May 12, 2016, Charlottetown – More than 120 members of the Island speed skating community gathered in Charlottetown recently to celebrate the end of a season highlighted by record enrollment and the hosting of a major short-track championship event on P.E.I..
Stratford siblings Kristen and Andrew Binns took home the top awards for the 2015-16 season. Kristen earned the Nancy White Award as the top female speed skater on the Island, while Andrew earned the top male skater honour. Both were first time winners of the major awards.
Kristen picked up a top-ten finish at the Canada East Short Track Championships to close the season and was cited by the coaching staff for her leadership on relay teams. Andrew earned fifth place overall in the Canada East meet, including a pair of fourth place finishes, the best ever for an Island skater at the Canada East competition. Binns also grabbed a pair of new Island records in his age group as part of his strong season.
Matthew McKenna of Brackley was named top skater in the Intermediate speed skating group after a break-through year, while Jacob Theriault picked up Rookie of the Year honours for the same group.
Peter McQuaid was named most promising skater in the Advanced competitive group, while Liam Chatfield was selected as the most promising skater at the Intermediate competitive level. Carly Connell won the Perseverance Award as she overcame her second major off-season injury in three years, again requiring her to undertake months of rehab before returning to the ice in the latter half of the season. Rob Binns was named Masters Skater of the Year, after improving on his P.E.I. record times for Masters skaters and turning in strong performances against the Atlantic region’s top junior skaters.
In the Learn to Speed Skate program, Julian Christy picked up top male skater honours, while Olivia Wood of Rose Valley was named top female skater. Dennis O’Shea was named Rookie of the Year in the Learn to Speed Skate program.
The President’s Award was given to the organizing committee for this year’s Canada East Short Track Championship, which was the first Speed Skating Canada championship meet held on PEI since 1997.
Certificates were presented to skaters who set new Provincial records in their respective age categories during the year. In short-track, new records were set by Matt Kozma (14 year-old boys – 1500m), Mia Stewart (12 year-old girls – 200m), Andrew Binns (12 year-old boys – 400m and 200m) and Rob Binns (Masters Men 40-44 years – 500m, 1000m, 1500m). A 12/13 year-old boys relay team consisting of Thomas McQuaid, Kyle Connell and Andrew Binns also received certificates for their new provincial record in the 3000m relay distance.
Trophies were also presented to skaters based on their relative time improvements demonstrated throughout the season. Award winners included: Gold – Carter Bruce, Mia Stewart, Matthew McKenna, Jacob Taylor and Mollie Shaw; Silver – Matt Kozma, Jenna Larter, Anderson Arseneau, Saul Grant and Bria Wong; Bronze – Kyle Connell, William Lyons, Eliana Monthony, Zachary Chatfield, Madelyn Iwankow, Dennis O’Shea and Kendall Ross.
All Learn to Skate and Learn to Speed Skate participants received medals and were recognized for their significant improvements during the year.
Information on Speed Skate P.E.I. and its programs can be found on the club’s website at www.speedskatepei.com.