Speed Skating Canada – The Fall World Cup Selections will be held September 23-25 in Montreal

Montreal, September 21, 2016 – The best short track speed skaters in Canada will battle this weekend for the privilege of representing the country at the first four World Cup stages of the 2016-2017 season, including the first to be held on home soil in Calgary, November 4-6, as they will take part in the Fall World Cup Selections, September 23-25, at Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal.

Among the 16 men and 16 women who will be competing at the Fall World Cup Selections are Olympic medalists Charles Hamelin, Marianne St-Gelais, Valérie Maltais, François Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer, Marie-Ève Drolet, Olivier Jean and Guillaume Bastille, as well as the individual medalists at the last World Championships Samuel Girard and Kasandra Bradette, and their teammates at that competition which was held last winter in Seoul, Namasthée Harris-Gauthier and Audrey Phaneuf.

All participants will skate twice in each of the scheduled distances, namely the 500m, 1000m and 1500m events, for a total of six races each.

Competition will start Friday at 4:50 pm and will continue Saturday as of 1:50 pm and Sunday starting at 10:50 am. Admission is $5 per day. A full schedule is available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskating.ca.

Qualification format for upcoming World Cups

Athletes will vye for a spot on the team comprised of six men and six women that will represent the country at the first four World Cup stages of the 2016-2017 season, the last one prior to the one leading up to the 2018 Olympic Games.

The four highest ranked skaters in the overall ranking, based on the total points earned in their two best distances at the Fall World Cup Selections, automatically qualify for the World Cups. The two other positions per gender will be discretionary choices.

The first World Cup of the season will be on home soil, at Calgary’s Olympic Oval, November 4-6, 2016, and tickets are already available at http://www.universe.com/Calgary2016.

Athletes will then travel to Salk Lake City, U.S.A, November 11-13, to Shanghai, China, December 9-11, and to Gangneung, South Korea, where they will skate on the official rink of the 2018 Olympic Games, December 16-18.

The team that will skate at the World Cup to be held in Calgary will be announced in the weeks following the Fall World Cup Selections.

The full schedule, the list of competing athletes as well as results will be available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at 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, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval 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