Speed Skating Canada – Seoul, South Korea, November 14, 2017 – The Canadian Short Track Speed Skating Provisional Olympic Team is in Seoul, South Korea, this weekend for the fourth and last ISU World Cup stage of the season, to be held November 16-19.

Already qualified for the 2018 Olympic Games in the men’s and women’s relay events, the Canadian skaters will finalize their preparation for the PyeongChang Games.

In Seoul, Canada will again 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.

Samuel Girard and Charles Hamelin will take part in all three men’s individual events, i.e. the 500m, 1000m and 1500m, while Charle Cournoyer will skate in the 1000m.

Pascal Dion will comptete in his first World Cup individual events this season as he will skate in the 500m and the 1500m.

“I’m really happy,” said Dion. “There’s no doubt that this will be more stressful than last season’s competitions and that the races will be harder. Because the races also count in terms of Olympic qualification, there is more pressure, but I like it when that’s the case and I usually manage to get good results. I can’t wait to skate!”

On the women’s side, Kasandra Bradette, Jamie Macdonald and Marianne St-Gelais will take part in the 500m, Kim Boutin, Valérie Maltais and Macdonald in the 1000m, and Boutin, Maltais and St-Gelais in the 1500m.

“My goal this weekend is to feel as good out there on the ice as I have so far this season in individual distances,” said Boutin, who has won five individual medals so far this season, including two gold last weekend. “I race on instinct and nothing will change. I also have the same expectations regarding what I want to do technically. In the relay, we are hungry. The goal will be to not think in terms of results and skate as if we haven’t yet qualified, and to give it everything we have.”

Canadian officials Jacques Grégoire and Roger Cole will also take part in this event, as Chief Referee and Starter, respectively.

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/) websites.

Qualification for the final rounds of the 1500m and 500m distances slated for the Saturday will be held on 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 Cup in South Korea is the last opportunity 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.

Following the first three World Cup stages, Canada has earned 17 medals.

Members of the Canadian team for the ISU World Cup Short Track #4 in Seoul, South Korea:

WOMEN

-BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC) – 1000m, 1500m

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

-MACDONALD, Jamie (Fort St. James, BC) – 500m, 1000m

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

-PHANEUF, Audrey (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC)

-ST-GELAIS, Marianne (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 500m, 1500m

MEN

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

-DION, Pascal (Montréal, QC) – 500m, 1000m

-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