Speed Skating Saskatchewan’s Olympic Medal Sport
Saskatchewan Amateur Speed Skating Association
January 23, 2007
News Release for Immediate Release
(Humboldt) Saskatchewan Speed Skating announced the official Canada Winter Games long track team today and holds out high hopes for medals for the men’s team. “The men’s team is a medal favourite in the 3000 meter team pursuit” said Provincial coach Tyler Johnson.
Johnson, a Saskatchewan native who trained at the Calgary Olympic oval, was recently named Provincial coach. He says he is very excited to work with Canada Winter Games coach Sandra Nase and the athletes. “We have a relatively young team but they have tons of racing experience, we should win medals” he said.
The men’s long track team also has a shot at some individual medals according to Johnson. “Three of the four men have won medals at National competitions” Johnson added. The coach named Willie Dutton of Humboldt and Austin Hudey of Regina as medal contenders in the 500. Addison Thiel of Humboldt is a contender in the 100 and 1500 according to Johnson. Orin Conly of Saskatoon is the youngest team member at 16.
“The women’s long track team should be competitive and has a shot at medals too” Johnson said. “Marsha Hudey of Regina is a contender in the 500 and Kylie Morin has strong 1500 times” said Johnson. Jacoba Fast of Saskatoon and Kali Christ of Regina round out the team. “They should have a shot at the pursuit medals” said Johnson. The women have skaters with National experience and one, Morin of Saskatoon, was also a member of the Canada Summer Games cycling team.
“We will bring home some Long Track medals” says Johnson who will attend the games as the long track team manager.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Bernhard Provincial Champ Cougar Krueger Narrowly misses Bronze
Sunday, January 14, 2007
News Release for Immediate Release
(Moose Jaw) Humboldt speed skater Ryan “Burner” Bernhard racked up yet another Provincial Championship at the Saskatchewan Speed Skating Provincial Championship in Moose Jaw this weekend. Ryan won all four of the medal finals in the Juvenile division. Ryan is a repeat Provincial Champion and a former Canadian Champion.
Bernhard is a favourite to add to his already impressive medal collection at the Canadian Mass Start Championship and the North American Championships in Winnipeg this February. "Ryan is ready to pick up another championship" said coach Craig Dutton.
Younger Bernhard brother Terran finished sixth in the same division. Terran has one additional year as a Juvenile. Hi will be a medal threat in 2008.
In the Humboldt speed skating clubs other brother act, Nigel the “Cougar” Krueger finished fourth in the Pee Wee division narrowly missing the Bronze medal. Youngest club skater, four year old Jake the “Snake” Krueger finished third in the Cradle division 100 meters after losing two positions when he slowed to wave at several girls in the crowd. Jake is well known to the older club members girlfriends as a first class ladie's man.
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For further information call
Humboldt Speed Skating Club
231-9906
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Two Speed Skaters Make Canada Winter Games Team
(Moose Jaw) The second round of the Canada Winter Games trials ended with triumph and heartbreak for the Humboldt Speed Skating club when two of three skaters made the team. Addison Thiel and William Dutton finished second and third respectively. The club's most decorated medalist, Nathan Bernhard, fell victim to an equipment problem that cost him his chance to skate at the Canada games.
"We should be celebrating but we are all feeling Nathan's pain." said Humboldt co-coach Craig Dutton. "He has been training for this meet for more than a year." he added
Conditions in Moose Jaw were difficult for all skaters. A windstorm last week had covered the ice with sand and debris. Subsequent ice floods had covered most, but not all of the debris, and a stripped skate edge was a threat in every race. Losing an edge could mean disaster for a skater and their chances.
Saturday's competition opened with the 500 meters a sprint that is always a strong race for all three Humboldt Skaters. Dutton had a blistering 41.79 and Thiel a solid 42.03 but Bernhard stripped an edge on his skate. Going into the first turn Bernhard hit a piece of debris and almost went down. Regaining his balance Bernhard found he had stripped the inner edge of his skate. He struggled in with a time of 44.00 placing him 5th in the 500. " As coaches we should have asked for a reskate before he left the ice but we did not want to risk him going down again and not even finishing the race. It would have been all over right then." said Humboldt co-coach Craig Dutton.
The second race of the day was the 3000 meters or three kilometers. When the race was over Thiel was second, Dutton third and Bernhard was one point out of the fourth and final team spot.
Bernhard opened the day Sunday with a solid 1500 regaining fourth position by 4 seconds heading into the grueling 5 kilometer final in the afternoon. Bernhard drew a tough pairing that saw him skate before the skaters ahead of him and the one skater behind him with a chance to catch the Humboldt veteran.
Skating in the first pairing Bernhard turned in a gutsy race in the minus 25-degree weather. "Nathan did everything his coaches asked of him...he left every last bit of his heart on the ice. In the end it was out of his hands" said Dutton.
Six skaters followed Bernhard. Three were ahead in the qualifying standings and one, Orin Conly of Saskatoon, was 1.5 points seconds behind. If Conly bettered Bernhard's time by 5 seconds the dream of having three Humboldt skaters at the Canada Winter Games was over. "Conly skated the race of his life" said Dutton. Conly finished fourth bumping Bernhard by less than one point out of a total more than 300.
"Nathan deserved better...but that's life. We are all very disappointed but Nathan was an absolute gentleman and a first class representative of Humboldt even though his heart was broken." Dutton said. Bernhard congratulated Conly and the others on their efforts. "We are very, very, proud of Nathan." Dutton added.
Thiel and Dutton will compete as members of Team Saskatchewan at the 2007 games in Whitehorse from February 24 through March 3.
"We should be celebrating but we are all feeling Nathan's pain." said Humboldt co-coach Craig Dutton. "He has been training for this meet for more than a year." he added
Conditions in Moose Jaw were difficult for all skaters. A windstorm last week had covered the ice with sand and debris. Subsequent ice floods had covered most, but not all of the debris, and a stripped skate edge was a threat in every race. Losing an edge could mean disaster for a skater and their chances.
Saturday's competition opened with the 500 meters a sprint that is always a strong race for all three Humboldt Skaters. Dutton had a blistering 41.79 and Thiel a solid 42.03 but Bernhard stripped an edge on his skate. Going into the first turn Bernhard hit a piece of debris and almost went down. Regaining his balance Bernhard found he had stripped the inner edge of his skate. He struggled in with a time of 44.00 placing him 5th in the 500. " As coaches we should have asked for a reskate before he left the ice but we did not want to risk him going down again and not even finishing the race. It would have been all over right then." said Humboldt co-coach Craig Dutton.
The second race of the day was the 3000 meters or three kilometers. When the race was over Thiel was second, Dutton third and Bernhard was one point out of the fourth and final team spot.
Bernhard opened the day Sunday with a solid 1500 regaining fourth position by 4 seconds heading into the grueling 5 kilometer final in the afternoon. Bernhard drew a tough pairing that saw him skate before the skaters ahead of him and the one skater behind him with a chance to catch the Humboldt veteran.
Skating in the first pairing Bernhard turned in a gutsy race in the minus 25-degree weather. "Nathan did everything his coaches asked of him...he left every last bit of his heart on the ice. In the end it was out of his hands" said Dutton.
Six skaters followed Bernhard. Three were ahead in the qualifying standings and one, Orin Conly of Saskatoon, was 1.5 points seconds behind. If Conly bettered Bernhard's time by 5 seconds the dream of having three Humboldt skaters at the Canada Winter Games was over. "Conly skated the race of his life" said Dutton. Conly finished fourth bumping Bernhard by less than one point out of a total more than 300.
"Nathan deserved better...but that's life. We are all very disappointed but Nathan was an absolute gentleman and a first class representative of Humboldt even though his heart was broken." Dutton said. Bernhard congratulated Conly and the others on their efforts. "We are very, very, proud of Nathan." Dutton added.
Thiel and Dutton will compete as members of Team Saskatchewan at the 2007 games in Whitehorse from February 24 through March 3.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Humboldt Skaters Lead CWG Trials
Speed Skating Saskatchewan’s Olympic Sport
Humboldt Speed Skating Club
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
News Release for Immediate Release
Humboldt Speed Skaters Lead Winter Games Trials
(Calgary) Three Humboldt Speed Skaters are in the drivers seat after the Canada Winter Games trials at the Calgary Olympic Oval this weekend. The Humboldt team controls three out of a possible four men’s Canada Winter Games Long Track spots.
Nathan Bernhard, William Dutton and returning veteran Addison Thiel all skated personal best times in the Canada Cup 1 Canadian Junior Trials this weekend. Thiel sits second overall and has virtually sealed a spot by qualifying as the best long distance skater.
Bernhard sits third and Dutton fourth. Both have a solid lead over the fifth place competitor. Humboldt club co-coach Craig Dutton said “It is very, very uncommon for a club this small to win one spot let alone three. It won’t happen again for many years, maybe never.”
The Saskatchewan team is a medal favourite in the Team pursuit relay and the Humboldt skaters are solid medal contenders at several distances. Dutton turned in a blistering 38.31 500 meters at the Olympic Oval while Thiel and Bernhard were both under two minutes in the 1500 meters.
Round two of the trials goes Saturday in Moose Jaw. The top four men will form the Saskatchewan Canada Winter Games team.
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For further information call
Humboldt Speed Skating Club
231-9906
Humboldt Speed Skating Club
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
News Release for Immediate Release
Humboldt Speed Skaters Lead Winter Games Trials
(Calgary) Three Humboldt Speed Skaters are in the drivers seat after the Canada Winter Games trials at the Calgary Olympic Oval this weekend. The Humboldt team controls three out of a possible four men’s Canada Winter Games Long Track spots.
Nathan Bernhard, William Dutton and returning veteran Addison Thiel all skated personal best times in the Canada Cup 1 Canadian Junior Trials this weekend. Thiel sits second overall and has virtually sealed a spot by qualifying as the best long distance skater.
Bernhard sits third and Dutton fourth. Both have a solid lead over the fifth place competitor. Humboldt club co-coach Craig Dutton said “It is very, very uncommon for a club this small to win one spot let alone three. It won’t happen again for many years, maybe never.”
The Saskatchewan team is a medal favourite in the Team pursuit relay and the Humboldt skaters are solid medal contenders at several distances. Dutton turned in a blistering 38.31 500 meters at the Olympic Oval while Thiel and Bernhard were both under two minutes in the 1500 meters.
Round two of the trials goes Saturday in Moose Jaw. The top four men will form the Saskatchewan Canada Winter Games team.
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For further information call
Humboldt Speed Skating Club
231-9906
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