Speed Skating Canada – MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Canada has named its team for the 2019 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships that will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria from March 8-10.

The athletes nominated to represented Canada at this prestigious international event include female skaters Kim Boutin (Sherbrooke, Que.), Alyson Charles (Montréal, Que.), Courtney Sarault (Moncton, N.B.), Kasandra Bradette (St. Félicien, Que.) and Camille de Serres-Rainville (Montreal, Que.), along with male skaters Steven Dubois (Lachenaie, Que.), Samuel Girard (Ferland-et-Boilleau, Que.), Charle Cournoyer (Boucherville, Que.), Charles Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, Que.) and Pascal Dion (Montréal, Que.).

Leading the way on the women’s side are Boutin and Charles, the country’s top two medal performers this season.

Boutin will look to continue her late-season ascension. Despite only appearing in three World Cups, the triple Olympic medalist was able to win five individual medals – one gold, two silver and two bronze. The Sherbrooke native is ranked fifth in the 1000m and sixth in the 1500m.

Charles, winner of four medals in this her first season on the senior team, is the top ranked Canadian in the overall standings, sitting in sixth position. The youngster from Montreal will look to cap off her impressive first campaign with a podium performance in her world championships debut.

Joining them are fellow world championship rookies Sarault and de Serres-Rainville, along with recent Olympian Bradette. The 18-year-old Sarault won a silver medal at her first World Cup in Calgary last November, while de Serres-Rainville and Bradette have put forth consistent performances, the latter earning a top 10 finish in each of her two World Cup appearances after missing time early this season due to injury.

Meanwhile, it’s a much more experience group of skaters on the men’s side.

After winning it all on home ice in Montreal last season, reigning world champion Hamelin will look to regain his world championship form in Sofia. While the veteran skater only managed to win a single individual medal during his 16^th World Cup season, he has made some strides in the latter half and looks to be peaking at the ideal time.

Hamelin will be joined by long-time teammates Girard, Cournoyer and Dion, along with world championship newcomer Dubois.

Dubois has been the most successful Canadian male on the World Cup circuit this season, winning three bronze medals. He is currently ranked second in the 1500m standings, a distance in which he has won two medals and earned two fourth-place finishes. 

Rounding out the squad are Girard, who is ranked third in the 500m after wining gold and earning three fourth-place results, Cournoyer, a silver medalist in the 1000m in Dresden, and Dion, who has come close to the podium on a number of occasions with a pair of fifth-place finishes.

In addition to individual medals, the skaters will also look to bring home some hardware in the team events. Canada is ranked second in both the men’s and mixed gender relays, where they’ve claimed a silver and a gold medal, and fourth in the ladies’ relay, where they’ve won a pair of bronze medals.

Please see below the full list of athletes that will be participating at the 2019 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. A biography of each athlete can be found on the Speed Skating Canada website. 

Ladies Team

• BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC)
• BRADETTE, Kasandra (St. Félicien, QC)
• CHARLES, Alyson (Montréal, QC)
• DE SERRES-RAINVILLE, Camille (Montreal, QC)
• SARAULT, Courtney (Moncton, NB)

Men’s Team

• COURNOYER, Charle (Boucherville, QC)
• DION, Pascal (Montréal, QC)
• DUBOIS, Steven (Lachenaie, QC)
• GIRARD, Samuel (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC)
• HAMELIN, Charles (Sainte-Julie, QC)

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MEDIA

Alain Brouillette
Speed Skating Canada
Email: communications@speedskating.ca 
Phone: 613-601-2630