Canada’s short track speed skating team endeavour to collect (minimum) eight individual medals (four on the Men’s side/four on the Women’s side) at the season’s first ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating.

The event will be held this upcoming weekend (Nov. 4-6) at Calgary’s Olympic Oval kicks off the new season.

Speed Skating Championships

The Canadian squad have their sights set on the preparation leading up to the 2017-2018 Olympic year and to improve on last season’s results.

In 2015-2016, the short track national team tallied 54 medals, i.e. nine at the World Championships, one at the World Junior Championships and 44 on the World Cup circuit.

The medals are both team highs and the total of last season’s 54 medals plus the nine (9) collected at the World Championships are both team highs sine the 1999-2000 season.

The 44 World Cup podium results are a team high since 2001-2002.

The Canadian women’s team will be comprised of Olympic medalists Marianne St-Gelais (Saint-Félicien, QC), Marie-Ève Drolet and Valérie Maltais, as well as of Kasandra Bradette, Kim Boutin and Jamie Macdonald (Fort St. James).

Marianne St-Gelais (26) is aiming achieving success in the 500m and 1000m races, but has her sight’s set on a Gold medal in the 500m.

Last season she crowned World Champion (1500m) as well as grabbing a Silver medal in the 500m at the World Championships.

The three-time Olympic silver medalist also won 11 medals following the 12 events held over last winter’s six World Cup stages, including four gold medals.

Kim Boutin (22) joined the senior national team in 2014-2015, came in second at the Fall World Cup Selections aim’s to medals in the 1000m and 1500m races.

After giving birth to her first child in January 2015, Marie-Ève Drolet will be making a comeback at the international level and has sights set for a spot in the 1500m A final and a top-8 result in the 500m.

The bronze medalist in the relay at the 2002 Olympic Games and silver medalist at the 2014 Games finished third in overall standings at the Fall World Cup Selections, as she collected top-5 results in all six of the races slated during the competition.

Bronze medalist Kasandra Bradette (1000m at the 2016 World Championships) will skate in both of the 500m races and looking to finish with top-8 results in both events.

Silver medalist in the women’s relay (2014 Olympic Games) Valérie Maltais is aiming to finish in the top eight in the first 500m event as well as in the 1000m race.

Jamie Macdonald (21) recently moved to Calgary from BC in 2011 is aiming for a spot in the 1500m A final and a top-8 result in the second 500m event.

Macdonald won a Bronze Medal on the World Cup circuit last season but managed to finish sixth at the Fall World Cup Selections.

Men’s Team Aim’s for 4

The men’s team see’s Olympic medalists Charles Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer and François Hamelin pave the way alongside Samuel Girard, William Preudhomme and Pascal Dion.

Charles Hamelin holds the world title (1000m distance) will skate in the first 500m event as well as in the 1000m.

Samuel Girard collected a Silver Medal (1000m) at last season’s World Championships will be skating in the first 500m and in the 1000m, as will Charles Hamelin.

Hamelin and Girard have their sights set for the A final for both their events, winning at least one medal.

Bronze Medalists Charle Cournoyer in the 500m (2014 Olympic Games) will take part in the 1000m and the 1500m looking to win a possible two medals.

François Hamelin won his first ever individual medal at the World Cup level in a 1500m race last winter.

He will get a chance to add another podium in that distance as he will skate in the second 500m event having a goal of qualifying for the A final in both events.

That will also be Pascal Dion’s goal, as he will also be taking part in the 1500m and the second 500m race.

William Preudhomme will be in action in both 500m races and he will be looking for two top-8 results.

The list of skaters taking part in the relay races will be decided on each day of the competition.

Canadian National Team Members – ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating stage #1

WOMEN

• BOUTIN, Kim (Sherbrooke, QC) – 1000m, 1500m
• BRADETTE, Kasandra (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 500m (1), 500m (2)
• DROLET, Marie-Ève (Saguenay, Chicoutimi borough, QC) – 500 (2), 1500m
• MACDONALD, Jamie (Fort St. James, C.-B.) – 1500m – 500m (2)
• MALTAIS, Valérie (Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m
• ST-GELAIS, Marianne (Saint-Félicien, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m

MEN

• COURNOYER, Charle (Boucherville, QC) – 1000m, 1500m
• DION, Pascal (Montréal, Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, QC), 500m (2), 1500m
• GIRARD, Samuel (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m
 HAMELIN, Charles (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 500m (1), 1000m
• HAMELIN, François (Sainte-Julie, QC) – 500m (2), 1500m
• PREUDHOMME, William (Toronto, ON) – 500m (1), 500m (2)