Speed Skating Canada – Shanghaï, China, November 7, 2017 – The Canadian Short Track Speed Skating Provisional Olympic Team will finalize its preparation for the 2018 Olympic Games in Asia by skating in the last two World Cups of the season, including a first stop this week, November 9-12, in Shanghai, China, followed next week with the last stage in Seoul, South Korea.

In Shanghai, Canada will be represented by Kim Boutin (Sherbrooke, QC), Kasandra Bradette (Saint-Félicien, QC), Jamie Macdonald (Fort St. James, B.C.), Valérie Maltais (Saguenay, QC) and Marianne St-Gelais (Saint-Félicien, QC) on the women’s side, while Charle Cournoyer (Boucherville, QC), Pascal Dion (Montreal, QC), Samuel Girard (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC), Charles Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, QC) and François Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, QC) will do so on the men’s side. Audrey Phaneuf (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC) and Steven Dubois (Lachenaie, QC) are also travelling with the team.

As was the case in Europe last month, Samuel Girard, Charles Hamelin and Charle Cournoyer will represent Canada in each of the three individual events in Shanghai.

On the women’s side, Canada will be represented in the 500m by Boutin, Bradette and Macdonald, in the 1000m by Boutin, Maltais and St-Gelais, and in the 1500m by Macdonald, Maltais and St-Gelais.

Canadian official Jacques Grégoire will also take part in this event as first Assistant Referee.

Saturday’s and Sunday’s competitions will be webstreamed live on the CBC Sports (http://www.cbc.ca/sports) and Radio-Canada Sports (http://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports) websites.

Qualification for the final rounds of the 1500m and 500m distances slated for the Saturday will be held Thursday, while Friday will be dedicated to qualifying in the 1000m and relay races, with the final rounds in these events set for the Sunday. Unlike the format for non-Olympic seasons, each event will be held only once per weekend.

The World Cups in Asia are the last opportunities for skaters to secure spots for their countries at the Olympic Games as athletes collect points in each of the individual distances. At the end of the four World Cups, the top three performances out of four for each skater will be tallied and will count for the special standings which are dedicated to Olympic qualifying, and will therefore determine how the available spots for the PyeongChang Games will be attributed.

Aside from the individual distances, the other goal will be to qualify for the relays by finishing among the top seven, excluding host country South Korea. Qualifying would mean that Canada could send over a full team, i.e. five skaters per gender. If not, a maximum of three non-qualified skaters per gender will be allowed to go at the Olympic Games.

Following the first two World Cups in Europe, where it earned 12 medals overall, Canada sits in first place in the men’s relay overall ranking with two gold medals, while the women’s team is in second place after winning silver and bronze medals.

Members of the Canadian team for the ISU World Cup Short Track #3 in Shanghai, China:

WOMEN

-BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC) – 500m, 1000m

-BRADETTE, Kasandra (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 500m

-MACDONALD, Jamie (Fort St. James, BC) – 500m, 1500m

-MALTAIS, Valérie (Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC) – 1000m, 1500m

-PHANEUF, Audrey (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC)

-ST-GELAIS, Marianne (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 1000m, 1500m

MEN

-COURNOYER, Charle (Boucherville, QC) – 500m, 1000m, 1500m

-DION, Pascal (Montréal, QC)

-DUBOIS, Steven (Lachenaie, QC)

-GIRARD, Samuel (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC) – 500m, 1000m, 1500m

-HAMELIN, Charles (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 500m, 1000m, 1500m

-HAMELIN, François (Sainte-Julie, QC)

More details are available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at 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