January 17, 2023
Six Sask. athletes named to Softball Canada national team athlete pool
Warman’s Justin Laskowski and Saskatoon’s Zach Pierce along with four other Saskatchewan products have been named to Softball Canada’s 2023 Men’s National Team Athlete Pool.
Laskowski and Pierce are among the 14 returning players from the recent 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation Men’s World Cup silver medal winning team. They will be joined by Saskatoon’s Patrick Burns, Jordan Hudson and Devon McCullough as well as Delisle’s Brant Wiebe to make up Canada’s 32-player roster.
Canada is currently ranked second in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Rankings. The 2023 WBSC Americas Pan American Championship has yet to be announced but Prince Albert, SK will be hosting the 2024 Men’s Softball World Cup Group Stage and the 2025 World Cup Finals.
More at Softball Canada
Schmitz and Taylor compete at nationals, selected for worlds
Regina figure skating duo Ashlyn Schmitz and Tristan Taylor finished in fourth place at the 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior pairs event. The duo scored 47.35 in the short program and 69.97 in the free program for a total score of 117.32, just 2.09 points out of third place.
Despite finishing off the podium, Schmitz and Taylor have been selected by Skate Canada to represent Canada at the 2023 ISU Junior World Figure Skating Championships in Calgary from Feb. 27 – Mar. 5. They will be joined by two other Canadian duos to make up Canada’s junior pairs contingent.
More at Skate Canada
Eberl, Derenisky skate into top six at nationals
At the 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, Saskatchewan figure skating duo Raine Eberl (Moose Jaw) and Caidence Derenisky (Regina) finished in sixth place in the senior pairs event, which was the best finish of a team from west of Ontario.
Eberl and Derenisky scored 59.12 in the short program and 103.07 in the free program for a total score of 162.19.
More at Skate Canada
Bueckert finishes 15th at junior nationals
Also skating for Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships was Osler’s Damien Bueckert, who finished 15th in the junior men’s event.
Bueckert scored 48.54 in the short program and 79.88 in the free skate for a score of 128.42.
More at Skate Canada
Pletz competes at IBU Races World Cup
At the International Biathlon Union’s World Cup stop in Ruhpolding, Germany from Jan. 11-15, Regina’s Logan Pletz finished 90th in the men’s 20-km individual competition with a time of 1:00:21.7.
Pletz was then part of the Canadian team that finished 18th with a time of 1:17:12.4 in the men’s 4 x 7.5-km relay competition.
More at Biathlon Canada
Neufeldt races at the IBSF World Cup
Saskatoon’s Evan Neufeldt finished in 18th place in the men’s skeleton event at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s World Cup stop in Altenberg, Germany on Jan. 13.
Neufeldt put up a time of 58.38 in his first run and 57.72 in his second run, which was 1.47 seconds out of first place.
More at Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton
Rousell at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup
At the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation’s Wheelchair Fencing World Cup, Saskatchewan’s Ryan Rousell finished in fifth place in the men’s (A) saber event and 23rd in the men’s (A) épée event.
The event was held in Washington, D.C. from Jan. 14-17.
More at Wheelchair Fencing – IWAS