May 15, 2015, Charlottetown – Carly Connell and Jared Vriends took home the top awards for the 2014-15 season at Speed Skate P.E.I.’s recent annual awards banquet. Connell earned the Nancy White Award as the top female speed skater on the Island, while Vriends earned the top male skater honour. The wins were repeats for both skaters and the fourth such award for Connell in the past six years.
Vriends’ season included consistent progress and was highlighted by a top twenty finish in one of his Canada Games events. Connell, who carried P.E.I.’s flag in the opening ceremonies of the Canada Winter Games in Prince George in February, nabbed a top ten finish in a deep short track field at the Canada Winter Games.
Michael Rogers was named winner of the President’s Award in recognition of his competitive achievements and his long-term dedication to the sport. Rogers led the Island team at several events, including an overall gold medal at the season-opening Atlantic Cup in Charlottetown last November.
Matthew Kozma and Mia Stewart were named top male and female skaters for the season in the Intermediate group, while Jenna Larter picked up Rookie of the Year honours for the Intermediate competitive group.
Andrew Binns was named most promising skater in the Advanced competitive group, while William Lyons was selected as the most promising skater at the Intermediate competitive level. Korrina LeClair won the Perseverance Award as she overcame injuries before a strong showing at the Canada Winter Games. Rob Binns was named Masters Skater of the Year, after picking up a pair of bronze medals at the Winter World Masters Games.
In the Learn to Speed Skate program, Alex Rogers earned the Rising Star Award and Bria Wong was named Rookie of the Year.
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 Carly Connell (Intermediate Women – 500m, 100m, 1500m), Kyle Connell (12 year-old boys – 200m) and Miriam Burnett (14 year-old girls – 1500m), Jenn Nickerson (Masters Women – 333m), Dave Iwankow (Masters Men – 333m) and Rob Binns (Masters Men 40-44 years – 500m, 777m, 1000m, 1500m).
Trophies were also presented to skaters based on their relative time improvements demonstrated throughout the season. Award winners included: Gold – Andrew McQuaid, Carly Connell, William Lyons, Jenna Larter, Nathan Cyr-Jones and Shana MacPhee; Silver – Jared Vriends, Korrina LeClair, Matthew McKenna, Mia Stewart, Matteo Bateman and Nikky Wu; Bronze – Thomas McQuaid, Eliana Monthony, Matthew Kozma, Carter Bruce, Madelyn Iwankow, Julian Christy, PJ Byl, Olivia Wood and Malia MacAulay.
All Learn to Skate and Learn to Speed Skate participants received medals and were recognized for their tremendous energy and improvements during the season.
Information on Speed Skate P.E.I. and its programs can be found on the club’s website at www.speedskatepei.com.