Speed Skating Canada – Competitions will be held this weekend, November 18-20

Nagano, Japan, November 16, 2016 – Speed Skating Canada announced its final line-up today, including events for each Canadian skater, for the second ISU World Cup Long Track Speed Skating of the season to be held this weekend, November 18-20, in Nagano, Japan.

Lone Canadian medalist at the first World Cup of the season held last weekend in Harbin, China, with a gold medal in the Mass Start event and a bronze in the 3000m, Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa, ON, will aim to repeat her performances in Nagano. This weekend, she will take part in the same events, as well as in the 1000m in the A group as she got promoted following her win in the B group event last weekend.

Noémie Fiset from Quebec City, QC, and Brianne Tutt from Airdrie, AB, also got promotions and will take part in the A group races for the 500m and 1500m events respectively following their wins in the B group races in Harbin.

Other than Fiset, Marsha Hudey from White City, SK, and Heather McLean from Winnipeg, MB, will also skate in the 500m. Hudey was the best Canadian in that distance last weekend by finishing fourth in both events. McLean took the sixth and eighth spots.

All three women will also take part in the team sprint event scheduled this weekend.

Revenge to foresee for the men’s 500m

The men will aim to get back on the podium in the only 500m race planned this weekend as the best Canadian performance in Harbin came from Laurent Dubreuil from Lévis, QC, with fifth and sixth places.

Other than Dubreuil, William Dutton from Humboldt, SK, will also take part in the A group 500m event in Nagano.

Excluded from the top 20 skaters following the first two races of the season, Gilmore Junio from Calgary, AB, Christopher Fiola from Montreal, QC, and Alex Boisvert-Lacroix from Sherbrooke, QC, will be skating in the B group and aiming to get back their spots in the next A group race scheduled at World Cup #3 in Astana, Kazakhstan, December 2-4. To do so, they will need to finish in the top three. In the case of Junio, if one of the 20 skaters in the A group decides to not skate, he will be the first one to move up.

Boisvert-Lacroix, Junio and Vincent de Haître from Cumberland, QC, who will also skate in the 1000m and 1500m, will be the Canadian representatives in the men’s Team Sprint. Last year, Canada finished third in the World Cup Overall ranking.

Among the other athletes to watch, Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary, AB, will take part again in the 5000m event following his 8^th spot in Harbin; Jordan Belchos from Toronto, ON, fourth in the Mass Start in Harbin, will aim to be on the podium in this event in Nagano; and Denny Morrison from Fort St. John, B.C., will be again in action in the 1500m following his 10^th spot in the B group last weekend.

Canadian skaters for the team pursuit event will be decided on the day of the competition.

The World Cup will start Friday with the women’s 3000m as well as the men’s 5000m events, followed, Saturday, with the men’s and women’s 1000m, Team Pursuit and Team Sprint events. Competition will end Sunday with the men’s and women’s 500m, the 1500m and the mass start events.

Coaches Kevin Crockett, Todd McClements and Gregor Jelonek will accompany the Canadian athletes.

Members of the Canadian national team for ISU World Cups Long Track #2 in Nagano, Japan

WOMEN                                                             

-BLONDIN, Ivanie (Ottawa, ON) – 1000m, 3000m, Mass Start
-FISET, Noémie (Quebec City, QC) – 500m, 1000m, Team Sprint
-HUDEY, Marsha (White City, SK) – 500m, Team Sprint
-IRVINE, Kaylin (Calgary, AB) – 500m, 1000m
-LAMARCHE, Béatrice (Quebec City, QC) – 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start
-McLEAN, Heather (Winnipeg, MB) – 500m, Team Sprint
-TUTT, Brianne (Airdrie, AB) – 1500m, 3000m
-WEIDEMANN, Isabelle (Ottawa, ON) – 1500m, 3000m

MEN

-BELCHOS, Jordan (Toronto, ON) – 5000m, Mass Start
-BLOEMEN, Ted-Jan (Calgary, AB) – 5000m
-BOISVERT-LACROIX, Alex (Sherbrooke, QC) – 500m, Team Sprint
-De HAÎTRE, Vincent (Cumberland, ON) – 1000m, 1500m, Team Sprint
-DUBREUIL, Laurent (Lévis, QC) – 500m, 1000m
-DUTTON, William (Humboldt, SK) – 500m
-FIOLA, Christopher (Montréal, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, QC) – 500m, 1000m, 1500m

-JEAN, Olivier (Lachenaie, QC) – Mass Start
-JUNIO, Gilmore (Calgary, AB) – 500m, Team Sprint
-MACLENNAN, Richard (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) – 1000m, 1500m
-MORRISON, Denny (Fort St. John, B.C.) – 1500m
-ST-JEAN, Alexandre (Quebec City, QC) – 1000m

More information, including the competition schedule, 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, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and WinSport Canada.

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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