Latest News

The Yellowknife Speed Skating Club held their annual Yellowknife Schools Ability Meet on December 2, 2023 with participation from the Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club, the Hay River Speed Skating Club, and the Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club. Lots of great racing, friendship, and smiles!

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The Hay River Club hosted a Try Speed Skating event on November 25, 2023. Coach Alexander Brodeur had a great time showing the ropes to a couple of hockey players!! They had a fantastic 500m race and they have been invited back so they can work on breaking a minute!

Photo Credit: Jenn Touesnard

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Come out this Saturday, November 25 and join the Hay River Speed Skating Club to Try Speedskating!!

Hockey skates are welcome … helmets are mandatory … some equipment is available. See you there!!

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The NWT was well represented at the Edmonton Fall Classic on November 11-12, 2023. All skaters got personal bests in multiple distances and both Lindsey Stipdonk and Yuma McEachern got silver medals in their respective categories!! Woot woot!!

We hope to have more skaters attend this fun ability meet in the future!

Photo Credit: Chris Stipdonk

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Referee Robin Greig had a great time at the Junior and Neo Junior Championships in Calgary on November 10-12, 2023!! Robin always represents the NWT with professionalism and grace. Thank you, Robin, for all that you do for our sport!

Photo Credit: LuvCan Photography

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The registration for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) Trials is now open!! Registration deadline is October 30, 2023. The fee  is $150 per athlete/coach/chaperone. 

The Trials will be held in Yellowknife from Dec 14-16, 2023. Travel days will be Dec 13 &17, 2023, practice ice will be on Dec 14 from 5-7pm, and races will be on Dec 15 from 5-9pm and on Dec 16 from 7am to 12pm.

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The Short Track Championships were held in Montreal, QC on September 29 to October 1, 2023. Wren Acorn skated over the weekend and placed well in the Women’s Group. Complete results can be found here.

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On September 9, 2023, the Single Distance Series 1 was held at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Team NT’s Luke Dizon placed 20th overall in the Men’s Group 1. Complete results can be found here.

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Congratulations to the 2023-2024 National and Next Gen Short Track Teams!! NWT’s own Wren Acorn has been invited to train alongside the Women’s NextGen Team this coming season … way to go, Wren!

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July 17-21 was Special Olympics Global Week of Inclusion, which celebrates the difference we can make when we #ChooseToInclude, and invites everyone to join the joyful Special Olympics community.

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Congratulations to the NWT’s Blair Chapman who has received his national official upgrade to Starter 3B!!

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Speed Skating NWT was represented at Speed Skate Canada’s inaugural Speed Summit – a new biennial professional development conference – on June 8-10, 2023 in Kelowna, BC. Valerie Gendron, Kerry Egan, and Jody Pellissey attended the multidisciplinary conference that featured interactive and educational workshops on a variety of technical, administrative, and governance topics. Speed Skating Canada’s 136th Annual General Meeting took place alongside the Speed Summit.

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Speed Skating NWT is SO proud to announce the recipients of the Sport North Federation awards for 2020 to 2023:

* 2023 Male Youth Athlete of the Year: Seiya McEachern

* 2023 Male Junior Athlete of the Year: Sage Acorn

* 2023 Robin Mercer-Sproule Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Kali Skauge

* 2023 Dennis Crane Memorial Official of the Year: Blair Chapman

* 2021 Covid Heroes: Madison Pilling, Braeden Picek, Jody Pellissey

* 2020 Male Junior Athlete of the Year: Joshua Boudreau

* 2020 Robin Mercer-Sproule Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Wren Acorn

Left to Right: Joshua Boudreau, Kali Skauge, Sage Acorn, Seiya McEachern, Blair Chapman

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Speed Skating NWT would like to thank Rio Tinto (Diavik Mine) for their generous donation that allowed our 2023 AWG and CWG Teams to look amazing in their new skinsuits and team gear.

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Both Wren Acorn and Braden Picek competed at the Canada Cup Final in Quebec City, QC on March 10-12, 2023. Wren placed 6th place for the women and Braeden placed 18th place overall for the men. Congratulations!!

Final results can be found here.

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SPEAK UP! Speed Skating NWT and Speed Skating Canada | Patinage de vitesse Canada have launched the Safe Sport Speak Up Line, a new independent reporting mechanism that supports the intake and management of complaints from all speed skating participants, including those involved with clubs across the NWT. The confidential service is accessible 24/7, either online or by telephone, and can be used by all past and present participants, including athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers.

Help us create, foster, and maintain a safe and inclusive environment – one free of abuse, harassment, neglect or discrimination – both on and off the ice!

πŸ’»: https://app.integritycounts.ca/org/speedskating

πŸ“§: speedskating@integritycounts.ca

☎️: 1-888-889-1203

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Congratulations to Lindsey Stipdonk on her Division 1, Ability bronze medal at the Edmonton Spring Fling on March 4-5, 2023!! Lindsey and her brother, Tommy, both raced in Edmonton over the weekend.

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Joshua Boudreau competed at the Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games on February 25-26, 2023 in Sherwood Park, AB. Josh had a fantastic weekend winning gold in the 777m, three silvers in the 1500m, 1000m, and 500m, and two personal bests in the 777m and 1000m. Congratulations Josh!

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Skaters from Fort Simpson, Hay River, and Yellowknife attended the RU Fast competition at the Calgary Olympic Oval on February 25-26, 2023. Congratulations to all of the skaters who gave it their best during every race and to the following medal winners:

  • Lindsay Stipdonk (YK) – Silver πŸ₯ˆ Division 1
  • Chloe Corrigan (FS) – Silver πŸ₯ˆ Division 3
  • Sophia Touesnard (HR) – Silver πŸ₯ˆ Division 4
  • Tommy Stipdonk (YK) – Bronze πŸ₯‰ Division 5

Photo credits: Ashley Coombs

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WE THE NORTH!! Team Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Credit: Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club

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The 2023 Canada Winter Games were held in the community of North Rustico, PE on February 18 to 25, 2023. Team NT skaters were faster than they ever have been with several personal bests in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m distances as well as showing off their world class attitude and sportsmanship!! Full results can be found here.

Photo Credits: Team NT

Team NT was supported by Coach Kerry Egan, Assistant Coach Madison Pilling, Manager Kevin Dunn, and Mission Staff Jacquie Pollard. Robin Greig was the Assistant Referee during the week.

Credit: Jacquie Pollard, Kevin Dunn & Team NT

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From February 11-12, 2023, the Western Elite Circuit (WEC) 2 was held at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Team NT’s Braeden Picek placed first overall in the Men’s Group 1 and Luke Dizon placed 5th in the Men’s Group 2. Complete WEC 2 results can be found here.

Credit: David Gilday

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The 2023 Arctic Winter Games were held in the community of Fort McKay in the Wood Buffalo Region, AB on January 29 to February 4, 2023. The 2023 AWG mascot, Nitotem, was born just north of Fort Chipewyan in the Wood Buffalo National Park. Nitotem – Cree for β€œmy friend” and pronounced Nih-toe-team – was given his name by the other animals in the boreal forest.

Team NT dominated at the Games, collecting a total of 25 medals (9 gold, 9 silver, 7 bronze) in individual distances and collecting 4 medals (3 gold, 1 silver) in the 3000m relays for the Junior Male, Junior Female, Juvenile Male, and Juvenile Female categories. All results can be found here.

Photo Credit: Val Gendron, Kerry Egan & Carla Skauge

In addition to winning five gold medals, Sage Acorn broke two AWG records in the Junior Male 500m (0:45.02) and 777m (1:12.15) distances, previously held by Team NT alumni, Michael Gilday. Sage was chosen to Team NT’s flagbearer for the 2023 AWG Closing Cermonies!

Kali Skauge received a Fair Play Pin, which are given to athletes who demonstrate fair play, sportsmanship, and respect for the skaters and the sport. Lochlan Dunn was given a special award by the short track speed skating officials for overall sportsmanship for the entire week.

Many of the speed skating officials at the 2023 AWG were from the NWT, including:

** Robin Grieg – Chief Referee
** David Gilday – Assistant Referee
** Blair Chapman – Assistant Starter
** Colleen Grieg – Recorder
** James Miller II – Chief Timer
** Menzie McEachern – Chief Place Judge
** Justin Nelson – Chief Lap Counter
** Kristjana Dunn – Chief Heat Box Steward
** Carla Skauge – Mission Staff

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Team Canada Short Track Team for the FISU World University Games Credit: U SPORTS International

Team Canada’s Short Track Speed Skating team has arrived in Lake Placid for the 2023 FISU World University Games. Races begin on Thursday, January 19 at 4:00 pm EST. Results can be found here.

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RBC Training Ground is a talent identification and athlete funding program designed to find young athletes with Olympic potential, and provide them with the resources they need to achieve their podium dreams.

RBC Training Ground is coming to the University of Calgary on March 18 and the University of Alberta on April 1. Athletes aged 14-25 can register at www.rbctrainingground.ca.

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NWT’s own, Wren Acorn, is heading to Lake Placid to compete at the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games on January 19-21, 2023. Learn more about the Short Track Speed Skating athletes that will be wearing the maple leaf here.

“Some of Canada’s best medal chances will come in short track speed skating, with five of the 10 entrants for Canada having experience with the Canadian national team or NextGen program. On the women’s side, two more NextGen athletes will head to Lake Placid, led by fellow Maisonneuve College attendant Anne-Clara Belley, along with Athabasca University’s Wren Acorn.” Read more here and here.

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We are excited to have both Wren Acorn and Braden Picek skating in Laval, QC on January 13-15, 2023 for the Short Track Canada Cup 1. Races will be live streamed on SSC YouTube.

Wren placed 10th place for the women and Braeden placed 18th place overall for the men. Speed Skating NWT is incredibly proud of these two athletes whose results show their hard work and dedication to their sport!!!

Final results can be found here.

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Congratulations to Coach Valerie Gendron who was awarded the 2022 Aboriginal Sports Circle NWT Teachers’ Association Teacher Award in November 2022!!

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Sage Acorn Credit: Shoei Creations

The 2022 Canadian Junior Short Track Open for ages 16-18 and 14-15 are at the Olympic Oval in Calgary on November 12-13, 2022. Results can be found here for 16-18 and here for 14-15.

NWT skaters and coaches were not the only ones in Calgary; NWT referee Robin Grieg was officiating at the meet.

Robin Greig (Middle) Credit: Kerry Egan

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Congratulations to our skaters from Hay River and Yellowknife that participated at the Peace Wapiti Speed Skating Interclub Ability Meet in Grande Prairie, AB on October 28-30, 2022.

Thomas Stipdonk (YK), Jaxin Coombs (HR), Lindsay Stipdonk (YK), Kason Coombs (HR) Credit: Chris Stipdonk

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Wren Acorn and Braeden Picek were racing at the 2022 Short Track Canadian Championships in Quebec City on October 14-16, 2022. Results can be found here.

Credit: Kerry Egan

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A fantastic weekend (October 1-2, 2022) of racing for Team NT at the Western Elite Circuit (WEC) 1 at the Olympic Oval in Calgary!! Braeden Picek placed first overall in the Men’s Group 1 and Luke Dizon placed 3rd in the Men’s Group 2. Complete WEC 1 results for all Team NT skaters can be found here.

The NWT was also represented by Referee David Gilday and Starter Blair Chapman. Southern meets are an excellent learning opportunity for not only our skaters and coaches, but for our officials too!

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Coach Valerie Gendron Credit: Madison Pilling

Speed Skating NWT is proud to report that Coach Valerie Gendron from Fort Simpson has been recognized by Speed Skate Canada with a Coaches Award of Excellence, which is presented to individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the sport of speed skating in the role of coach!! Coach Val puts her heart and soul into every speed skater she has coached over the last 30 plus years and we couldn’t be happier to have her as a part of our NWT speed skating community!!

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Congratulations to Madison Pilling for winning the NWT Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for 2021 in the Youth Category!! THANK YOU to all of our wonderful volunteers that “bring heart” to Speed Skating in the NWT.

Madison Pilling

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The 2022 Western Canadian Youth Short Track Championships were held in Selkirk, MB on March 26-27, 2022. Team NT included Byran Clinton (YK), Lochlan Dunn (YK), Amaria Tanche-Hanna (FS), Rebecca Messier (YK), Coach Sam Pollock, and Manager Kristjana Dunn. Results can be found here.

Kristjana Dunn (Manager), Lochlan Dunn, Bryan Clinton, Amaria Tanche-Hanna, Rebecca Messier, Sam Pollock (Coach)
Credit: Kristjana Dunn

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The 2021-2022 Short Track Canada Cup Final were held on March 25-27, 2022 in Quebec City, QC with NWT skaters Braeden Picek and Wren Acorn racing. Results can be found here.

πŸ₯‰ Bronze medal alert πŸ₯‰

Wren Acorn placed 3rd in the 1500m-2 Top A Final on Day 2 of racing!!

Wren Acorn Credit: Kerry Egan

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The 2021-22 Canada Cup Junior Finals in Richmond, BC were held on March 18-20, 2022. Team NT was represented by Sage Acorn (YK), Luke Dizon (YK), and Erika Pollard (YK). Results can be found here.

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Katana Williams-Snider, Addyson Erasmus, Layla Cli, Paige Isaiah-Tanche, Amaria Tanche-Hanna
Credit: Valerie Gendron

On March 5-6, 2022, our Fort Simpson skaters raced at the RU Fast meet at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Thanks to the Calgary Speed Skating Association for hosting such an amazing event! Results can be found here.

πŸ₯‡πŸ₯‰ MEDAL ALERT πŸ₯‡πŸ₯‰

Paige Isaiah-Tanche won GOLD in her L2T division πŸ₯‡

Amaria Tanche-Hanna and Addyson Erasmus both won BRONZE in their T2T divisions πŸ₯‰πŸ₯‰

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Credit: Kerry Egan

Our Junior and T2T skaters competed at the Western Elite Circuit 2 at the Olympic Oval in Calgary on February 26-27, 2022. Results can be found here.

Team NT Credit: Kerry Egan

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Hay River Skaters and Coaches Credit: Ashley Coombs

The Hay River Speed Skating Club is loving their new banner that is now proudly hanging in the Aurora Ford Ice Arena. Home of Gavin Broadhead, Olympic Oval Speed Skater!! Thank you to Signed for designing the banner, Poison Graphics for printing the banner, and Michael Mong for allowing us to use your photos of Gavin.