November 23, 2021
Saskatchewan athletes named to bobsleigh and skeleton teams
Moose Jaw’s Ben Coakwell, Saskatoon’s Evan Neufeldt and Kerrobert’s Kayden Johnson have each been named one of Canada’s Bobsleigh and Skeleton national teams.
Coakwell, a two-time Olympian, made the national bobsleigh team as a brakeman with the Justin Kripps’ four-man sled.
In opening World Cup circuit action on Sunday in Igls, Austria, the Kripps’ team finished in sixth place with a time of one minute and 41.92 seconds after their final run. This following a first run that put them in 11th place.
Neufeldt was a member of the skeleton team from 2011 to 2017, but was diagnosed with epilepsy and broke his neck falling out of bed during a seizure. He’s battled his way back to the track and returns to the national team after capturing silver at the 2021-22 team selection race. Now he has his sight set on making it back to the World Cup circuit and capturing a spot on the Beijing team.
Meanwhile, Johnson, a former track and football star and winner of the 2018 RBC Training Ground, was named to the National Bobsleigh Development Team.
Learn more at bosleighcanadaskeleton.ca.
Four athletes, two coaches on Canadian racquetball teams
Saskatchewan will be well represented on the national elite racquetball teams as Regina’s Christine Keay and Macrorie’s Cassie Prentice were selected on the women’s side, while Saskatoon’s Lee Connell and Macrorie’s Tanner Prentice were named to the men’s team.
All four athletes will look to make the teams that wear the red and white at upcoming international competitions, including the 2021 World Championships from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 in Guatemala City.
The four athletes will be joined by coaches Tim Landeryou of Saskatoon and Ross Richardson of Regina.
Learn more at racquetballcanada.ca.
United States picks up first win in women’s hockey rivalry series
A 3-2 overtime victory by the United States gave the Americans their first win of the nine-game Rivalry Series against the Canadian women’s hockey team —which includes Saskatoon’s Emily Clark— on Sunday in Kingston, Ont.
After both teams went scoreless in the first period, Canada pulled out to a 2-0 lead in the second period, picking up a pair of goals within the first five minutes of the frame.
Unfortunately, the scoring belonged solely to the United States after that, as they scored twice within the first four minutes and six seconds of the third period to tie the game before eventually tallying the game winner 54 seconds into overtime.
The two teams will meet again for Game 4 of their series on Tuesday in Ottawa.
Read the full recap at hockeycanada.ca.
Canada completes sweep against Korea with shutout
Under head coach Ken Babey of Saskatoon, the Canadian Para hockey team wrapped up its four-game friendly series against Korea on Nov. 19 in Bridgewater, N.S. with an 11-0 victory.
Billy Bridges of Summerside, P.E.I. and James Dunn of Wallacetown, Ont. led the team with three goals a piece.
“I think we accomplished our goals for the week,” Babey told Hockey Canada in a release. “We wanted to come [to Bridgewater] and test new line combinations, try out players in different positions and work on new systems. Overall, I thought things worked out well, we were able to score a lot of goals this week, and we did not give up many. The goal scoring was shared amongst a lot of players, and that is exactly what we need out of our team. Looking ahead, we are happy with our progress, and we have set ourselves up well for [the International Para Hockey Cup]. We know the competition there is going to be strong, but we are leaving Nova Scotia with a lot of confidence in our game.”
Read the full recap at hockeycanada.ca.
Hudey, Fish compete in second World Cup event
Moose Jaw’s Graeme Fish just missed the podium in the men’s 10,000-metre race at the ISU World Cup #2 event in Stavanger, Norway, finishing fourth with a time of 13 minutes and 7.739 seconds.
On the women’s side, two-time Olympian Marsha Hudey of White City, finished third in the 500-m Division B race with a time of 38.750 seconds and 16th in the 500-m Division A race with a time of 38.444.
The World Cup circuit comes to North America next with Salt Lake City, Utah hosting the third event Dec. 2-4 and Calgary hosting the fourth event Dec. 9-11.
Learn more at speedskating.ca.
Goncin, Ostepchuk invited to Tip Off camp
Regina Paralympians Nik Goncin and Garrett Ostepchuk are among 19 athletes invited to the men’s Wheelchair Basketball Canada Tip Off camp.
The week-long training camp, running from Nov. 22-28 in Richmond, B.C., will serve as an opportunity for players to develop and train in preparation for the 2022 season.
Read more at wheelchairbasketball.ca.