Speed Skating Canada

Weidemann, Dubreuil repeat as Canadian Junior Long Track Champions

Lindsay — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 22:59:35 +0000

Weidemann, Dubreuil repeat as Canadian Junior Long Track Champions

- Headline nominees for Canada’s 2014 world junior team at Bjugn, Norway in March -

( photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_maunder/sets/72157640120321326/ )

Isabelle Weidemann of Ottawa and Daniel Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., have repeated as Canadian Junior Long Track Speed Skating Champions. The pair won the overall titles at the Canadian championships Jan. 24-25 at the outdoor Clarence Downey Oval in Saskatoon.

Weidemann and Dubreuil headline the list of nominees for the team expected to represent Canada at the World Juniors in Bjugn, Norway March 14-16. It is expected that Speed Skating Canada will also add one female and one male sprinter to the squad and announce the final roster as early as Monday.

Other female medalists in Saskatoon were Juliette Wheler of Saskatoon, silver, and Noemie Fiset of Quebec City, bronze. Ben Donnelly of Oshawa won the junior men’s silver followed by Alexandre Dery, also of Quebec City.

For the women the all-round title comes from a cumulative point total from the first 500m race, 1000m, 1500m, and 3000m, while for the men it’s the first 500m race, 1000m, 1500m, and 5000m.

Weidemann won with 176.72 points, followed by Wheler’s 177.92 and Fiset’s 179.15. Weidemann set the 3000m track record in ice-cold conditions on Saturday with a 4:35.02. She was also second in both the 1000m and 1500m.

Dubreuil accumulated 167.48 points, followed by Donnelly’s 168.77 and Dery’s 169.77. Dubreuil won the 1500m, the 3000m and was second behind Donnelly in the 5000m.

Weidemann did not attend the World Junior Championships in 2013 in Collalbo, Italy. Dubreuil did and was 14th overall. His older brother Laurent is the current world junior men’s 500m record holder.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE (results): http://www.slspeedskating.com/content/

CANADA’S LONG TRACK SPEED SKATING ATHLETES NOMINATED TO CANADIAN OLYMPIC TEAM

Lindsay — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:42:10 +0000

CANADA’S LONG TRACK SPEED SKATING ATHLETES NOMINATED TO CANADIAN OLYMPIC TEAM

Nine women and eight men are added to Canada’s Olympic Team in Sochi

CALGARY– Speed Skating Canada announced today the 17 long track speed skaters who are formally nominated onto the Canadian Olympic Speed Skating Team for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The nine women: Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, ON); Anastasia Bucsis (Calgary, AB); Kali Christ (Regina, SK); Marsha Hudey (White City, SK); Kaylin Irvine (Calgary, AB); Christine Nesbitt (London, ON); Brittany Schussler (Winnipeg, MB); Brianne Tutt (Airdrie, AB); Danielle Wotherspoon-Gregg (Red Deer, AB); and eight men: Vincent De Haître (Cumberland, ON); William Dutton (Humboldt, SK); Mathieu Giroux (Pointe-aux-Trembles, QC); Jamie Gregg (Edmonton, AB); Gilmore Junio (Calgary, AB); Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK); Denny Morrison (Fort St. John, BC); and Muncef Ouardi (Quebec City, QC); were nominated during an announcement at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.

This group of 17 long track skaters now join their short track teammates as Canada’s Speed Skating Team is now complete.

“I feel privileged being named to my third Olympic Team, each of which has been completely different for me. It was a thrill and a true honour to share the podium with my teammates Clara, Cindy, Kristina and Shannon,” said Christine Nesbitt, two-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medallist. “I have trained hard for the past four years and there certainly have been some ups and downs. I am very much looking forward to Sochi, and feel well prepared and supported by my coach Xiuli Wang and by the entire Speed Skating Canada team.”

“Canada has a tremendous speed skating history and today’s nominated long track athletes have the honour of carrying this legacy further,” added Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee. “The long track team that Canada will send to Sochi is one of experience and determination. I, along with so many Canadians look forward to sharing some exceptional speed skating moments on the ice in Sochi.”

According to the International Skating Union quota, the Canadian Team has achieved the following quota positions in each discipline: Women’s 500m (4); Men’s 500m (4); Women’s 1000m (4); Men’s 1000m (4); Women’s 1500m (4); Men’s 1500m (4); Women’s 3000m (2); Men’s 5000m (1); Women’s 5000m (1); and one entry in the Women’s and Men’s Team Pursuits.

“This will be a day to remember for all our athletes and coaches. Our long track and short track speed skaters have given their all to be named to Canada’s Olympic Team going to Sochi. They are supported by families and friends and guided by excellent coaches and other professionals, and helped along the way by volunteers and sponsors,” added Ian Moss, CEO, Speed Skating Canada. “There is a lot more work to be done at the Games, but I want to congratulate every single athlete and coach for being named to Team Canada. We are extremely proud of you.”

“Our long-track speed skaters will soar at top speed and push themselves to the limit to achieve their full potential,” said the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification). “I am certain that, just like me, thousands of Canadians will be riveted to their screens, applauding your achievements. We are anxious to watch you represent our country in Sochi. Good luck!”

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 7-23, 2014. The Canadian Olympic Team has set a goal to contend to be the top nation in overall medals won.

List of Long Track Speed Skating athletes nominated to the Sochi 2014 Canadian Olympic Team:

First	Last	Hometown	Sport
Ivanie	Blondin	Ottawa, ON	Long Track Speed Skating
Anastasia	Bucsis	Calgary, AB	Long Track Speed Skating
Kali	Christ	Regina, SK	Long Track Speed Skating
Marsha	Hudey	White City, SK	Long Track Speed Skating
Kaylin	Irvine	Calgary, AB	Long Track Speed Skating
Christine	Nesbitt	London, ON	Long Track Speed Skating
Brittany	Schussler	Winnipeg, MB	Long Track Speed Skating
Brianne	Tutt	Airdrie, AB	Long Track Speed Skating
Danielle	Wotherspoon-Gregg	Red Deer, AB	Long Track Speed Skating
Vincent	De Haître	Cumberland, ON	Long Track Speed Skating
William	Dutton	Humboldt, SK	Long Track Speed Skating
Mathieu	Giroux	Pointe-aux-Trembles, QC	Long Track Speed Skating
Jamie	Gregg	Edmonton, AB	Long Track Speed Skating
Gilmore	Junio	Calgary, AB	Long Track Speed Skating
Lucas	Makowsky	Regina, SK	Long Track Speed Skating
Denny	Morrison	Fort St. John, BC	Long Track Speed Skating
Muncef	Ouardi	Quebec City, QC	Long Track Speed Skating

These newly-nominated 17 long track athletes now join their 10 short track teammates, 10 curling athletes, 16 bobsledders, seven lugers, four skeleton athletes, 21 women’s hockey players, eight biathletes, 25 men’s hockey players, six alpine skiers, 17 figure skaters, 11 cross-country skiers, 20 freestyle skiers and 24 snowboarders as the next members on the Canadian Olympic Team. Two more teams will be announced between now and February.

Namasthée Harris-Gauthier and Alexander Fathoullin crowned champions!

Lindsay — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:04:20 +0000

Canadian Junior Short Track Championships in Montreal

Namasthée Harris-Gauthier and Alexander Fathoullin crowned champions!

Montreal’s Namasthée Harris-Gauthier and Alberta’s Alexander Sacha Fathoullin captured the 2014 Canadian Junior Short Track Championships today after three days of fast-paced competition on the weekend at Montreal’s Maurice Richard Arena.

On the women’s side, Harris-Gauthier had a perfect day, claiming victory in the 1000m and Super 1500m events. She finished first in the overall standings with 3,359 points, ahead of three other Quebec competitors: Sherbrooke’s Kim Boutin (2,994 points), Boucherville’s Audrey Phaneuf (2,318 points) and Saguenay’s Joanie Gervais (2,164 points). These 4 skaters earn a spot on the Canadian team set to compete at the 2014 ISU World Junior Short Track Championships in Erzurum, Turkey, from March 7 – 9, 2014.

For Namasthée Harris-Gauthier, who was a dominant force during this past weekend’s competition with three wins in four events, being selected to the team is a huge relief after toiling the past two seasons due to injuries that prevented her from qualifying for the World Junior Championships.

On the men’s side, Alberta’s Alexander Sacha Fathoullin followed in Harris-Gauthier’s footsteps by winning both of the day’s events.

He finished first overall with 3,359 points, ahead of Quebec competitors Samuel Girard (from Fernand-Boileau) with 2,702 points, Sébastien Gagnon (from Sainte-Anne des Plaines) with 2,450 points and Maxime Laoun (Montreal) with 2,287 points. These four athletes will make up the National Junior team that will be representing Canada at the 2014 ISU World Junior Short Track Championships.

Dutton confident after seventh place showing at Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships

Lindsay — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 20:39:59 +0000

Dutton confident after seventh place showing at Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships

- Humboldt, Sask., skater among three Canadian men in top 10 -

William Dutton makes his final preparations for the Winter Olympic Games with continued optimism after a strong showing at the Essent ISU World Sprint Championships. Dutton placed seventh overall in the final event before the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics begin on Feb. 7.

The Humboldt, Sask., native sat third after placing fifth and fourth in the opening 500m and 1000m races respectively on Saturday but slipped to 11th in the 500m (35.69 seconds) and eighth in 1000m (1:10.78) on Sunday.

“I learned some valuable lessons, the biggest one was that I can compete at a top level and potentially be a medal threat at the Olympic Games, so that made me very happy,” Dutton said. “The other lesson was if you’re in medal contention don’t do anything different, just skate the way that got you there. I finished seventh, which is my best finish internationally and to do that right before the Olympic Games makes me pretty confident. I feel like I’m going into the Games strong.”

Canada had three men in the top 10. Alexandre St-Jean of Quebec City was eighth and Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., ninth.

The Sprint Championships involve an accumulation of points from two 500m races and two 1000m skates.

Michel Mulder of the Netherlands won the men’s World Sprint title. Shani Davis of the United States was second, followed by Daniel Greig of Australia.

Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., placed ninth overall in the women’s competition. She was 14th in the 500m and fifth in the 1000m on Sunday.

Jing Yu of China won the women’s title. Hong Zhang, also of China, was second. She was followed by Heather Richardson of the United States.

St-Jean had two strong skates on Sunday, finishing sixth in 500m in 35.45 and seventh in 1000m in 1:10.61.

Dubreuil recorded an impressive fourth in the 500m on Sunday in 35.34 to go with a 13th in the 1000m (1:11.06). The 21-year-old holds the World Junior men’s 500m record of 34.66, set Jan. 22, 2012 in Salt Lake City. Juniors are those 19-and-under as of July 1.

Tyler Derraugh of Winnipeg was 13th overall. He was 17th in Sunday’s 500m (35.95) and ninth in the 1000m (1:10.83.)

Results the Sprint Championships visit http://www.isuresults.eu/.

Canadian Junior Short Track Championships in Montreal - Two new Quebec skaters win gold in the 500m

Lindsay — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 16:11:43 +0000

Canadian Junior Short Track Championships in Montreal

Two new Quebec skaters win gold in the 500m

Sherbrooker Kim Boutin and Sébastien Gagnon, of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, won the 500m event at the 2014 Canadian Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal.

Having placed second in the 1500m, Boutin switched spots with yesterday’s sprint winner Namasthée Harris-Gauthier atop the podium, finishing first in the 500m event with a time of 44.853 seconds. Harris-Gauthier’s time of 44.910 seconds was a mere 57-thousandths of a second behind that posted by Boutin. Both athletes lead the overall standings after 2 events with a total of 1,816 points.

The same scenario played out with the 3^rd and 4^th place skaters. B.C.’s Jamie MacDonald edged Quebec’s Audrey Phaneuf in the 500m. Both athletes are in a dead heat in third place overall with 1,209 points.

On the men’s side, Quebec’s Sébastien Gagnon (42.161 seconds) and Maxime Laoun (42.351 seconds) finished first and second respectively in the finals after leaders Alexander Sacha Fathoullin and Samuel Girard collided and fell to the ice together. Alberta’s Jordan Henkelman rounded out the podium finish with a time of 42.461. In the quarter final round, Fathoullin registered a time of 41.443 seconds, 2 hundredths of a second better than the current junior record, held by American JR Celski.

Given these developments in the men’s competition, the overall standings have become considerably tighter: 1. Maxime Laoun (Quebec) 1,482 points, 2. Samuel Girard (Qc) 1,443 pts, 3. Alexander Sacha Fathoullin (Alberta) 1,359 pts, 4. Sébastien Gagnon (Qc) 1,241 pts and 5. Gabriel Maillé (Qc) 905 pts.

The championship and the 2014 National Junior team selections will conclude Sunday with the final two events: the men’s and women’s 1000m and Super 1500m.

Dutton third after Day 1 at 2014 Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships

Lindsay — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 18:51:55 +0000

Dutton third after Day 1

at 2014 Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships

- Humboldt, Sask., skater fourth in 1000m and fifth in 500m on Saturday -

Canada’s William Dutton sits third overall after the first day of the Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships. The Humboldt, Sask., skater was fourth in the 1000m (1:09.44) and fifth in the 500m (35.37) on Saturday. Skaters will race another 500m and another 1000m Sunday to determine the final placings.

Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., is ninth in women’s classification. She was fifth in the 1000m (1:16.42) and 15th in the 500m (39.08).

Jing Yu of China leads the women after winning the 500m and placing third in the 1000m on Saturday. Margot Boer of the Netherlands is second followed by Hong Zhang of China.

Michel Mulder of the Netherlands is first among men, followed by Shani Davis of the United States, then Canada’s Dutton.

Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., is 10th overall in men’s classification after placing ninth in the 500m and 13th in the 1000m. Alexandre St-Jean of Quebec City is 11th overall, with Tyler Derraugh of Winnipeg 13th overall.

St.-Jean was 12th in the 500m and 10th in the 1000m. Derraugh was 16th in the 500m and 11th in the 1000m.

For live results of this week’s sprint championships visit http://www.isuresults.eu/.

Short Track Junior Canadian Championships in Montreal

Lindsay — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 16:03:15 +0000

Short Track Junior Canadian Championships in Montreal

Double gold for Quebec in the 1500m

Namasthée Harris-Gauthier, from Montreal, and Samuel Girard, from Fernand-Boileau, near Saguenay, won the 1500m A final, the first event of the Short Track Canadian Championships held at the Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal this weekend.

In the women’s event, Quebec monopolized the podium as Kim Boutin, from Sherbrooke, and Audrey Phaneuf, from Boucherville, won silver and bronze. After a close finish, Boutin finished only 8 one hundredths of a second behind Harris-Gauthier.

In the men’s event, the A Final starting list consisting of 7 skaters, with only Alexander Sacha Fathoullin of Alberta represented a province other than Quebec. Fathoullin did very well, finishing 2^nd with a time of 2:23.14, only 24 one hundredths of a second behind winner Girard (2:22.90). Maxime Laoun from Montreal finished in third place with a time of 2:24.45.

The Short Track Junior Canadian Championships, featuring 32 male and female athletes 19 years and younger, is the competition for selecting the Junior National Team that will represent Canada at the 2014 Junior World Championships which will take place in Erzurum, Turkey, from March 8-10, 2014.

Saturday, June 18th (2:00 p.m.), the 2^nd of 4 competition program events will be held, the women’s and men’s 500m event.

Olympic Team Test Events - Short Track

Lindsay — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:01:26 +0000

Olympic Team Test Events - Short Track

The Olympic Short Track Speed Skating Team will have the opportunity to fine tune their preparations ahead of their Sochi send-off. Montreal’s Maurice-Richard Arena will host a test event from January 16th to 17th for fifteen of Canada’s top male and female athletes, including skaters who recently competed at the World University Games in Italy. The athletes will compete at all three distances.

“This event will allow our Olympians to fine tune their race reflexes and implement the elements they’ve been working on over the last few months, prior to taking off for their pre-Olympic training camp in Budapest. Their competition will come from the athletes they were up against at the Olympic Trials”, explained Yves Hamelin, Short Track Program Director.

Canadian Junior Championship
Tomorrow’s stars will be in action at the Canadian Junior Championship January 16 – 18. Based on the results, four male and four female skaters will be chosen to participate in next March’s World Junior Championship in Erzurum, Turkey. “At this point, we’ll be able to see our 2018 Olympic rookies in action; it’s always very interesting to measure the quality of our newcomers at such an important event”, shared Hamelin.

Speed Skating Canada’s High Performance Committee also announced the third athlete picked at each individual distance. The following Canadian athletes will take the starting line in Sochi:

1500 m
  Women   Valérie Maltais   Marie-Ève Drolet   Marianne St-Gelais
  Men   Charles Hamelin   François Hamelin   Michael Gilday

500 m
  Women   Valérie Maltais   Jessica Hewitt   Marianne St.Gelais
  Men   Charles Hamelin   Olivier Jean   Charle Cournoyer

1000 m
  Women   Valérie Maltais   Marianne St.Gelais   Marie-Eve Drolet
  Men   Charles Hamelin   Charle Cournoyer   Olivier Jean

RACE SCHEDULE

Olympic Team (and other national team athletes) – test event

Thursday, January 16th – 1000m
  14h30   Warm-up
  15h00   Qualifications
  15h33   Semi-finals
  16h06   Final

Friday, January 17th – 500m and 1500m
  8h00   Warm-up
  8h40   Qualifications 500m
  9h15   Semi-finals 500m
  9h50   Final
  10h25   Qualifications 1500m
  10h57   Final 1500m

Saturday, January 18th – 1000m
  10h30   Warm-up
  11h00   Qualifications
  11h33   Semi-finals
  12h06   Final

Canadian Junior Championship

Friday, January 17th – 1500m
  1 pm   Warm-up
  2:10 pm   Qualifications
  3:16 pm   Semi-finals
  4:13 pm   Final

Saturday, January 18th – 500m
  1 pm   Warm-up
  2:10 pm   Qualifications
  3:05 pm   Quarter finals
  4 pm   Semi-finals
  4:55 pm   Final

Sunday, January 19th – 1000m and 1500m
  9 am   Warm-up
  10:10 am   1000m Qualificationsm
  11:17 am   1000 m Quarter-finals
  1:09 pm   1000m Semi-final
  2: 31 pm   1000 m Final
  3:53 pm   Super 1500m Final

REMINDER

WHO:
Canadian Short Track Speed Skating Team
o Athletes
o Coaches
o Yves Hamelin, Short Track Program Director

WHERE:
Maurice-Richard Arena, Montreal

Long track speed skaters enter final month of training before Olympic Games

Lindsay — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 01:19:33 +0000

Long track speed skaters enter final month of training before Olympic Games

Canadian speed skaters to be nominated to Sochi 2014 Olympic Team

on January 22 in Calgary

With the finish line in sight after years of preparation, Canada’s long track speed skaters are now in their final month of training before the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Though the team will not be officially announced until Jan. 22, athletes nominated following last week’s Intact Insurance 2014 Team Selections continue to get their bodies and minds lined up for the Feb. 7-23 competition.

“I was pre-qualified for the 1500m in both previous Olympic Games, so I definitely have a different perspective for this one,” offered Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., following his victory at that distance on Jan. 2 at The Olympic Oval. “It definitely makes me much more appreciative of just how much goes into qualifying for the Olympics.”

Canada has ability to send 18 athletes to the Games (10 women, 8 men), with the athletes to be nominated by Speed Skating Canada’s Olympic Selection Committee following the Selections and announced publicly on Jan. 22 at Calgary’s Olympic Oval.

Morrison’s week at the Selections featured plenty of drama. He fell approaching the finish line in the 1000m on Dec. 30 and finished fifth following a re-skate. It left him in the position of being left out of consideration for Sochi if he had a bad skate in the 1500m.

Christine Nesbitt, the 2010 Olympic 1000m champion, won her three distances last week — the 500m, 1000m and 1500m.

“I’m really excited about the Olympics. I like the position I’m in and I’m really excited about racing,” said the London, Ont., native.

Other race winners at the Selections were: Jamie Gregg of Edmonton in the men’s 500m, 19-year-old Vincent De Haître of Cumberland, Ont., in the men’s 1000m, Mathieu Giroux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., in the 5000m and Jordan Belchos of Toronto in the 10000m. Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa captured the women’s 5000m and Brittany Schussler of Winnipeg won the 3000m.

Blondin, Belchos capture distance events as Intact Insurance 2014 Speed Skating Team Selections conclude

Lindsay — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 03:24:01 +0000

Blondin, Belchos capture distance events

as Intact Insurance 2014 Speed Skating Team Selections conclude

- Canadian Olympic Committee will announce Olympic team Jan. 22

Seven minutes of tough racing came down to less than half-a-second difference Friday as Ivanie Blondin edged Nicole Garrido to win the women’s 5000m title on the final day of the Intact Insurance 2014 Speed Skating Team Selections at the Olympic Oval.

Blondin, of Ottawa, won with a time of 7:18.45, narrowly beating Edmonton’s Garrido, who finished in 7:18.87. Josie Spence of Kamloops, B.C., was third in 7:23.24.

Jordan Belchos of Toronto took the men’s 10000m in 13:24.96. Stefan Waples of Winnipeg grabbed the silver in 13:53.65 while Francois Déry of St-Jean-Chrysostome, Que. claimed the bronze in 13:58.30.

Skaters were vying for a spot on Canada’s team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Canada has one quota spot in the women’s 5000m and is the first alternate country in the men’s 10000m.

“I wouldn’t say I skated really well but I’m obviously happy that I came out on top today,” the 23-year-old Blondin told gathered reporters. “I think it’s kind of a miracle that I did.”

Blondin also put herself in position to skate the 3000m in Sochi with a second-place finish at that distance at the trials on Dec. 28. She is also a candidate to skate the team pursuit race at the Olympic Games.

Following the Olympic Qualifying competitions (Essent ISU World Cups), the Canadian long-track Olympic team currently has the ability to send 18 athletes to the Games (10 women, 8 men), with the athletes to be nominated by Speed Skating Canada’s Olympic Selection Committee following the Selections and announced publicly on Jan. 22 at Calgary’s Olympic Oval.

Blondin is in her fourth international long track season. She moved over from Speed Skating Canada’s short track program and participated in both discipline’s at the separate Olympic trials for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but did not go to Vancouver.

“I feel like I still have a lot of work to do,” she said. “On the fifth of January we’re going to be leaving for Tucson (Arizona) for a training camp. I think it will be nice to get away and relax and just calm down a little bit from the Olympic trials.”

Belchos was happy with his skate Friday. “I just tried to do good lap after good lap for 25 laps and I’m more than happy with it,” the 24-year-old said.

Belchos will continue to train in the hopes that another country gives up their 10000m spot in Sochi, which may allow him to go to the Olympics. Canada will learn if they have received that spot on Jan. 17. “I’d rather be in this situation than be out, but it’s tough,” he said.

Other winners at the trials were Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m distances; and Brittany Schussler of Winnipeg in the 3000m.

Jamie Gregg of Edmonton captured the men’s 500m. Vincent De Haître of Cumberland, Ont., won the 1000m; Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., the 1500m; and Mathieu Giroux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., the men’s 5,000m.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE (results): http://liveresults.oval.ucalgary.ca/