May 9, 2018, Charlottetown – Speed Skate PEI announced its award winners for the 2017-18 season recently, as members gathered in Charlottetown to celebrate a year of progress and breakthrough performances.
Peter McQuaid (left) and Jenna Larter were named P.E.I.’s top male and female speed skaters for 2017-18 at Speed Skate PEI’s recent annual awards banquet.
Peter McQuaid of Charlottetown and Jenna Larter of Brookfield were named top male and female athletes.
McQuaid won the top male athlete award for the first time, after capping his season with his best performances at the Canadian Junior Selections #2 event in Calgary in March, where he set three new provincial records and recorded the fastest ever times by an Island short track skater while training on P.E.I.. McQuaid’s strong season also included a second overall placement at the Atlantic Canadian Short Track Championships in Dieppe in February, along with overall wins at the Atlantic Cup in Charlottetown and at the Citadel Cup in Halifax last Fall.
Peter McQuaid (left) was named Speed Skate PEI’s top male skater for 2017-18.
Larter took home the Nancy White award to the top female athlete on the strength of her season which also included a trio of new provincial records and some of the best times ever recorded by an Island female short track skater. The Brookfield native had a 15th place finish in the 500 metre distance in her first appearance at the Canadian Junior Selections #2 event in Calgary, after making a strong debut on the Quebec Provincial circuit earlier in the season. Larter was also the top female skater in the Atlantic Cup meet in Charlottetown last November.
Jenna Larter (left) earned the Nancy White Award as the top female athlete for the 2017-18 season.
Andrew Binns won the Rising Star award, after winning a pair of medals, including P.E.I.’s first ever gold medal, at the Canada East Short Track Championships in Lévis, Quebec.
Zack O’Meara and Jane Bruce were named top male and top female skaters, respectively, in the Intermediate speed skating group, while Zachary Chatfield was awarded the Rising Star honours for the same group.
In the Learn to Speed Skate program, Jacob Taylor picked up top male skater honours, while Sophia Erdogan was named top female skater. Kohl Dallaire won the Rising Star award, while Sadie Hansen was named most improved skater in the program.
The President’s Award was awarded to Kerby Bruce, who was recognized for his significant contributions as Speed Skate PEI’s equipment manager for the past several years.
Eric Reynard was named volunteer of the year and Paul Trainor won the official of the year award for his work as a starter. Mia Stewart won the mentorship award in recognition of her contributions to the Learn to Skate program, while Kristen Binns earned a special contribution award in recognition of her photography.
Certificates were presented to skaters who set new provincial records in their respective age categories during the year. New short track records were set by Peter McQuaid (Intermediate men – 500m, 1000m and 1500m), Jenna Larter (Junior women – 500m, 1000m and 1500m), Kyle Connell (15 year-old boys – 200m, 400m and 1500m), Andrew Binns (14 year-old boys – 200m, 400m, 1,500m), William Lyons (13 year-old boys – 1,500m), and Rob Binns (Masters Men 40-44 years – 1500m). A new relay record was also set by a 14/15 year-old boys relay team consisting of Carter Bruce, Andrew Binns, Kyle Connell and Thomas McQuaid in the 3,000m relay distance.
Several new long track records set during the year were also recognized, including Matt Kozma (Intermediate men, outdoor Olympic style 500m and 1000m), Matthew McKenna (Intermediate men, outdoor Olympic style 1500m and 3000m), Carter Bruce (Junior men, outdoor mass start 300m and 3000m), Dakota Jager (Junior women, outdoor Olympic style 500m) and Addison Bruce (Juvenile boys, outdoor mass start 300m, 1500m and 3000m and outdoor Olympic style 500m).
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.
