Speed Skating Canada – Competitions will be held this weekend, January 19-21, in Erfurt

Erfurt, Germany, January 16, 2018 – Members of the Canadian Olympic Long Track Speed Skating Team will finalize their preparation for the Olympic Games by taking part in the fifth ISU World Cup of the season, and the last before PyeongChang, to be held January 19-21 in Erfurt, Germany.

Canada will send a total of 11 skaters, including two women, while Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa and Brianne Tutt from Airdrie, AB, will both take part in the 1500m and 3000m events, as well as nine men, including Alex Boisvert-Lacroix from Sherbrooke, QC, who won two gold medals in the 500m at the last two World Cups, and Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary who will take part in the 1500m and 5000m, the latter being the event in which he broke the world record in Salt Lake City before the holidays.

Other Canadian men representatives are Jordan Belchos from Toronto, ON, Vincent De Haître from Cumberland, ON, Ben Donnelly from Oshawa, ON, Laurent Dubreuil from Lévis, QC, Gilmore Junio from Calgary, AB, Denny Morrison from Fort St. John, B.C., and Alexandre St-Jean from Quebec City, QC.

In Erfurt, the first of two 500m races scheduled this weekend, as well as the women’s 1000m and men’s 1500m will launch the competition Friday, followed by the second women’s 500m, the first of two 1000m races, the women’s 1500m and men’s 5000m Saturday. Sunday, the second and last races of the men’s 500m and 1000m as well as the women’s 3000m are scheduled.

Following the first four World Cup stages, Canada has won 19 medals, five more than last season.

Canadian Team for the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Erfurt:

-BELCHOS, Jordan (Toronto, ON) – 1500m, 5000m

-BLOEMEN, Ted-Jan (Calgary, AB) – 1500m, 5000m

-BLONDIN, Ivanie (Ottawa, ON) – 1500m, 3000m

-BOISVERT-LACROIX, Alex (Sherbrooke, QC) – 500m

-DE HAÎTRE, Vincent (Cumberland, ON) – 1000m, 1500m

-DONNELLY, Ben (Oshawa, ON) – 1500m, 5000m

-DUBREUIL, Laurent (Lévis, QC) – 500m, 1000m

-JUNIO, Gilmore (Calgary, AB) – 500m, 1000m

-MORRISON, Denny (Fort St. John, B.C.) – 1000m, 1500m, 5000m

-ST-JEAN, Alexandre (Quebec City, QC) – 500m, 1000m

-TUTT, Brianne (Airdrie, AB) – 1500m, 3000m

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 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:

Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC 

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