Speed Skating Canada – World Cup medalist William Preudhomme to attend

Charlottetown, March 22, 2016 – The Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I., will welcome 122 young skaters, March 26-27, for the 2016 Canada East Short Track Championships, presented by Irving Oil.

The best skaters from Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and from the host province, Prince Edward Island, in the “Training to Train” stage of development in the 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 year old categories will take part in the competition, the final one of the season at the national level. It will be hosted by Speed Skate P.E.I., under the leadership of Speed Skating Canada.

The best skaters in Western Canada took part in the 2016 Canada West Short Track Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, last weekend.

These championships are intended to be the focal point of athlete preparation for skaters in the “Training to Train” stage of development, while providing meaningful, high profile and developmentally appropriate end of season events which are a source of motivation and opportunity for recognition of the best developing skaters in Canada. It’s also a primary introduction to national competitions where the rising stars represent their province. They will take part in the 200m pursuit event, as well as the 400m, 1500m, 2000m and 3000m points races and 3000m relay events.

Competition will be webcasted by Bell Aliant and can be accessed at www.speedskatepei.ca/canada-east-2016/or www.tv1.bellaliant.ca/. Fans at home can also follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (#CEST2016). Admission is free.

Here is the approximate competition schedule (local time):

Saturday, March 26

8:05 a.m. – 5:25 p.m.

Sunday, March 27

8:05 a.m. – 5 p.m.

William Preudhomme: honorary ambassador

Short Track Speed Skating National Development Team member William Preudhomme, who won a medal in his first-ever World Cup, will be in Charlottetown during the weekend as the honorary ambassador of the 2016 Canada East Short Track Championships, presented by Irving Oil.

Preudhomme will take part in the athletes’ banquet on Friday evening, March 25, starting at 6 pm at the Delta Prince Edward’s Palmer-Pope Ballroom (18, Queen Street). Saturday and Sunday, competition days at the Canada East Championships, Preudhomme will attend the competition and meet and inspire the next generation of skaters, as well as take part in the webcasting of the event. Saturday night, Preudhomme will jump on the ice with athletes of the Speed Skate P.E.I. club. 

William Preudhomme, age 22, won a bronze medal in the 500m at his first-ever World Cup in the 2014-2015 season. He’s since taken part in two other World Cups, while also representing Canada at the 2015 Winter Universiade and at the 2013 World Junior Championships where he won a silver medal in the relay event.

At the 2016 Canadian Senior Championships held in January in Montreal, the skater from Toronto won bronze medals in the 1000m and in the 3000m, and finished fifth in the 1500m to take the sixth spot in the overall ranking.

More info, including the full schedule and results, are available on Speed Skating Canada’s Website at www.speedskating.ca, and on Speed Skate PEI’s website at http://speedskatepei.ca/canada-east-2016/. 

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, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.
 

– 30 –

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

 

Dawn Binns

Communications Chair

2016 Canada East Short Track Championships

Email: db@insightstudiopei.com

Phone: 902-393-2050