens Figure Skating Club. She went on to coach in Spencerville, Prescott and Brockville. With an energy and enthusiasm, teaching and working with young skaters in the community for 25 years. Along with being a mother of three, she committed herself to helping hundreds of the area’s young skaters enjoy and improve in the sport she loved.