Speed skating is always a sport in which the NWT does well at no matter the event and that includes the Canada Winter Games.
Four years ago at the Games in Prince George, B.C., the girls relay team managed to make it to the final and just missed out on a medal.
There won't be any girls relay team this year but there is a boys relay squad and there is the hope they could make some noise.
NNSL file photo
The 2019 Canada Winter Games speed skating team is now official following the selection camp in Yellowknife, which wrapped up on Jan. 6. From that, five boys and two girls made the cut and among them is the Inuvik trio of Braeden Picek, Dalton McLeod and Stryden Hult-Griffin.
Shane Clark, the team's head coach, said he liked what he saw from the boys.
“Most of the record-breaking team from the Arctic Winter Games last year is back,” he said. “Dalton had the best times of all the boys and he's been working hard.”
With the boys competing in the relay this time around, Clark said all five boys were working on tactics and technique at the camp, even though only four get to race at one time.
Just in case something happens, he said.
“In Prince George, we actually had to use all five of the girls on the team that year,” he said. “One of our skaters from the semifinal wasn't able to go and so we had to make a change. It could happen so they all need to be ready.”
Medal hopes for the boys will be an outside shot as Clark said it's such a competitive group this year but the relay is where there could be a chance.
“Not every province is entering a relay team,” he said. “It's us and eight other provinces so it all depends on how they determine how the heats will go but we'll give the provinces a good run. Being top-four will be a stretch but who knows? The girls got a bit of luck when they got to the final.”
As for the solo events, he said it's all about being competitive.
“We want them to outdo their past results,” he said. “Dalton and Braeden are the most experienced skaters we have but we're looking for the boys to have personal bests and be in the mix.”
The girls team consists of just two skaters – Wren Acorn and Daphne Cloutier, both from Yellowknife – and Clark said Acorn has an outside shot of being on the podium.
“We know who's going to be there and we know Quebec will have the strongest team; they swept the podium last time,” he said. “Wren, though, has that grit and she's always capable of upsetting the apple cart. She's good at doing that and hopefully, she'll make a final.”
The team will be off to Calgary for the Western Elite Series event at the Olympic Oval which begins on Jan. 18. Clark said that will be the last good tune-up for the team before Red Deer.