January 4th, 2019, Charlottetown – Speed Skate PEI has named seven short-track speed skaters to the Island’s 2019 Canada Winter Games team. The team, consisting of five male and two female skaters, will compete in Red Deer during week one, from February 17 to February 22.
Among the members of Team PEI, from left, are Peter McQuaid, Andrew Binns, Kyle Connell and William Lyons. Photo courtesy of Kristen Binns.
The selected skaters will each participate in four individual events, including the 500 metre, 1000m and 1500m distances. The 3000 metre points race, first added to the Canada Winter Games competition format in 2015, will also be back in 2019. In addition, P.E.I. will have a male team in the 3000 metre relay.
“These young athletes have spent much of the past three years training and preparing for the Canada Games. We extend our congratulations to each of them and wish them luck in their final weeks of preparations and in Red Deer,” said Andrew Jack, Vice President of Speed Skate PEI. “We know that these young athletes will represent our province with a great deal of determination and pride.”
Jenna Larter, right, will be one of Team PEI’s speed skaters at the 2019 Canada Games. Amanda Burke photo.
Sarah Taylor is returning as head coach of the short track team after coaching the 2015 team in Prince George, B.C. “Our team has trained extremely hard over the past several years and they’ve reached new heights as a group. They have more racing experience on the very competitive Quebec circuit and in National level competitions than our P.E.I. skaters have previously had. Several of them have medaled at the Canada East Short Track Championships in the past couple of years, which was another first for us. We’re going to keep training hard and we’ll be ready to put our best performances forward when we get to Red Deer. The team is excited to compete and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of their hard work,” said Taylor.
The following athletes will make up the P.E.I. short track team roster:
Jenna Larter – Brookfield
Mia Stewart – Stratford
Andrew Binns – Stratford
Kyle Connell – Charlottetown
William Lyons – Rock Barra
Peter McQuaid – Charlottetown
Thomas McQuaid – Charlottetown
Speed Skate PEI says that its long track team for Red Deer will be announced in mid-January.
For athlete profiles and photos, visit www.speedskatepei.com/canada-games.
