MONTREAL, QUEBEC – William Dandjinou and his Canadian teammates will look to remain on top of the world rankings as Montreal prepares to host a second consecutive ISU Short Track World Tour event this coming weekend at the Maurice Richard Arena.
Canada is looking to build off the impressive performances that helped them win six medals on home ice last weekend, including three gold, one silver and two bronze. They will have the opportunity to compete in front of their fans again from November 1-3 due to the last-minute relocation of the World Tour event from Salt Lake City to Montreal.
Last weekend’s breakout star was reigning national champion Dandjinou, who captured gold in both the 500m and 1500m, and anchored the men’s 5000m relay squad to an impressive victory to conclude racing on Sunday.
“There is no doubt that skating on home ice give us an advantage. The atmosphere last weekend was incredible! We really felt the energy of the crowd. I’m excited to compete again this weekend in front of my fans, my family and my friends. I can guarantee that we’re going to put on a great show for those in attendance at the Maurice Richard Arena!”William Dandjinou
The 23-year-old Lavval native is currently ranked first overall in the men’s Crystal Globe standings with 220 points, ahead of Jens van ‘T Wout of the Netherlands (156), Pietro Sighel of Italy (156), and Canadian teammate Steven Dubois (150), who was last season’s runner-up behind two-time champion Park Ji Won of Korea.
“I feel confident that I have what it takes to stay on top of the Crystal Globe standings, but I’m going to need the energy of the crowd to help me get through this intense racing program for the second weekend in-a-row,” shared William Dandjinou,
While Canada has always been a powerhouse in short track speed skating, this season they will have the chance to have their dominance on the international stage rewarded thanks to the addition of the new ISU Team Crystal Globe, which combines individual distance and relay results for each country’s skaters into one definitive ranking.
Winning this new team prize is something that Canadian head coach Marc Gagnon has had his sights set on since the World Tour competition format was announce earlier this summer. Canada currently sits atop the overall standings with 1,434 points, slightly ahead of Korea (1,324) and the Netherlands (1,217).
“We know that we are capable of winning this new Team Crystal Globe. Our skaters were pretty pumped when we saw we were the top nation in the world after last weekend’s races! That said, being in first place this early in the season doesn’t mean much. We have to be good for five more weekends. But we are capable, and we will continue to work as a team to achieve our objective, starting this Friday on home ice,” shared Marc Gagnon.
Don’t miss the chance to cheer on Canada’s top skaters as they battle for the podium during an unforgettable weekend of action at the iconic Maurice-Richard Arena. Get your tickets now for Saturday and Sunday’s races at www.courtepiste.ca.
Fans unable to attend in person can watch the competition live on CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports digital platforms.
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
All members of the media interested in covering the ISU Short Track World Tour in Montreal are invited to apply for accreditation using the Media Accreditation Form. The application deadline is Friday, November 1.
ISU Short Track World Tour
Dates: November 1-3, 2024
Location: Montreal, QC
Venue: Maurice Richard Arena