Speed Skating Canada – Shanghai, China, December 7, 2016 – The Canadian Short Track Speed Skating team is in Shanghai, China, this weekend for the third World Cup of the season with the goal to win nine individual medals.

In two World Cups so far this season, Canada is currently ranked second in the medal ranking with 11, tied with the Netherlands. South Korea is leading with 16.

 

The men’s team, including Charle Cournoyer from Boucherville, QC, Pascal Dion from Montréal, Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, QC, Patrick Duffy from Oakville, ON, Samuel Girard from Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC, Charles Hamelin from Sainte-Julie, QC, and François Hamelin from Sainte-Julie, QC, will aim for six medals.

 

Samuel Girard, who won three medals in four races so far this season, including two golds and one silver as well as a fourth position, is looking to keep the momentum going as his goal is to be on the podium twice this weekend, in the first of two 500m event to be held in Shanghai and in the 1000m.

 

Charles Hamelin, who got on the podium for the first time this season at the second World Cup held in Salt Lake City, will take part in the 500m (1) and in the 1000m. He is also looking to win two medals.

 

Like Girard and Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer is looking to win two medals in the 500m (2) and in the 1500m in Shanghai and, then, to be back on the podium following his gold in the 1000m in Calgary. Cournoyer’s best performance in Salt Lake City was a fourth place in the 1500m.

 

François Hamelin and Pascal Dion will both take part in the 500m (2) and in the 1500m.

 

Dion, who got fourth and fifth positions in the 1500m in two World Cups so far this season, will look to qualify for the A final in this event and to skate in the 500m (2) B final.

 

François Hamelin will look to take part in one A and one B final among the two events.

 

Finally, Patrick Duffy will be back on the World Cup circuit since he didn’t take part in the first two this season. In Shanghai, his goal is to qualify for the B finals in the 500m (1) and in the 1000m.

 

Women’s team looking for three individual medals

On the women’s side, Marianne St-Gelais from Saint-Félicien, QC, is looking to be on the podium in the 500m (1) and in the 1000m.

 

Like Samuel Girard, St-Gelais won three medals in two World Cups, including gold in the 500m in Salt Lake City as well as two other silver medals.

 

Kim Boutin, from Sherbrooke, QC, fourth in the 1000m in Calgary, will aim for a podium in the 1500m as well as to be in the top 8 in the 500m (2).

 

Following her first World Cup medal since she gave birth to her daughter, a bronze in the 1500m in Salt Lake City, Marie-Ève Drolet from Saguenay, Chicoutimi borough, QC, is looking to qualify for the A final in this event in Shanghai. In the 500m (2), her goal is to finish among the top 8.

 

Kasandra Bradette de Saint-Félicien, QC, and Valérie Maltais from Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC, will both be in action in the 500m (1) and in the 1000m. In the first event, Bradette’s goal is to take part in the A final while Maltais wants a top 8. In the 1000m, Bradette is looking for a top 8 and Maltais, a top 5.

 

Jamie Macdonald from Fort St. James, B.C., who won a silver medal in one of the two 500m events in Calgary, wants to take part in the A finals in both the 1500m and the 500m (2).

Qualifying for all races slated over the weekend at the Shanghai World Cup will take place on Friday, December 9, while the repechage heats and the finals in the first 500m of the stage and the 1500m as well as the relay semifinals will follow on Saturday, December 10. Repechage heats and the finals for the second 500m and for the 1000m as well as the relay finals will be held on Sunday, December 11.

 

The list of skaters taking part in the relay races will be decided on each day of the competition.

 

Members of the Canadian national team for ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating stage #3 in Shanghai, China

 

Women

-BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC) – 1500m, 500m (2)

-BRADETTE, Kasandra (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m

-DROLET, Marie-Ève (Saguenay, Chicoutimi borough, QC) – 1500m, 500m (2)

-MACDONALD, Jamie (Fort St. James, B.C.) – 1500m, 500m (2)

-MALTAIS, Valérie (Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m

-ST-GELAIS, Marianne (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m

 

Men

-COURNOYER, Charle (Boucherville, QC) – 500m (2), 1500m
-DION, Pascal (Montréal, Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, QC) – 500m (2), 1500m

-DUFFY, Patrick (Oakville, ON) – 500m (1), 1000m

-GIRARD, Samuel (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m
-HAMELIN, Charles (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m
-HAMELIN, François (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 500m (2), 1500m

More information is available at Speed Skating Canada’s website: www.speedskating.ca.

 

About Speed Skating Canada

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

 

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance and Samsung, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and WinSport Canada.
 

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For information:

Patrick Godbout

Communications & Media Relations Manager

Speed Skating Canada

Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca

Phone: 514 213-9897

Website: www.speedskating.ca 

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