October 16, 2018, Charlottetown – A half dozen of P.E.I.’s fastest short track speed skaters hit the ice in Matane, Q.C., over the weekend for their season-opening competition on the Quebec provincial circuit.
William Lyons led the way for P.E.I. in a successful Quebec debut, earning a bronze medal in Group 3 after recording a six second personal best time in the 1500 metre distance and placing third in two of his three events. Andrew Binns just missed a second podium for the Island team, placing fourth overall in Group 2. Binns nabbed a pair of personal best times and took second place in the 500m sprint event. Matt Kozma brought home a nearly five second PB time in his 1500m distance, enroute to 8th place overall in Group 3.
William Lyons (left) won a bronze medal for P.E.I. at his first Quebec meet, in Matane. Photo courtesy of Kristen Binns Photography.
Peter McQuaid of Charlottetown notched the fastest times among P.E.I. skaters, landing an 11th place finish in Group 1 and securing a place in the inaugural Short Track Canada Cup, to be held November 16 – 18 in Laval, Q.C.. Also competing for the Island in Matane were Kyle Connell (14th place, Group 2) and Jenna Larter (11th place, Group 1). Larter will also represent P.E.I. at the Short Track Canada Cup in Laval, after pre-qualifying based on her prior season performances.
The six Island skaters comprised the largest ever P.E.I. contingent to qualify for the Quebec circuit and are among hopefuls vying for a spot with Team PEI in the 2019 Canada Winter Games, being held in Red Deer, A.B., in February.
All six will be back in action in less than two weeks, this time on home ice, as Speed Skate PEI plays host to the Atlantic Cup Speed Skating Championships at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on October 27 & 28.
Speed Skate PEI is taking registrations for its programs, including Learn to Skate and Learn to Speed Skate, online at www.speedskatepei.com.
