The Bow Valley maintains its reputation as a small but mighty producer of national level athletes, as it will send 11 athletes to the Canada Winter Games in Prince George from Feb. 13 to March 1.
The Bow Valley has athletes in five different sports, and includes several coaches as well.
Stefan Kuhn and Eric Groeneveld will coach Alberta’s cross-country ski contingent at the Games. Kuhn said Alberta’s team is young, but will battle for strong finishes.
“We’ll have a young team. Since it’s a U23 schedule, we won’t be the strongest, but it will be a fun team,” Kuhn said.
Canmore’s Maya MacIsaac-Jones and Ember Large will anchor the competitive girl’s team, while Peter Hicks will be a key component of the boy’s team.
“We’re excited to have the younger girls there who can compete. The boys will have to battle, but their training is going well,” Kuhn said.
The 2010 Olympian said the Games play a large role in athlete development, and are often a stepping stone for young athletes chasing spots on national and Olympic teams.
“The Canada Games are huge. I’m always shocked other countries don’t do this,” Kuhn said.
Connor Howe and Siobhan Mellors will represent Alberta in short track speed skating, and will be in the hunt for strong races. The local skating athletes had a tough road to forge in order to earn a spot at the games, as Mellors battled tonsillitis and Howe made the team despite only being 14 years old.
“Both skaters finished as first alternates after short track trials in December, and overcame obstacles to earn their spots on the team. With the speed skating cut off at July 1, Connor is just old enough to compete at the Games, at the age of 14,” said coach Ian Mellors.
“Siobhan was in a qualifying position for the Games after the first round of trials, but she came down with tonsillitis just prior to the second round of trials, and was unable to hang onto her position, settling for first alternate. But as with any competition, anything can happen and both skaters were able to move up the ranking.”
Siobhan Mellors is after a top 10 finish, while Howe is simply chasing experience and personal bests in the 500 metre and 1,000m races.
Chloe Howe and Cassidy Peterson, former Canmorites who now live and train in Calgary, will also join the team, which is a huge coup for the small but mighty Banff Canmore Speed Skating Club. Four of the 10 speed skaters on Team Alberta are from the Bow Valley, the largest representation in the province.
Nate Gerwing and Kendall Chong of Canmore will suit up for Alberta in biathlon events. Richard Petit of Canmore will also travel with the biathletes for technical support.
Meg Ohsada, a multiple medallist at the Special Olympics, will compete for Alberta again in figure skating.
Cody Monod of Banff and Stephanie Profitt of Canmore were named to the men’s and women’s alpine team, which includes many Banff Alpine Racers and Sunshine athletes as well.
Nadia Smith of Canmore will also attend as a coach with Alberta’s para-alpine contingent, and Richard Stephen has also been asked to coach.
