History

Early Milestones:

While we know a few names from our past such as the Montague Silver Blades, Nancy White, Pete Milburn, Greta Hall, Kevin O’Brien and John Thompson, we’re looking for help in documenting more of the early highlights in PEI’s Speed Skating history. Let us know if you can contribute any information.

1967-68 – Montague native Greta Hall competes in US Olympic team trials in Milwaukee, WI.

1974-75 – Montague’s Nancy White places 3rd overall in Speed Skating at Canada Winter Games in Alberta. White earns a spot on the Canadian Junior Team and competes in China.

1975-76 – Nancy White awarded Lieutenant Governor’s Award and is named Junior Female Athlete of the Year by Sport PEI for 1975.

1978-79 – Nancy White wins gold in the Canada Winter Games 3000m competition, along with four silver medals, at the games held in Brandon, Manitoba. White is named Senior Female Athlete of the Year by Sport PEI for both 1978 and 1979, wins the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for 1979 and was inducted to the PEI Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.

1979-82 – Kevin O’Brien earns a spot on Canada’s Junior team and competes internationally. During a short career, O’Brien wins 11 international competitions. O’Brien earns the Lieutenant Governor’s Award is named Senior Male Athlete of the Year for PEI in 1981 by Sport PEI and was inducted to the PEI Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

1990s to Present Day:

1991-92 – After PEI hosted the 1991 Canada Winter Games, Sherry White revived the sport of speed skating on PEI, which had been dormant for several years. Sherry and John Dalziel would go on to build the new Charlottetown club in its formative years, starting with 6 skaters skating from the Sherwood Sportsplex, now Cody Banks Arena.

1992-93 – First “Atlantic Cup” meet is hosted by the new club, with 55 registered skaters.

1996-97 – moved to Eastlink Centre after the PEI Senators AHL hockey team suspends operations

1996-97 – PEI hosts Canadian Age Class Short Track Championships. Chantelle Gallant of Oyster Bed Bridge wins two bronze medals for Intermediate women.

1997-98 – Sherry White of Stratford is named Speed Skating Canada’s Female coach of the year

1998-99 – Speed Skate P.E.I. Inc. is incorporated as a PEI Non-Profit Corporation on November 13, 1998.

1998-99 – Chantelle Gallant wins 4 gold medals at the Canadian Age Class Short Track Championships

1998-99 – Sherry White named Coach of the Year for 1998 by Sport PEI

1999-00 – First Speed Skate PEI Spaghetti Potluck and Awards Banquet is held and first SSPEI Awards handed out.

2002-03 – Jenna Gallant of Oyster Bed Bridge named Junior Female Athlete of the Year for 2002 by Sport PEI

2002-03 – Jenna Gallant selected as PEI’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the 2003 Canada Winter Games hosted in Bathurst-Campbellton, New Brunswick.

2002-03 – SSPEI hosts Speed Skating Canada Annual Meeting in Charlottetown, including gala and farewell to Catriona LeMay Doan

2003-04 – Speed Skate PEI named Premier’s Award winner as top sports organization for 2003 at Sport PEI Awards Banquet in April 2004

2006-07 – Speed Skate PEI President Glenn Holmes is awarded Sport PEI Administrator of the Year Award.

2007-08 – Speed Skate PEI President Glenn Holmes is elected to the Board of Speed Skating Canada in June 2008.

2009-10 – Niall Burnett and Carly Connell win overall gold medals for male and female Midget age classes at Canadian Age Class Short Track Championships in Campbellton, N.B.

2010-11 – Phil Byrne of Charlottetown awarded Speed Skating Canada Coaches Award of Excellence

2011-12 – Speed Skate PEI enrollment surpasses 100 skaters

2011-12 – Speed Skate PEI joins Facebook – www.facebook.com/SpeedSkatePEI

2011-12 – Glenn Holmes of Stratford awarded Speed Skating Canada’s Jean R. Dupré Administrator of the Year Award

2013-14 – Summer ice sessions held for the first time on PEI with 1 hour per week in July and August 2013 at CARI Arena complex.

2013-14 – Social Media presence expanded with new SSPEI Twitter account @SpeedSkatePEI launched

2013-14 – Gordon Rogers, SSPEI Treasurer, coach and administrator, named a finalist for Sport PEI Volunteer Administrator of the Year award.

2014-15 – Eastern Kings Speed Skating Club is founded, with ten skaters and one hour of icetime per week at the Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris.

2014-15 – Carly Connell of Charlottetown is named a finalist for Sport PEI’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award for 2014

2014-15 – Carly Connell is selected as Team PEI’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC.

2014-15 – Sarah Taylor of Rice Point awarded Speed Skating Canada Coaches Award of Excellence

2014-15 – Gordon Rogers of Charlottetown awarded Speed Skating Canada’s Jean R. Dupré Administrator of the Year Award

2015-16 – Speed Skate PEI celebrates 25 years

2015-16 – Speed Skate PEI hosts the Canada East Short Track Speed Skating Championships

2016-17 – PEI wins Most Improved Branch award at the Canada East Short Track Championships in Ottawa; Island skaters earn PEI’s first 6 medals at the event

2019-20 – Jenna Larter of Brookfield is named a finalist for Sport PEI’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award for 2019

2020-21 – Jenna Larter of Brookfield is named a finalist for Sport PEI’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award for 2020

2020-21 – Rob Binns of Stratford is named PEI Masters Athlete of the Year for 2020 by Sport PEI

2021-22 – William Lyons of Rock Barra is named a finalist for Sport PEI’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year Award for 2021

2022-23 – Most Provincial & Territorial Skating Associations unite under a common brand: ‘Speed Skating PEI’ and its latest logo are announced.

2022-23 – Jenna Larter of Brookfield wins Sport PEI’s Inspiration Award for 2022.

Speed Skating PEI Presidents:

1991-92 – Larry Nault
1992-93 – Larry Nault
1993-94 – Larry Nault / John Dalziel
1994-95 – John Dalziel
1995-96 – John Dalziel
1996-97 – John Dalziel
1997-98 – Ian Henderson
1998-99 – Ian Henderson
1999-00 – Glenn Holmes
2000-01 – Glenn Holmes
2001-02 – Glenn Holmes
2002-03 – Glenn Holmes
2003-04 – Glenn Holmes
2004-05 – Glenn Holmes
2005-06 – Glenn Holmes
2006-07 – Glenn Holmes
2007-08 – Glenn Holmes
2008-09 – James Monthony
2009-10 – Wendy Francis
2010-11 – Wendy Francis
2011-12 – Wendy Francis
2012-13 – Rob Binns
2013-14 – Rob Binns
2014-15 – Rob Binns
2015-16 – Rob Binns
2016-17 – Jeff Wood
2017-18 – Jennifer Nickerson
2018-19 – vacant
2019-20 – Andrew Jack
2020-21 – Andrew Jack
2021-22 – Andrew Jack
2022-23 – Eric Reynard
2023-24 – Eric Reynard