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SASKATOON, SK - January 10, 2017 - Saskatoon Sports Tourism and the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club are delighted to announce that Saskatoon has been selected to host the Canada Cup III & Canadian Junior Long Track Speed Skating Championship from January 27 - 29, 2017 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. The championship will be held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club.

The Canada Cup III & Canadian Junior Championships are national long track speed skating competitions. The Canada Cup III is used to rank skaters for the national team, while the Canadian Junior Championship results select the Junior World Championship Team, which will compete in Helsinki, Finland in February 2017.

The events will take place at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval, located in the Gordon Howe Sports Complex (11th Street and Avenue R). The 400-metre Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval offers an exciting change of pace for skating enthusiasts. Recreational and competitive skaters alike enjoy the atmosphere of one of the best natural ice surfaces in Western Canada.

Competing at Canada Cup III will be some of Canada's best speed skaters, including the following Saskatchewan skaters:
• Graeme Fish (Moose Jaw) - Canadian Junior Record holder in the 10,000 m, member of Team Canada Development Pool for long track speed skaters
• Gabrielle Sanson (Moose Jaw) - member of the Canadian World Junior team in Changchun, China in 2016.
• Olivia Moyse (Moose Jaw) - three time Canadian Age Class Long Track champion

"Canada Cup events are the premier long track speed skating events in Canada," said Tim Comfort, Saskatchewan Speed Skating Provincial Coach. "World class athletes and former Olympians compete in these events which are important for national rankings and help determine the national speed skating team. Additionally, Canada Cup III has been identified as the competition which will determine the Junior National team for 2017 in Helsinki, Finland. Saskatchewan has sent three athletes in the last three years to World Juniors. Hosting these events in Saskatoon is important for the development of the sport in our community."

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For more information, contact:
Geoff Meinert or Fritz Schumann
Meet Coordinators and Board Members
Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club
gmeinert@sasktel.net
fritz.schumann@sasktel.net

About Saskatoon Sports Tourism
Saskatoon Sports Tourism was created to guide the attraction, retention and creation of sports tourism activities in Saskatoon. Saskatoon Sports Tourism assists event organizers to locate local suppliers, sports venues, and hotel accommodations and helps increase local awareness and attendance at events. For more information, visit www.saskatoonsportstourism.com.

About Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club
Established in 1942, the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club is the longest running club in Canada. Over the past 75 years, the club has produced over 40 National Champions, with 12 of those individuals advancing to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics. Club members have been a part of Canadian Olympic Teams since 1948 with Craig McKay and multiple Olympic Champion Catriona Le May Doan. The Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club has over 200 members in Saskatoon and is a fast growing sports community. For more information, visit www.slspeedskating.com.