Nova Scotia cross country skier survives downhill crash to finish the race

Posted on February 25, 2011 by canadagames

Marie Soehl of Nova Scotia finishes the 10km Classic after downhill crash

Marie Soehl of Nova Scotia survived a hairy crash on the cross country downhill course and still finished the race. Soehl (pronounced soul) slipped over the edge of the race course much like the Olympic skier Petra Madjic did last year. However, tree branches caught her skis and arm to keep her from slipping vertically upside down into a ravine.

Soehl hung there for over 2 to 3 minutes while her dad, a ski patrol, a coach from Manitoba, and another onlooker helped to free her from the carnage. Once her skis were taken off her feet, she was pulled up the ravine.  She  immediately put her skis back on and carried on with the race.

She finished the 10km classic event in a respectable time in spite of the fall and the upper body injuries she endured. Marie finished in 46th place out of 54 competitors with a time of 41:17.6. Marie Soehl showed great determination and inner strength to finish the race.

Filed under: Canada Games, Cross Country Skiing, Daily Sports Reports, Results | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

An Inspiration to a Province – and the Nation

Posted on February 24, 2011 by canadagames

By: Chris Surette

Jerry Zhang had his sights set on competing at the 2011 Canada Games.

The 17-year old Badminton player from Fredericton, NB was ranked in the top-5 for men’s doubles in Canada and top-10 singles for under-16 in 2010.

Zhang was vying for a spot on Team New Brunswick for the Canada Games, but was diagnosed with cancer a week before selection camp began on December 27th, 2010.

After a successful year competing in the under-16 category, he moved up to under-19 this past year and competed in a Junior Elite tournament in Toronto in November. He looked strong at the tournament, competing in men’s singles and making it the quarter finals in doubles, with his partner from British Columbia.

But after competing in a tournament in New Brunswick on the weekend of December 18th, Zhang was diagnosed with a Gem Cell Tumor and started chemo therapy December 20th at the IWK in Halifax.

Zhang has been in Halifax ever since, receiving multiple chemo therapy treatments on his way to recovery.

Zhang is here at the Canada Games Centre to cheer on his New Brunswick teammates as the team competition got under way. His presence alone is an inspiration to his teammates.

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A Boy amongst Men

Posted on February 23, 2011 by canadagames

Although Gabriel Denis was ineligible to win a medal in his first two races, this young athlete has shown outstanding Sportsmanship throughout these games and life in general.

Gabriel Denis is 17 years old from Matheson Ontario, a small town outside of Timmins.  Denis started cross country skiing three years ago and has improved dramatically during that time. Born with cerebral palsy, Gabriel’s balance and speech are affected.  Since Balance is such a crucial component of cross country ski technique, it makes his efforts so much more remarkable.

Denis is competing in the Paranordic Standing competition.  Unfortunately, he only has two other competitors and both are double his age. Because there are less than four in his category, when finishing in third place, he is ineligible to receive a medal.  Gabriel Denis has finished 3rd in both races he has competed in here at the Canada Winter Games.  In Tuesday’s Sprint Qualification round, he did have the 2nd fastest time, but finished 3rd in the final head to head competition.

Not to down play the efforts of his two competitors, as their efforts are equally remarkable with each of them with a story of their own. However, Gabriel has not allowed the Canada Games technicality to get him down. You can always find him with a smile, a joke to share and a positive comment.  He is a positive role model for the whole Ontario Cross Country contingent and is respected by his coaches and peers for his outstanding “sunny” attitude.  When at home in Matheson, Gabriel volunteers with his community Volunteer Fire Department along with jumping in to help his community in other ways as well.

Gabriel Denis dreams of qualifying for a future Paralympics after finishing college.  I have no doubt that if positive attitude and a great work ethic are the recipe to success, then this young man will achieve his goals.

If the Canada Games gives out Sportsmanship awards, this young man should be first in line.

Filed under: Canada Games, Cross Country Skiing, Sport, Sport Profile | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Yukon Goalie Maya Oakley, Just 12, Happy to be in Halifax

Posted on February 22, 2011 by canadagames

Yukon 0 – New Brunswick 17

Halifax, N.S. – Maya Oakley (Haines Junction,  Y.T.) may have only seen three minutes of ice time, and Yukon may have lost its third game with another whopping 17-0 score Tuesday afternoon at the Metro Centre, but the 12-year-old goaltender is happy just to have the chance to be in Halifax, N.S., for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

Standing at just five feet tall and weighing at most 100 pounds, Oakley is the youngest player on her team, and at the entire women’s hockey tournament.

“It’s hard to get that I’m the youngest player,” Maya said, explaining she didn’t know coming into the Games that she would be the only 12-year-old girl here. “But looking around, most teams have 17- and 18-year-olds, and our team is 12 all the way up to 17 (years old).”

Maya’s big sister, 13-year-old Sierra Oakley, is also on the Yukon team and plays forward. Maya originally tried out to play defence on the team, but head coach Louis Bouchard thought “I might have enough skill to play nets, so I tried it a couple of times,” she said. Maya made the squad as back-up to 15-year-old Jocelyn Wynnyk of Marsh Lake, Y.T.

At first, right when my coach said start stretching and get warmed up, I got really tense and nervous, but right when I got on the ice I felt alright,” Maya said after her very first game representing her province, her oversized jersey falling to her knees. “I think I did pretty good; I tried my best.”

Maya’s favourite hockey team is the Vancouver Canucks, her favourite player is Roberto Luongo and she likes playing hockey because “it’s really fun.”

Despite the big losses for team Yukon, Maya said her team has had “a really good time here.”

“Just being here is great,” she said with a grin.

Filed under: Canada Games, Daily Sports Reports, Hockey, Results, Sport Profile | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

10 Year Old Table Tennis Phenom Enjoying the Canada Games Experience

Posted on February 22, 2011 by canadagames

Table Tennis at the Canada Winter Games is an under 18 event so it is fairly common to see athletes participating who are 14 or 15 years of age.  But some of the competitors at these games were a little shocked to look across the table and see a 10 year old named Eddie Guo.  Eddie plays for Alberta and is from Edmonton.  Alberta has a strong table tennis tradition and has developed many national champions in the past.  So for Eddie to make the Alberta team at such a young age is truly a great accomplishment.

Eddy was first introduced to table tennis by his father at the age of 5.  Two years later he picked up the sport and hasn’t looked back since.  Eddy plays almost every day for 2 hours.  He will not be 11 until October and is the top ranked athlete in the under 11 category in Canada.  At the past Canadian Junior Championships in Calgary, Guo won 1 gold and 2 silvers in the under 11 category.

Eddy is not a medal favourite here but is enjoying every minute at the games.  “The best thing about the games is meeting and making new friends.”  While he is very social, he has high expectations of himself “I want to represent Canada in international tournaments”.  Guo has the right attitude too.  “Never give up and develop strategies on how to play my opponents” when asked about tips on playing a match.

Outside of table tennis, Eddie Guo likes to hang out with his friends and play pick up soccer games.  He will be eligible to participant in 2 more Canada Winter Games so you may be hearing the name Eddie Guo more in the future.

Filed under: Canada Games, Sport Profile, Table Tennis | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Embracing the Games Experience

Posted on February 21, 2011 by canadagames

Ontario's Judo Team at the Dartmouth Sportsplex supporting Ontario's Women's Hockey Team

The Canada Winter Games offers so much more than simply elite competition.  It offers athletes, coaches and managers the opportunity to watch other sports, take in the sights of the host city and be part of Team Ontario.  Team Ontario’s Judo Team has been doing all of those things.

On Sunday evening, a group of Judo athletes went to cheer for Team Ontario Women’s Hockey Team as they defeated BC by an astounding 4 – 1.  We attended with our “Noisy Sticks” in tow and showed our support for their fantastic effort and result. While at the game, the Judo athletes were able to chat and mingle with the Ontario Synchronized Swim Team and the Ontario Boxing Team members.  Certainly the evening has enhanced our Games experience.

Because Monday was a training day, many used their spare time to take in the sights of beautiful Halifax and browse through the many wonderful shops and buildings.  The Halifax Harbour is home to shops that specialize in pewter, crystal and, of course, souvenirs!  For those who are interested, there are also many historic sites to visit. 

In the evening, some of the judo athletes decided to go and watch the boxing matches.  A great time was had by all!

Tomorrow is also a training day, as we prepare for judo’s individual competition days on Wednesday and Thursday.  Who knows, maybe we’ll take in some Synchronized Swimming!

Till next time,

Aartje Sheffield

Filed under: Aartje Sheffield, Athlete Blogs, Canada Games | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

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