October 30th, 2017, Charlottetown – P.E.I. speed skaters launched their new season in triumphant fashion with nine medals, including the top three positions in the top division of the Citadel Cup short track meet held recently in Halifax, N.S..
The Halifax event was the first of the new season on the Maritime short track circuit and P.E.I. coach Sarah Taylor said that the Island contingent proved their readiness for the early test. “After summer training, the team was hungry to get back to the ice for competition and to see their gains. The number of medals and personal bests for our team in Halifax showed that the work is paying off. It’s going to be an exciting season for this group,” said Taylor.
Carter Bruce of Stratford (foreground, third from left) nabbed one nine medals won by P.E.I. speed skaters at the Citadel Cup Short Track Championships in Halifax, N.S. recently. Photo courtesy of Kristen Binns.
Peter McQuaid of Charlottetown led the Island team, winning all nine of his races to claim the gold medal for males in Division 1. Joining McQuaid on the Division 1 podium were P.E.I. teammates Kyle Connell with the silver medal and Andrew Binns of Stratford who took the bronze. Connell’s fast times also qualified him to compete on the Quebec Provincial circuit. Jenna Larter was the Island’s lone female representative in Division 1, earning a bronze medal.
Zach O’Meara in Division 5 and Dora Song in Division 7 also claimed gold medals for the Island team. O’Meara, in just his second season, won three of his four events to nab the gold, while Song earned her top of the podium finish in her first ever meet.
Jane Bruce earned a silver medal for the Island squad in Division 6, while Carter Bruce and Mia Stewart, both of Stratford, each earned bronze medals in a fast Division 3 to complete the P.E.I. medal haul.
Also competing for the Island team in Halifax were William Lyons, Thomas McQuaid, Matt Kozma, Rob Binns, Matthew McKenna, Addison Bruce and Holly Nickerson.
The Halifax competition featured 74 skaters from across the Maritimes, with P.E.I. coming out on top of the overall medal standings among the ten participating clubs.
P.E.I. speed skaters are now preparing for a trio of competitions during November, including meets in Fredericton, NB and Levis, QC, followed by the Atlantic Cup Speed Skating Championships, being held at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on November 25 & 26.
For full competition results and more information on how to join Speed Skate PEI’s programs, visit www.speedskatepei.com.
