Speed Skating Canada – Races will be held this weekend, February 10-12

Minsk, Belarus, February 9, 2017 – The Canadian Short Track Speed Skating team is in Minsk, Belarus, this weekend for the sixth and last ISU World Cup stage of the season and will be aiming to win at least four individual medals.

The women’s team, comprised of Kim Boutin from Sherbrooke, QC, Kasandra Bradette of Saint-Félicien, QC, Jamie Macdonald of Fort St. James, B.C., and Valérie Maltais of Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC, has set the goal of winning these four medals.

Kim Boutin, who won her first ever World Cup race as she earned a gold medal in one of the two 1500m events held last weekend in Dresden, Germany, will aim to climb on the podium in both 1000m events scheduled in Minsk.

Jamie Macdonald, who also won a medal last weekend, a bronze in the 500m, will also be looking to end up twice on the podium over the weekend, in the 1500m and 500m events.

Valérie Maltais, who will take part in the 1500m and second 1000m, is aiming to take part in both A finals.

Kasandra Bradette, who will race in the 500m and in the first 1000m, will look to win each race in which she will take part in.

On the men’s side, Pascal Dion of Montreal, QC, will vye to take part in the A final of both his events, namely the 1500m and the second 1000m, as will Patrick Duffy of Oakville, ON, but who trains in Montreal, in the first 1000m event. Duffy is back on the World Cup circuit after he skipped the Dresden stage last weekend. This season, he took part in the two events held in Asia.

François Hamelin (1000m (1) and 500m) of Sainte-Julie, QC, and Guillaume Bastille (1500m and 1000m (2)) of Rivière-du-Loup, QC, are aiming to qualify for the final rounds in their individual events, while Duffy is looking to reach the semifinals in the 500m.

As they had already planned, Marianne St-Gelais, Charles Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer and Samuel Girard will not be taking part in this World Cup in order to prepare for the World Championships, which will take place March 10-12 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Marie-Ève Drolet is also back in Montreal following the World Cup in Dresden, as a preventive measure, after falling in one of her races last weekend.

In five World Cups so far this season, Canada won 31 medals.

Qualifying for all races slated over the weekend at the Minsk World Cup will take place on Friday, February 10, while the repechage heats and the finals in the first 1000m event of the stage and the 1500m as well as the relay semifinals will follow on Saturday, February 11. Repechage heats and the finals for the second 1000m and for the 500m as well as the relay finals will be held on Sunday, February 12.

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

The participation of the skaters at this World Cup has been made possible by the financial support of the provincial associations from British Columbia and Quebec. The FPVQ is holding a fundraising event regarding this initiative, which can be found at www.fpvq.org.

Members of the Canadian national team for ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating stage #6 in Minsk, Belarus

WOMEN

-BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC) – 1000m (1), 1000m (2)

-BRADETTE, Kasandra (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 1000m (1), 500m

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

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

MEN

-BASTILLE, Guillaume (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – 1500m, 1000m (2)

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

-DUFFY, Patrick (Oakville, ON, trains in Montreal) – 1000m (1), 500m

-HAMELIN, François (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 1000m (1), 500m

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 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC