Stars on Ice dazzles arena crowd

BRIDGEPORT - The gold medal figure skating controversy that captivated the world during last year's winter Olympics was finally put on ice when the Smuckers Stars on Ice skated into Harbor Yard Sunday night.

Olympic pair champions Jamie Sal and David Pelletier of Canada and Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia helped fans quickly forget that a controversy ever existed with their dazzling performances.

The couples joined each other at center ice, during a routine that featured the two pairs, eventually meeting and shaking hands before joining hands and raising them into the air for the vociferous crowd.

Both couples were the talk of the 2002 Winter Olympics concerning judging irregularities, and for the first time in its history, Olympic officials awarded both pairs gold medals.

"Seeing the two different pairs of skaters was really unique because they were battling each other during the Olympics and now they're performing and working together," Chris Romano said.

Romano, of Stratford, who came to see the show with his wife, Melissa, said it was "amazing" that the performers were in Bridgeport. They said they had watched the show last year and had to come back again.

The Canadian and Russian couples were part of a team of 15 champions, including Alexei Yagudin, Katarina Witt, Kurt Browning and a rare performance from the show's co-producer and founder, Scott Hamilton.

Sunday's performance marked the final Connecticut stop on a 61-city tour throughout the United States that began on Dec. 27 in Huntington, W.Va., and ends in Portland, Maine, on April 12.

For some fans, like Jennifer Mastronardi of Ansonia, the Stars on Ice show was a must-see after the 44-year-old Hamilton made Bridgeport one of the 15 venues that he would perform in.

"I love Scott Hamilton. Every time I watched the Olympics and figure skating events on TV, I've always liked Scott Hamilton with his flips and everything he does," Mastronardi said.

Mastronardi's mother, Phyllis, said the Canadian and Russian couples were "really good" because it represented "great sportsmanship" after the pairs competed in the Olympics against each other.

Hamilton, who wasn't announced at the beginning of the show, beguiled fans when he skated onto the ice dressed as a golfer and had the crowd amazed with his backward flips over a golf bag he wheeled on the ice.

aIn his next appearance, Hamilton again wooed the crowd when he skated onto the ice and gave a jaw-dropping performance that featured three backflips.

The capacity crowd responded by giving Hamilton a standing ovation.

Fans were also treated to two error-free performances from the classy two-time Olympic champion Witt, as well as a great Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe impersonation performance from Berezhnaya and Sikharuidze.

"I thought the Elvis impersonation was great because there was a lot of energy when they're were doing it," Samantha Swist, 16, of Fairfield said.

Swist said she enjoyed the entire show, especially the light show that was incorporated into the different performances.

Also featured in the show were three-time U.S. national pair champions and world bronze medalists Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, three-time U.S. national champion Todd Eldredge, three-time U.S. National Pair champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, and two-time U.S. National Dance champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur.

Musical selections included songs by Bon Jovi, Will Smith, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and Leonard Cohen.