Four Canadian skaters will make their World Cup debut alongside 10 Olympians at the Olympic Oval from January 24-26
CALGARY, ALBERTA – Canada’s top long track speed skaters will hit the ice at the Calgary Olympic Oval from January 24-26, as the city welcomes over 200 athletes from 35 countries for the third ISU World Cup Speed Skating competition of the 2024-25 international season.
A team of 28 Canadians will lace up their long blades to compete against the world’s best across 10 individual distances and one team event. They will look to build off a successful start to the season, which saw them reach the World Cup podium six times during events in Nagano and Beijing. During their last competition on home ice in Calgary – the 2024 ISU World Speed Skating Championships in February – the team captured a record 10 medals, making it the most successful World Championship in national program history.
National Team veterans such as Ivanie Blondin, Isabelle Weidemann, Valérie Maltais, Laurent Dubreuil and Ted-Jan Bloemen will race for medals and records on the ‘Fastest Ice in the World’ alongside World Cup rookies Antoine Roger, Luca Veeman, Rose-Anne Grenier and Jenna Larter, who will make history as the first skater from Prince Edward Island to compete in a senior international event.
The full list of Canadian skaters competing at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary can be found below. Individual and team distances they have been selected to participate in will be revealed in the coming weeks.
- Abigail McCluskey (Penticton, BC)
- Alexa Scott (Clandeboye, MB)
- Beatrice Lamarche (Quebec City, QC)
- Brooklyn McDougall (Calgary, AB)
- Carolina Hiller (Prince George, BC)
- Isabelle Weidemann (Ottawa, ON)
- Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, ON)
- Jenna Larter (Brookfield, PEI)
- Laura Hall (Salmon Arm, B.C.)
- Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, AB)
- Rose-Anne Grenier (Sainte-Marie, QC)
- Rose Laliberté-Roy (Saint-Étienne, QC)
- Valérie Maltais (La Baie, QC)
- Aime Perreault (Levis, QC)
- Anders Johnson (Burnaby, BC)
- Antoine Roger (Quebec City, QC)
- Cedrick Brunet (Gatineau, QC)
- Christopher Fiola (Montreal, QC)
- Connor Howe (Canmore, AB)
- David La Rue (Saint-Lambert, QC)
- Daniel Hall (Calgary, AB)
- Graeme Fish (Moose Jaw, SK)
- Jake Weidemann (Ottawa, ON)
- Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, QC)
- Luca Veeman (Saskatoon, SK)
- Max Halyk (Calgary, AB)
- Ted-Jan Bloemen (Calgary, AB)
- Yankun Zhao (Calgary, AB)
With a vibrant international crowd and many exciting activations in the works, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating will be a perfect showcase of Canada’s most decorated Olympic sport.
- Over 1000 students from schools around the Calgary area will be in attendance Friday afternoon to cheer on the skaters
- Alumni will be on hand Saturday morning for the unveiling of the revamped Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame presented by Svante, which highlights the sports storied history
- Four-time Olympic medalist Denny Morrison will be inducted into the Olympic Oval’s Hall of Champions on Saturday afternoon
- Fans will be treated to a legendary Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast on Sunday morning, free for the first 500 people
- Spectators are invited to visit Intact Insurance Canada House throughout the weekend, where they can learn about the skaters and participate in family-friendly activities
For as low as $10, fans can enjoy an up-close view of skaters racing head-to-head at speeds up to 60km/h in a race against the clock over distances ranging from 500m to 10,000m. For those unable to attend in person, the races will be live streamed by CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports digital platforms, with television coverage also available throughout the weekend on CBC and ICI Télé.
For more information on the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, visit www.speedskating.ca/calgary2025.
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Media interested in covering the ISU World Cup Speed Skating can apply for accreditation through this online form. Any questions related to media accreditation should be directed to Alain Brouillette.
ISU World Cup Speed Skating
Dates: January 24-26, 2025
Location: Calgary, AB
Venue: Olympic Oval
CONTACT
Alain Brouillette
Speed Skating Canada
T: 613-601-2630
E: communications@speedskating.ca