Speed Skating Canada – The second World Cup of the season will be held this weekend, November 11-13

Salt Lake City, November 9, 2016 – The Canadian Short Track Speed Skating team is in Salt Lake City, U.S.A., this weekend for the second World Cup of the season with the goal to win nine individual medals.

At the first World Cup of the season held in Calgary last week, Canada came short of the goal of eight medals by winning five to start the new season.

In Salt Lake City, Samuel Girard from Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC, and Charles Hamelin from Sainte-Julie, QC, will take part in the first of the two 1500m event scheduled this weekend and in the 500m.

Girard, leader of the Canadian team in Calgary with his goal medal in the 500m and a silver in the 1000m, is looking to qualify for both A finals and to win at least one medal to lead the Canadian men’s team to a total quest of five medals.

Charles Hamelin will definitively be looking to come back from his tough weekend following falls in each of his events. This weekend, he is aiming for medals in both races.

Charle Cournoyer from Boucherville, QC, and Pascal Dion of Montreal, Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, will be in action in the 1000m and in the second 1500m event.

Cournoyer, gold medalist in the 1000m last weekend to finish 1-2 with Girard in this event, is aiming to win a medal in both distances.

Pascal Dion, who nearly missed the podium in the 1500m by finishing fourth, is looking to qualify for both A finals.

François Hamelin from Sainte-Julie, QC, will skate in the first 1500m and in the 500m events and wants to take part in the B finals, while William Preudhomme from Toronto, ON, will take part in both 1500m events. His goals are to take part in one A and one B finals.

Objective: four medals for the women

On the women’s side, both Canadian women’s medalists in Calgary, Marianne St-Gelais from Saint-Félicien, QC, and Jamie Macdonald from Fort St. James, B.C., will skate in the first 1500m and in the 500m events.

St-Gelais, silver medalist in the 500m last weekend, is looking for no less than winning a gold medal in this event, as well as getting another medal in the 1500m.

Jamie Macdonald, also winner of a silver medal in the second 500m held last weekend, wants to take part in both A finals.

Kim Boutin from Sherbrooke, QC, and Valérie Maltais from Saguenay, QC, will be in action in the 1000m and in the second 1500m event.

Boutin, fourth in the 1000m and sixth in the 1500m in Calgary, has her mind set to win two medals this weekend.

Valérie Maltais is looking to qualify for the A final in the 1500m and a top 5 in the 1000m. Her best performance last weekend was a second position in the 1000m B final.

Kasandra Bradette of Saint-Félicien, QC, who lost a medal in the 500m last week because of a penalty, will aim to qualify for the 500m A final and to finish among the top eight in the 1000m.

Marie-Ève Drolet of Saguenay, QC, will take part in both 1500m events and is looking to get in both A finals. Last weekend, Drolet, who was back in an international competition for the first time since the 2014 World Championships following the birth of her first child, skate in the 1500m B final and saw her road in the 500m end in the quarterfinals.

Qualifying for all races slated over the weekend at the Salt Lake City World Cup will take place on Friday, November 11, while the repechage heats and the finals in the first 1500m of the stage and the 1000m as well as the relay semifinals will follow on Saturday, November 12. Repechage heats and the finals for the second 1500m and for the 500m as well as the relay finals will be held on Sunday, November 12.

The list of skaters taking part in the relay races will be decided on each day of the competition.

Members of the Canadian national team for ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating stage #2 in Salt Lake City

Women

-BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC) – 1000m, 1500m (2)

-BRADETTE, Kasandra (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 1000m, 500m

-DROLET, Marie-Ève (Saguenay, Chicoutimi borough, QC) – 1500m (1), 1500m (2)

-MACDONALD, Jamie (Fort St. James, B.C.) – 1500m (1), 500m

-MALTAIS, Valérie (Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC) – 1000m, 1500m (2)

-ST-GELAIS, Marianne (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 1500m (1), 500m

Men

-COURNOYER, Charle (Boucherville, QC) – 1000m, 1500m (2)

-DION, Pascal (Montréal, Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, QC), 1000m, 1500m (2)

-GIRARD, Samuel (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC) – 1500m (1), 500m

-HAMELIN, Charles (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 1500m (1), 500m

-HAMELIN, François (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 1500m (1), 500m

-PREUDHOMME, William (Toronto, ON) – 1500m (1), 1500m (2)

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 competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. 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.

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance and Samsung, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and WinSport Canada.

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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 

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