(Obihiro) Canadian World Sprint Championship speed skating team member William Dutton woke up to roomate Matt McLean asking "why is the room shaking" Wednesday night in Obihiro Japan. An earthquake register 5.4 on the Richter scale shook the hotel housing the athletes in Japan for the 2010 International Speed Skating Union's world sprint championships.
"I told Matt it was an earthquake and he said 'B.S.' and rolled over and went back to sleep" said Humboldt Speed skating team member Dutton. Dutton is in Japan with a four man two woman team of long trackers.
Olympic skaters and those who just missed are in Japan to gain experience and help Canada maintain her ranking as tops in sprints. The team boasts two of the newest Canadian Olympians on the woman's side; Anastasia Bucsis and Tamara Oudenarden both of whom are on their way to Vancouver in February.
On the men's side it is a more eclectic crew. Vincent LaBrie and Matt MacLean are not rookies on the Canadian team both have World Cup experience. On the other hand William Dutton and Tyler Derraugh have none. Dutton is the youngest and has moved up the ladder the quickest. Derraugh had even announced his retirement before he learned he would be named to the team.
Canada has the most talented and deepest mens sprint team in the world. The first six Canadian sprinters are all going to the 2010 Olympics. These young men are not going to 2010 but they could be going to 2014.
The future of the Canadian team looks bright. Just how bright will be determined this weekend in Japan.
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