May 21, 2024
Three Saskatchewan swimmers qualify for Olympics and Paralympics
The Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto have led to three Saskatchewan swimmers being announced to represent Canada in Paris for the Olympics and Paralympics.
Saskatoon’s Blake Tierney was named to his first Olympic Games after swimming a Canadian record-setting time of 1:56.74 in the men’s 200-metre backstroke event.
Shelby Newkirk of Saskatoon set a Canadian record in the women’s S6 100-metre freestyle with a time of 1:13.68 and was nominated alongside Meadow Lake’s Nikita Ens to represent Canada’s Para swimming team in Paris. This will be the second appearance at a Paralympics for both Newkirk and Ens.
Crozon with Canada qualified for Olympics
Paige Crozon and Team Canada made history as the first Canadian 3×3 women’s basketball team to qualify for the Olympics.
In the team’s final chance to secure a spot in Paris, they finished top of their pool with a 3-0 record and dominated quarterfinals, defeating Italy 21-8. Canada was edged to their first loss, 19-18 against Spain in semifinals, leaving one last chance to qualify.
In the final game against Hungary, Canada secured a valuable 21-10 victory and a qualifying spot for the Olympics.
Dick, Erlam and Stewart compete at Canadian Diving Trials
Canada’s top 50 divers, including Saskatoon’s Margo Erlam, Regina’s Lila Stewart and Elaena Dick who hails from Nova Scotia but trains out of Saskatoon, competed at the 2024 Canadian Diving Trials in Windsor, Ont.
In the women’s open 3-metre event, Erlam claimed the top of the podium with 512.85 points and was nominated to represent Team Canada at the Olympics. Stewart finished eighth in the same event with 332.83 points.
Dick finished third in the women’s open platform with 475.25 points.
Team Saskatchewan women’s U16 and U18 secure medals
Saskatchewan’s women’s U16, U18 and women’s 18 teams left Football Canada’s Elite Flag Nationals with medals.
The U18 team had a 2-3 round robin record to finish with a bronze medal. Similarly, the women’s 18 team had a 3-3 record to claim bronze.
Meanwhile, the U16 team had a 4-1 record in the round robin and finished with gold.
The medal results were determined by the records in round robin play.
Six Saskatchewan athletes named to Team Canada roster
Six of Regina’s water polo athletes are competing with Team Canada at the 2024 PanAm Aquatics U19 Men’s and Women’s Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Taya Bumpas, Sydney Krushen, Simone Lapierre and Anna Ulmer along with Canada’s women’s U19 team, opened the championship with a 17-15 loss to Brazil. On Wednesday, the team will look to better their results against Mexico.
Joining on the men’s U19 Canadian team, is Elias Crichlow and Hamza Mahmoud, who helped bring Canada a 12-0 win over Mexico. The team will look ahead to their next match against Brazil on Wednesday.
The championship acts as a qualifier for the 2025 World Aquatics Junior World Championships for Men and Women, with the location yet to be confirmed.
The SJHL Melfort Mustangs finish at Centennial Cup
The Melfort Mustangs closed the Centennial Cup in second place.
In final preliminary action, the Mustangs defeated the Oakville Blades 3-1 and earned a spot in semifinals, where they claimed a 2-1 victory against Calgary’s Canucks.
For the championship title, against Ontario’s Collingwood Blues, the Mustangs losst 1-0 to finish in second.
Rousell makes double podium win
Wheelchair fencer Ryan Rousell, born in Asquith and now lives Saskatoon, brought home two medals from the Americas Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Rousell claimed gold in the men’s A Sabre and bronze in epee.
Canada’s women’s rugby team claims gold
The Canadian women’s rugby team claimed the 2024 Pacific Four Series title in their third and final match of the series.
Regina’s Gabrielle Senft joined Canada in their first team win against New Zealand’s Black Ferns, finishing 22-19. With the historic victory, Canada is now ranked second in the world.
Looking ahead, Team Canada will compete against the other two top teams from the Pacific Four Series and the top three teams Guinness Women’s Six Nations at the second annual edition of WXV 1, hosted in Vancouver in September and October.
Canada top of their pool at IIHF World Hockey Championship
Canada sits with a 7-0 record in preliminary play at the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Prague, Czechia.
Melville’s Damon Severson joined Canada for their 4-1 win against Norway, 5-3 victory against Finland and 3-2 win against Switzerland.
After three back-to-back wins, Canada concluded their preliminary action with a 4-3 victory against Czechia.
Quarterfinals are set for May 23 with semifinals on May 25.