Speed Skating Canada – Competitions will be held this weekend, December 9-11

Heerenveen, Netherlands, December 6, 2016 – Speed Skating Canada announced its final line-up today, including events for each Canadian skater, for the fourth ISU World Cup Long Track Speed Skating of the season to be held this weekend, December 9-11, in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

Following the first three World Cups of the season, Canada won a total of eight medals. Last weekend in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Canadian skaters doubled their medal tally while climbing the podium four times. Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa, ON, and Vincent de Haître from Cumberland, ON, won gold respectively in the Mass Start and 1000m, while Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary, AB, won bronze in the 5000m and silver with Jordan Belchos of Toronto, ON, and Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., in the team pursuit.

This weekend, Ivanie Blondin will aim to pursue her streak as she won at least one medal at the first three World Cups of the season. So far, she grabbed two golds and one silver medal in the mass start event, as well as a bronze medal in the 3000m event in China. In Heerenveen, she will take part in the 1500m and Mass Start events, as well as in the 5000m scheduled for the only time this season.

Ted-Jan Bloemen, who broke the 10,000m World Record last year in Salt Lake City, will take part in this event in Heerenveen, also on the schedule for the only time this season, along with Jordan Belchos.

Sprinters will only have one shot at the 500m this weekend as this event will only be held once.

Skaters to take part in the team sprint and team pursuit events will be decided later this week.

The World Cup will start Friday with the 500m, as well as the team pursuit and the mass start semifinals. Saturday, the 1500m, team sprint and mass start finals are scheduled while, Sunday, the 1000m, women’s 5000m and men’s 10,000m will take place. 

Coaches Bart Schouten, Gregor Jelonek and Kevin Crockett will accompany the Canadian athletes.

Members of the Canadian national team for the ISU World Cup Long Track #4 in Heerenveen, Netherlands

WOMEN                                                             

-BLONDIN, Ivanie (Ottawa, ON) – 1500m, 5000m, Mass Start
-FISET, Noémie (Quebec City, QC) – 500m, 1000m

-HUDEY, Marsha (White City, SK) – 500m, 1000m
-IRVINE, Kaylin (Calgary, AB) – 500m, 1000m
-McLEAN, Heather (Winnipeg, MB) – 500m, 1000m
-TUTT, Brianne (Airdrie, AB) – 1500m
-WEIDEMANN, Isabelle (Ottawa, ON) – 1500m, 5000m

MEN

-BELCHOS, Jordan (Toronto, ON) – 10,000m
-BLOEMEN, Ted-Jan (Calgary, AB) – 10,000m
-BOISVERT-LACROIX, Alex (Sherbrooke, QC) – 500m, 1000m
-De HAÎTRE, Vincent (Cumberland, ON) – 1000m, 1500m
-DUBREUIL, Laurent (Lévis, QC) – 500m, 1000m
-DUTTON, William (Humboldt, SK) – 500m
-FIOLA, Christopher (Montréal, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, QC) – 500m, Mass Start
-MORRISON, Denny (Fort St. John, B.C.) – 1000m, 1500m
-ST-JEAN, Alexandre (Quebec City, QC) – 500m, 1000m

More information, including the competition schedule, 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, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and WinSport Canada.

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For information:

Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC

Patrick Godbout

Communications & Media Relations Manager

Speed Skating Canada

Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca 

Phone: 514 213-9897

Website: www.speedskating.ca  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC