Canada Names Provisional Team for Long Track World Cups in Poland
CALGARY, ALBERTA – Speed Skating Canada announces today the provisional composition of its long track teams for the next two ISU World Cup Speed Skating events of the season, which will take place this February in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland.
A total of 23 skaters have been provisionally selected to represent to skate for Canada at ISU World Cup Speed Skating 5 (February 10-12) and 6 (February 17-19) in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. Canada’s team for these competitions includes athletes that were pre-qualified based on international results from this fall, along with others that earned their spots following the Long Track Canada Cup 2 Skate Off that took place in Quebec City earlier this month.
Aimé Perreault (Lévis, Que.), a long-distance specialist based out of the Centre de glace Intact Assurance, is the lone World Cup rookie on the squad this winter. He will be joined by Anders Johnson and Frank Roth, who will both take part in the first international World Cup of their careers, as well as David La Rue, who returns to the circuit after battling a variety of injuries over the past few seasons.
The Canadian team will look to build off a successful start to the international season, one that saw them win an impressive 23 World Cups medals (6 gold, 10 silver, 7 bronze) across four events.
A handful of skaters currently sit at or near the top of the World Cup rankings in their respective distances, notably Laurent Dubreuil (1st in 500m; 2nd in 1000m), Connor Howe (1st in 1500m), Ivanie Blondin (5th in 1500m; 4th in Long Distance; 3rd in Mass Start) and Isabelle Weidemann (4th in Long Distance). Canada is also in the top-3 of the men’s and women’s Team Pursuit, as well as the women’s Team Sprint.
ISU World Cup Speed Skating 5-6
- Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, Ont.)
- Carolina Hiller (Prince George, B.C.)
- Béatrice Lamarche (Quebec City, Que.)
- Valérie Maltais (La Baie, Que.)
- Abigail McCluskey (Penticton, B.C.)
- Brooklyn McDougall (Calgary, Alta.)
- Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, Alta.)
- Alexa Scott (Clandeboye, Man.)
- Isabelle Weidemann (Ottawa, Ont.)
- Jordan Belchos (Toronto, Ont)
- Ted-Jan Bloemen (Calgary, Alta.)
- Vincent de Haître (Cumberland, Ont.)
- Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.)
- Christopher Fiola (Montreal, Que.)
- Graeme Fish (Moose Jaw, Sask.)
- Antoine Gélinas-Beulieu (Sherbrooke, Que.)
- Connor Howe (Canmore, Alta.)
- Anders Johnson (Burnaby, B.C.)
- Tyson Langelaar (Winnipeg, Man.)
- David La Rue (Montreal, Que.)
- Hayden Mayeur (Toronto, Ont.)
- Aimé Perreault (Lévis, Que.)
- Frank Roth (Calgary, Alta.)
The team nominations were made in accordance with relevant High Performance Bulletins following the 2022-23 Long Track Canada Cup 2 Skate-Off, which was hosted in Quebec City from January 5-8, 2023. It is important to note that the composition of these teams could potentially change should an appeal be submitted and accepted. Teams will not be made official until the appeal period has passed and a decision on those appeals – should any be received – has been made.
CONTACT
Alain Brouillette
Speed Skating Canada
communications@speedskating.ca
613-601-2630