News

Launch of virtual Canadian Youth Challenge presented by Intact Insurance

Virtual long track challenge runs until February 21; open to skaters from ages 10 to 15 and features a variety of individual and team races

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Due to the cancellation of this season’s domestic competitions, Speed Skating Canada’s sport development and events teams have been hard at work developing virtual opportunities to engage our community this winter. Today, we are proud to launch the long track events for the 2021 Canadian Youth Challenge, presented by Intact Insurance, a set of national events for skaters to complete locally with the active support of club coaches and teammates.  

Heather McLean and Isabelle Weidemann Just Short of Podium on Final Day of Long Track World Cup

McLean finishes fourth in 500m; Weidemann races to fifth-place finish in 3000m

HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS – Heather McLean and Isabelle Weidemann were the top Canadian long track skaters on the final day of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, narrowly missing out on a podium spot in their respective distances.

Heather McLean, Ivanie Blondin and Laurent Dubreuil Reach World Cup Podium in Heerenveen

Blondin races to silver in the Mass Start; Dubreuil and McLean sprint to silver and bronze in the 500m

HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS – Canadian long track speed skaters earned three medals on the second day of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. Defending world champion Ivanie Blondin brought home silver in the women’s Mass Start, while sprinters Laurent Dubreuil and Heather McLean earned silver and bronze in their respective 500m races.

Team Pursuit Gold and Bronze for Canada to Open World Cup Season in Heerenveen

Canada earns a pair of medals on Friday in their first international competition since March 2020

HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS – Despite not having competed domestically or internationally for over 10 months, it seems that Canada’s long track skaters did not miss a stride. They earned a pair of medals in the Team Pursuit – gold by the women and bronze by the men – on the opening day of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen, the Netherlands.

Canada Names World Cup Team for Long Track Bubble in the Netherlands

Thirteen Canadian speed skaters gearing up to compete internationally for the first time since March 2020

HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS – After a series of negative test results and a brief quarantine period, thirteen Canadian long track speed skaters have entered the “bubble” and are gearing up to compete in a pair of unique World Cup events later this month, the team’s first since the COVID-19 pandemic brought international competition to a halt last March.

Five-Time Olympic Medalist Marc Gagnon Joins National Short Track Program as Assistant Coach

Gagnon will coach the Canadian men’s and women’s teams alongside newly minted National Team Coach Sébastien Cros

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Five-time Olympic medalist Marc Gagnon is set to join Canada’s national short track program as an Assistant Coach, where he will help guide the country’s top skaters to podium performances at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

Call for Nominations: New Revenue Generation Groups

OTTAWA, ON - Speed Skating Canada is recruiting interested candidates for two new advisory groups that will start in early 2021, both established to increase the revenue generation capacity of the organization.

Catriona Le May Doan named Team Canada’s Beijing 2022 Chef de Mission

TORONTO, ONTARIO – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced two-time Olympic champion Catriona Le May Doan as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

ISU Approves Long Track Hub in the Netherlands, Cancels World Junior Short Track Championships

Two World Cup competitions added to Hub in Heerenveen next January

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - Today, the International Skating Union (ISU) provided an update on regarding competitions in the 2020-2021 season, which includes the approval of a Hub Concept for long track World Cups, as well as the cancellation of the World Junior Short Track Championships.

Canada’s Long Track Speed Skating Team Headed to Fort St. John for Training Camp

Officials working on plans for national team athletes to engage virtually with nearby schools and local speed skaters

FORT ST. JOHN, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Canada’s long track speed skating team is set to host a two-week training camp at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John. The camp will run from November 1 to 15 and feature the country’s top national and NextGen team skaters, including thirteen Olympians.