Speed Skating Canada – Skaters will aim to qualify for the Canadian Senior Selections #1 and the Canadian Junior Championships

Calgary, November 1, 2017 – Calgary’s Olympic Oval will host a total of 120 short track speed skaters from across the country for the Canadian Open National Qualifier, to be held November 2-5.

The Canadian Open National Qualifier will showcase the top 25 senior and 25 junior athletes per gender based on last year’s national rankings, excluding those who took part in the Olympic selections in August. Remaining positions are filled based on time criteria.

The Canadian Open National Qualifier is an important step in the short track speed skating season for athletes who did not take part in the Olympic selections, as this is one of their last opportunities to qualify for the selection competitions that leads to the 2018 World Junior Championships as well as next year’s senior and development national teams.

On the road to the Canadian Senior Selections #1

At the Canadian Open National Qualifier, skaters will aim to earn one of the 32 spots per gender available, except those who took part in the Olympic selections and who are not part of the provisional Olympic team as they are pre-qualified, for the Canadian Senior Selections #1 which will be held January 19-21 at the Eugène-Lalonde Arena in the Rolland Dussault Sport Centre, in Sherbrooke, QC.

On the road to the World Junior Championships

Skaters in the junior category, who have reached the age of 14 but not 19 by July 1st, 2017, will look to earn one of the 30 spots per gender available for the Canadian Junior Championships, to be held December 15-17 at the Centre Georges-Vézina in Saguenay. This will be the selection competition for the team that will represent Canada at the World Junior Championships, March 2-4, in Warsaw, Poland.

Competitions will start Thursday, Nov. 2, with the qualifying events in the 500m and 1500m distances. Skaters who do not qualify for the main events will have a second opportunity to qualify for one of the, at least, six spots available through the repechage in each distance, Friday through Sunday. The last three days of the event will all have the same format, as a repechage will be held in the morning while the main event, including the finals, will follow in the afternoon. The 1500m event will be held Friday, Nov. 3, while the 500m will take place Saturday, Nov. 4.

In the 1000m, held on Sunday, Nov. 5, the top 14 skaters based on the cumulative time ranking in the 500m and 1500m races will go directly to the main event. The other skaters will try to qualify Sunday morning through the repechage rounds.

Athletes to watch

Some members of the 2017 Canadian Junior Team will also be in action, such as Marco Schumann from Saskatoon, SK, Gibson Himbeault from Whitby, ON, and Maxime Raymond-Chitaya from Montréal, QC.

Schedule

Thursday, November 2

AM: 1500m (qualification)

PM: 500m (qualification)

Friday, November 3

AM: 1500m (repechage)

PM: 1500m (finals)

Saturday, November 4

AM: 500m (repechage)

PM: 500m (finals)

Sunday, November 5

AM: 1000m (repechage)

PM: 1000m (finals)

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 long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, SSC is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial associations. Speed Skating Canada is committed to Challenge and Inspire Canada to Thrive through the power of Speed Skating. 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. www.speedskating.ca

Speed Skating Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Premium partner: Intact Insurance

Funding partners: Government of Canada (Sport Canada), Own The Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee

Official On-Ice High Performance Apparel: Li-Ning

Long Track Team Sponsor: KIA

Official Suppliers: Auclair, USANA

Official Technical Equipment Supplier: Nagano Skate

Sport Development Partners: Winsport Canada, Calgary’s Olympic Oval, University of Calgary, Institut national du sport du Québec, Government of Quebec, Canadian Sport Institute-Calgary, City of Montreal, Quebec City, Excellence sportive Québec-Lévis

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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  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC