Team Nova Scotia Wraps Up Winter Games on High Note
Team Nova Scotia
March 1, 2015 1:14 PM
Team Nova Scotia wrapped up the 2015 Canada Winter Games on a high note with two medals on its final day of competition Saturday, Feb. 28.
Chester's Team Fay is bringing a silver medal home in curling while Liam Moffatt of Truro won a bronze medal in snowboard cross.
Nova Scotia’s other podium performances came in the female snowboard parallel giant slalom event with Maddie Radvanyi winning silver and in the male artistic gymnastics event with Stephen Clouter taking bronze in the high bar male event.
"The 2015 Canada Winter Games provided some exciting moments for Nova Scotian athletes," said Mark Smith, Chef de Mission for Team Nova Scotia. "While our medal winning success was not equal to that of the previous winter Games, the opportunity to measure ourselves against the best in the country is a valuable experience."
Team Nova Scotia had a number of personal best performances and top five placements including:
-- fourth place finishes in figure skating novice dance, alpine ski slalom para female, freestyle ski big air female, artistic gymnastics parallel bars male, table tennis mixed doubles and snowboard parallel giant slalom male
–- the men’s hockey team placed fifth, Nova Scotia's best placing in the sport since winning silver in 1979
-- freestyle ski had two top five finishes
-- two sixth place finishes in trampoline, a new sport at the Winter Games.
For a full listing of Team Nova Scotia results go to:
http://cg2015.gems.pro/Result/MedalListContingent.aspx?Contingent_GUID=76ac971f-822c-4677-8871-4c31cf74ac65&SetLanguage=en-CA
"I am incredibly proud of all members of Team Nova Scotia," said Premier Stephen McNeil. "This year’s team truly embodied the spirit of the Games as well as the spirit of Nova Scotians - to work hard, support one other, and represent our province with pride. The positive experiences our youth had at these games will stay with them forever. They will bring these experiences home to their communities and Nova Scotia will be stronger for it."
The 2015 Canada Winter Games took place in Prince George, B.C., Feb. 13 - March 1, and featured more than 2400 athletes competing in 19 sports. Team Nova Scotia sent more than 400 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.
"Our athletes, coaches, managers, parents and mission staff represented our province with class and showed our true bluenose spirit," said Mr. Smith. "We leave these Games appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of it and motivated to do what is necessary to improve on our performance in 2019."
The Canada Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter. They are key in developing Canada's young athletes, producing the next generation of national, international and Olympic champions. The next summer Games will be held in Winnipeg in 2017 and the next winter Games will be held in Red Deer in 2019.
For more information on Team Nova Scotia, visit www.teamnovascotia.ca, @teamnovascotia on Twitter, and www.facebook.com/teamns on Facebook.
Sponsors and partners of Team Nova Scotia include the Government of Nova Scotia, Sport Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation, Atlantic Lottery Corporation and Karbon.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Team Nova Scotia wrapped up the 2015 Canada Winter Games on
a high note with two medals on its final day of competition
Saturday, February 28th.
Chester’s Team Fay is bringing a silver medal home in
curling while Liam Moffatt of Truro won a bronze medal in
snowboard cross.
Team Chef de Mission Mark Smith says while the medal
winning success was not equal to that of the previous winter
Games, there were a number of personal best performances and top
five placements demonstrating that with hard work and
determination Nova Scotia can improve on its results in 2019.
For example, the men’s hockey team placed fifth, Nova
Scotia’s best placing in the sport since winning silver in 1979.
Premier Stephen McNeil says he is incredibly proud of all
members of Team Nova Scotia and that this year’s team truly
embodied the spirit of the Games as well as the spirit of Nova
Scotians - to work hard, support one other, and represent our
province with pride.
-30-
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GLORIOUS NOVA SCOTIA YOUNG ATHLETES - ALL YOUNG ATHLETES OF THE CANADA WINTER GAMES 2015- u make us all soooooo proud.... thank u- u raised us up as Canadians... youth always does....
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Strong finish for Nova
Scotia athletes at Canada Games
THE CHRONICLE HERALD
Published March 1, 2015 - 1:16am
Last Updated March 2, 2015 - 6:13pm
Published March 1, 2015 - 1:16am
Last Updated March 2, 2015 - 6:13pm
Ontario earns extra-end win in Canada Games final
Nova Scotia athletes parade into the stadium for the closing ceremonies
of the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C. (LEN WAGG /
Communications Noav Scotia)
After a slow start to the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., the Bluenose contingent came on strong in the second week — particularly Saturday — with a shot at several medals on the last day of competition.
The Nova Scotia team finished 10th in the overall medal standings with four medals — two silver and two bronze — including a silver in women’s curling and a bronze in snowboard cross on Saturday.
They also had six fourth-place finishes.
“If a couple of those convert, we’re exactly where we kind of thought we’d be,” said team Chef de Mission Mark Smith who, prior to the games, had expectations of between four to six medals.
“From a performance standpoint, it’s very difficult to be disappointed with the best efforts that athletes are giving you, and we felt that way from the very beginning and we don’t feel any differently now.”
The successes also include the boys’ hockey team, whose fifth-place finish was one of the best in the province’s history. Nova Scotia teams won silver medals in 1975 and 1979. They likely could have contended for a medal, but up to six players were dealing with flu-like symptoms during the week.
“Head coach Jim Midgley and (his staff) did a heck of a job on getting those kids to play as close to the top of their game as they could.”
Curling
Some might say Mary Fay lost a chance at a gold medal Saturday night.
But while she couldn’t mask her disappointment following her 6-5 loss to Ontario in the Canada Winter Games women’s curling final, the 16-year-old Chester native said a silver medal is nothing to scoff at.
“It’s hard right now, but I’m sure when we look back we can be proud about it,” she said in an interview following the gold medal draw.
The Sudbury, Ont., rink had the upper-hand from the beginning of the draw. Each time they took a one-point lead, Fay’s foursome – which also includes Karlee Burgess, Janique LeBlanc and Jenn Smith – managed to steal one to tie it back up.
“We fought really hard and even right up until the last rock we were just so close, I mean by millimetres,” Fay said.
Fay stole one in the eighth end to take a short-lived 4-3 lead, her only advantage of the final.
Down 5-4 in the 10th end, secure in the knowledge she had the hammer, Fay once again tied the game to send it to extra ends, with an opportunity to win it.
But it was Ontario that stole the point, winning the final gold medal of the Canada Winter Games, which concluded after two weeks of competition with the closing ceremonies on Sunday.
“In the 11th end we had it set up for a steal pretty good, we just had to clear a guard...and we just ticked the guard so slightly. It was really close,” Fay said.
That final end was a microcosm of how the entire match had gone for Fay.
“It was just one of those games where we just off by a little bit, and then curling a little bit can mean a lot. They were able to be a little bit more precise than us and I think that’s why they came out on top,” she said.
“We missed a couple of key shots, but they played really well, but at the end of the day they deserved it because they were able to play well in the final game.”
Prior to Saturday’s final., Fay had rolled through the tournament, going a perfect 6-0.
“It was a good week. We had so much fun, it was a great experience and we learnt so much. I guess we’re just more disappointed than anything that we have to go home now,” she said.
And, despite the loss, Fay says the overall experience was a net benefit for her team, and will help their performance in future tournaments.
“Every time you play a team like that that beats you, you learn lessons,” she said. “And we’ll definitely take those forward, so hopefully that will help us to improve and be better next time.”
Snowboard cross
After spending a week in Prince George, snowboarder Liam Moffatt was itching to compete at the Canada Winter Games.
While standing at the top of the hill at the Tabor Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday afternoon, the 17-year-old Truro native worked hard to focus and compartmentalize all of that pent-up excitement that had built up over the past week.
He then got to work, and parlayed that into a bronze medal in the snowboard cross, guaranteeing Nova Scotia at least four medals in these games.
“This is something I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time and to be able to get on the podium is pretty special,” Moffatt said. “This was one of my goals for this year was to get on the podium.”
TABLE TENNIS
On the last day of competition at the Canada Winter Games, Nova Scotia nearly won another bronze.
The mixed doubles table tennis team of Leigha Shiels and Joshua MacMillan lost their bronze medal match to B.C.’s Leanne Lee and Michael Luo.
Squash
The female team lost the fifth place game to Prince Edward Island by a score of 3-1.
synchronized swimming
Kirstin Soosaar finished 10th in the primary finals of solo competition with a score of 62.672. Victoria Boyle placed ninth in the secondary finals with a score of 61.602.
Cross-country skiing
In the cross-country skiing relay, 4x3.75 kilometre race, the Nova Scotia female team finished in ninth place with a cumultative time of 52:12.70. The men’s team also came in ninth in their 4x5 kilometre race.
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2015 Canada Winter Games Closing Ceremonies: A heartfelt goodbye to Prince George
March 2, 2015
“What a show you have witnessed in Prince George, British Columbia,” said Tom Quinn, chair of the Canada Games Council during the 2015 Canada Winter Games closing ceremonies, held at the agora of the University of Northern British Columbia.
This follows over two weeks of competition; where records were broken, medals were won and memories were made. There were 2,400 athletes, 1,000 coaches and officials, and of course, 4,500 volunteers – also known as the ‘green jackets.’
First to enter the closing ceremonies was team Alberta, which displayed a “thank you Prince George” banner – a common thread that ran through the entire ceremony, with Ontario and B.C. also carrying “thank you/merci” banners.
Once the agora was a rainbow of colours – filled with the red and white of team Yukon, the neon yellow of Manitoba and the volunteer green – the ceremony started in earnest with a performance from musical artist Jerusha White of Fort St. James, B.C.
The Canada Games flame was then carried by Dominique Bozoki and Cecil Jael from a traditional pit house at UNBC to the beautiful cauldron at the top of the agora steps. The cauldron was the centrepiece of many pictures during the two weeks, as it was moved to the Canada Games Plaza following the opening ceremonies.
After the singing of “Oh Canada” by the Canada Games choir, Adam Harisimiuk, local comedic actor, entertained all with a scene introducing Mr. PG. This inflatable version of the iconic landmark travels from place to place promoting Northern British Columbia, but was also at the Canada Games Plaza in the Northern B.C. display.
The first speech was given by Tom Quinn, chair of the board of the Canada Games Council. His Excellency the Right Honourable Governor-General of Canada David Johnston then spoke, congratulating the Lheidli T'enneh on being the first-ever official host first nation. He also thanked and congratulated the volunteers of the 2015 Winter Games.
Cody Karey, a musician from Fort St. James, B.C., then provided a moving rendition of “You are the Song,” dedicated to the volunteers. The volunteers and their passion and dedication for sport and the Games themselves were then highlighted with a speech by Anthony Everett, chairman of the 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society.
“I’ve never been more proud to come from this community,” he commented.
The official passing of the Canada Games flag began with Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Judith Guichon, who handed the flag to Lynn Hall, mayor of Prince George. From there, Tom Quinn, chair of the board of the Canada Games Council took the flag, and handed it to Brian Bowman, mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba – where the 2017 Canada Summer Games will be held.
Johnston then declared the games over and the celebration began. An ice sculpture was carved into the 2017 Summer Games logo, and large inflatable white snowballs were thrown into the crowd of athletes.
The 2015 Canada Winter Games have been a memorable event for all – from Prince George residents, athletes, coaches, parents and volunteers, our fine city has put on a show, indeed.
(Submitted by Carol Hansson)
http://www.canadagames2015.ca/node/3113
FEB 20 UPDATES:
Lawrencetown gymnast wins
first medal for Nova Scotia at Canada Games http://glbn.ca/Jo4zD
#CanadaWinterGames2015
Each medal has a hand stitched moose hide pouch.
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA,FEBRUARY 13TH - MARCH 1ST, 2015
http://www.canadagames2015.ca/
CANADA WINTER GAMES 2015- TORCH RELAY
2015 Canada Winter Games Coldsnap Festival
2015 Games Coldsnap Festival
From February 13 until March 1, 2015, over 60 music, theatre and visual artist groups, representing over 200 individual artists, will perform during our FREE multi-disciplinary festival.
This festival features 100 per cent Canadian talent, presented by Treasure Cove Casino, performing on the BCLC Centre Stage at Canada Games Plaza nightly from 17:00 – 21:00.
http://www.canadagames2015.ca/
We love u... have fun and be your best..... u make us all so damm proud 2 be Canadian
Catherine McKinnon (Fairwell to) Nova Scotia
Song
Catherine
McKinnon: The Nova Scotia Song
From the "Something Old, Something New" LP
Canada Centennial Series 1967
From the "Something Old, Something New" LP
Canada Centennial Series 1967
Farewell to Nova Scotia
The sun was setting in the west
The birds were singing on every tree
All nature seemed inclined for to rest
But still there was no rest for me.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
I grieve to leave my native land
I grieve to leave my comrades all
And my parents whom I held so dear
And the bonnie, bonnie lassie that I do adore.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
The drums they do beat and the wars to alarm
The captain calls, we must obey
So farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia's charms
For it's early in the morning I am far, far away.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
I have three brothers and they are at rest
Their arms are folded on their breast
But a poor simple sailor just like me
Must be tossed and driven on the dark blue sea.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
The birds were singing on every tree
All nature seemed inclined for to rest
But still there was no rest for me.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
I grieve to leave my native land
I grieve to leave my comrades all
And my parents whom I held so dear
And the bonnie, bonnie lassie that I do adore.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
The drums they do beat and the wars to alarm
The captain calls, we must obey
So farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia's charms
For it's early in the morning I am far, far away.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
I have three brothers and they are at rest
Their arms are folded on their breast
But a poor simple sailor just like me
Must be tossed and driven on the dark blue sea.
Farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
What
you need to know about the 2015 Canada Winter Games
By Jon Azpiri Web Producer Global News 
;
The 2015 Canada Winter Games kick off Friday.
Photo: 2015 Canada Winter Games
When you watch the 2015 Canada
Winter Games, pay close attention to the names of the athletes. Odds are,
you’ll be hearing from some of them in the future. Since its inception, the
games, which kick off in Prince George on Feb. 13, have been a launching pad
for some of Canada’s top athletes.
At last year’s Sochi Winter Olympics, 83 Team Canada athletes were
Canada Games alumni, including hockey gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser and
B.C.’s Kelsey Serwa, who will be returning to the Canada Winter Games as Team
B.C.’s honourary captain. Other Canada Games alumni include Sidney Crosby, Catriona
Le May Doan, Bob Gainey and the late
Toller Cranston.
The Games feature a unique mix of sports and athletes. Athletes range in
age from 13 to 35 and it’s one of the few multi-sport competitions that
includes wheelchair athletes and athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Here is a beginner’s guide to the 2015 Canada Winter Games:
When are the Canada Winter Games?
The Games will run from Feb. 13 to March 1, 2015.
Where are the Canada Winter Games?
They will take place in Prince George, B.C., making it the largest
multi-sport and cultural event to ever be held in the northern part of the
province. According to Global News’ Jay Janower, a native of Prince
George, the city is the
perfect place to host the Games.
Events will take place at several
venues across the city.
How can I watch the 2015 Canada Winter Games?
Select events will be broadcast on TSN and RDS. A TV schedule is
available here.
Global News will be covering the games, from the opening to
the closing ceremonies, and events in between. Sports anchor and reporter Jay Janower will
be in Prince George for the duration of the games and will be bringing us live
coverage of the events and the athletes.
Webcasting coverage of the 2015 Games will be featured at www.canadagamestv.ca,
where over 900 hours of almost every sport will be included.
You can also follow the games on Facebook
and Twitter.
They also have a mobile site, located at m.canadagames2015.ca.
What sports are part of the Games?
The Canada Winter Games feature a wide variety of sports, some of
which aren’t normally associated with winter events. The following sports will
be part of the Games: archery, alpine skiing, badminton, biathlon,
curling, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, gymnastics,
hockey, judo, ringette, target shooting, snowboard, speed skating, squash,
synchronized swimming, table tennis, and wheelchair basketball.
Five athletes to watch
More than anything, the Games are about the athletes. More than 2,400
young Canadian athletes from all provinces and territories will travel to
Prince George from more than 800 communities across the nation. Each one has a
unique story to tell. Here are a few of them:
Jordan Bellerive, BC – Hockey
For 15-year-old Jordy Bellerive, hockey has always been a family affair.
Bellerive’s brother and sister have both played for Team BC and Jordy is
proud to follow in their footsteps.
The Tyndall Brothers, Saskatchewan – Gymnastics
Wyatt Tyndall and his two younger brothers, Jesse and Mitch, will make
up half of Team Saskatchewan’s men’s gymnastics team.
Jorden Tyson, Alberta – Figure Skating
Like all of the athletes competing in the Games, Jorden Tyson is
training with hopes to reach the podium. The only difference is that
Jorden has autism. The Calgary native is competing in figure skating, the
only sport at the Games that also includes Special Olympics events.
Christian Higham, Manitoba – Hockey
The Winnipeg native has no shortage of experience playing on a big
stage. She was on the Canadian team that recently earned silver at the Under-18
Women’s World Hockey Championship. She’s also competed for prestigious
local prep schools and next year she will play for Cornell University.
Aaron Mah, B.C. – Gymnastics
Mah is just 17 years old, but is already making his second Canada
Games appearance. He’s a favourite in the floor, high bar, and all-around
competitions.
What other events are going on in Prince George?
The Canada Winter Games is about more about sports. Prince George
will host the Coldsnap Festival,
the largest multi-cultural event ever to be hosted in northern B.C.
The event will feature
more than 60 music, theatre and visual artists, including Alan Doyle
of Great Big Sea, A Tribe Called Red, Delhi 2 Dublin, Tanya Tagaq, Alex Cuba
and Chad Brownlee.
A complete artist
line-up with dates, times and locations is available online.
-with files from Amy Judd and Paula Baker
Good luck to all Team Nova Scotia
athletes!
Follow along on social media!
#supernova
Good luck to all Team Nova Scotia
athletes!
Athlete of the Week
Kirsti Mason
Ringette
Age: 19
Hometown: Cole Harbour
Years
in Current Sport: 15
Team NS in the News
Goad, Jackson named flag-bearers for
Canada Games
"It's definitely a big honor" - Goad said.
"It's definitely a big honor" - Goad said.
Photo Credit: Len Wagg / Team Nova Scotia photographer
Goad,
Jackson named flag-bearers for Canada Games
"It's definitely a big honor"
- Goad.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/slideshow_image/op_image/B97417915Z.120150124192516000GGP87T60.11.jpg
To view the entire article via The
Chronicle Herald, click
here.
Long Track Speed Skating
Check out our Speed Skaters training on the beloved Halifax Oval
Team
Nova Scotia Medal Count
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Heading for the hills: Three Kings County skiers
representing Nova Scotia at Canada Games
http://www.kingscountynews.ca/News/Local/2015-02-12/article-4040348/Heading-for-the-hills%3A-Three-Kings-County-skiers-representing-Nova-Scotia-at-Canada-Games/1
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Heading for the hills: Three Kings County skiers
representing Nova Scotia at Canada Games
Published on February 12, 2015
Published on February 11,
2015
Wolfville's Patrick Hadlaw is advancing to the Canada Games as a
member of Team Nova Scotia's male alpine ski squad.
Ashley Thompson
KINGS COUNTY - The Martock Ski Race Club will be well
represented at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Kings
County- based alpine ski athletes Lindsay Myles (Lockhartville), Dara Carr
(Wolfville) and Partick Hadlaw (Wolfville) have been selected to compete in
slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom and ski cross events for Team Nova
Scotia between Feb. 14-20.
Their
fellow Martock Ski Race Club members Alex Oulton, of Port Williams, and Carter
MacKeen, of Bedford, made the 16-member alpine team as alternates.
Ski
Martock hosted an evening reception Feb. 8 in honour of the Martock regulars
advancing to the Canada Games. Twenty-six athletes who train at Ski Martock
will travel to Prince George, B.C. for the national competition – eight
biathlon contenders, eight cross country skiers, three alpine skiers and seven
snowboarders.
Wolfville’s Carr getting into race mode
Dara
Carr's decision to devote most of her free time in the colder months to alpine
skiing is paying off.
The
15-year-old is one of seven female alpine athletes named to Team Nova Scotia
for the 2015 Canada Winter Games to be hosted in Prince George, B.C.fromFeb. 13
to March 1.
Carr, who
took up skiing at age four, has been training with the national competition in
mind for almost two years. When there was no snow in Nova Scotia, the Martock
Ski Race Club member travelled out of province to get more time on her skis.
“If
there's not snow here, we go where there's snow,” says Carr, who has gone as
far as Alberta to train.
In the
days leading up to her Canada Games debut, Carr was excited to see how she
measures up to the top alpine athletes in the country.
“I'm
feeling good about the slalom, that's my favourite,” says Carr.
“I like
slalom because it's more technical and it's quicker.”
It seems
nothing else matters when she's in race mode.
“It's fun.
You get a burst of adrenaline when you're in the start gate, and then you go,
and when I'm in the actual race everything else is kind of quiet. I don't hear
things, I just kind of focus on it and then get into a zone,” the Wolfville
resident explains.
Carr is
looking forward to meeting athletes from other provinces, and taking in the
opening ceremonies at the Canada Games.
Her main
goal is to do her best, and enjoy every aspect of the Canada Games experience.
Wolfville skier working on instincts
Patrick
Hadlaw is focusing on race instincts leading up to the 2015 Canada Winter
Games.
The
Martock Ski Race Club member was one of seven athletes selected for Team Nova
Scotia's male entry in the alpine ski competitions.
“I'm
looking forward to meeting a lot of new people and having a fair competition –
and the food,” says Hadlaw, who devotes the majority of his free time to
training in the ski season.
Hadlaw,
15, earned his ticket to the Canada Games after completing two qualifying
derby-style races hosted at Ski Wentworth. The Horton High School student will
compete in slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom, and ski cross events in
Prince George, B.C. from Feb. 14-20.
The Canada
Games will give him an indication of where he stands on a national level.
“I'm
trying to figure out ways to work under pressure,” Hadlaw says.
In
preparing for the highest level of competition he's seen since he started
training for the alpine events four years ago, Hadlaw is thinking anticipation
will prove to be key at the Canada Games.
“I try to
work on instincts in the race,” he says.
Hadlaw is
excited to mix with athletes from other provinces, and enjoy all of the
opportunities that arise while he's in B.C.
Asked how
it feels to be an athlete bound for the Canada Games, Hadlaw said one word sums
it up: “awesome.”
Hadlaw
made the provincial male alpine team along with five athletes based out of Ski
Wentworth and one competitor from Sydney. Fellow Martock Ski Race Club member
Carter MacKeen, of Bedford, was picked as an alternate.
Lockhartville skier plans to make every run
count
A young
ski racer from Kings County is ready to represent her province in the Canada
Games.
Lindsay
Myles, 14, will be competing in slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom and
ski cross events as one of seven female athletes named to Team Nova Scotia's
alpine squad.
Myles
placed second overall in a qualifying derby race held at Ski Wentworth to pave
her way to the Canada Games. It's a goal she's been working toward for nearly
two years.
Myles, a
Grade 9 student at Horton High School, frequently travels out of province to
hone her skills on the slopes.
“I like
the speed of it and how there's always different things to work on,” the
Lockhartville resident says.
The
Martock Ski Race Club member visited ski hills in Lake Louise, Alta. and
travelled to Quebec on numerous occasions in hopes of advancing to high-level
competitions featuring the top athletes in her sport.
“I just
really like it. It's different, not a lot of people do it.”
Now that
she's earned her place in the Canada Games, Myles hopes drawing from past
experiences in big races will give her a competitive edge.
Her plan
is simple: make every run count.
“I want to
go down the hill and think that was a really nice run,” says Myles.
Myles
tries to take mental notes that will help with the next race when she's trying
a new course for the first time, but there's not a lot of time to think about
anything aside from your next move you're bolting toward a finish line.
“It
happens for like a minute or less than that sometimes,” Myles says.
The alpine
ski events are scheduled to run from Feb. 14-20.
Myles says
she'll be proud of her performance as long as she has good runs, but she admits
returning home with a medal would be a nice bonus.
“I always
kind of think to myself, 'Why can't it be me?'”
http://www.kingscountynews.ca/News/Local/2015-02-12/article-4040348/Heading-for-the-hills%3A-Three-Kings-County-skiers-representing-Nova-Scotia-at-Canada-Games/1
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Feb 23 2015Medal standings
| Contingent | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Quebec | 35 | 23 | 25 | 83 |
 Ontario | 18 | 15 | 11 | 44 |
 British Columbia | 12 | 16 | 13 | 41 |
 Alberta | 7 | 15 | 17 | 39 |
 Saskatchewan | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
 New Brunswick | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
 Manitoba | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
 Newfoundland and Labrador | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
 Yukon | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Nova Scotia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Memory of dad inspires Canada
Games hockey player Schmitt
FRANCIS
CAMPBELL TRURO BUREAU
Published February 19, 2015 - 8:11pm
Last Updated February 20, 2015 - 9:09am
Blocking a shot or zipping a pass to a breaking forward, Julia Schmitt
doesn’t have to dig very deep for her hockey inspiration.Published February 19, 2015 - 8:11pm
Last Updated February 20, 2015 - 9:09am
“It is hard, but I know that he is always with me now,” Julia, 15, said of her father, Mike Schmitt, who died Jan. 10 after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
This week, Julia is doing her passing and shot-blocking at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., as a defenceman with the Nova Scotia women’s team.
“He got sick about two years ago,” she said in a phone interview. “He was always the one who took me to these tryouts. It’s kind of hard now that I finally made the team and he’s not here.”
MORE COVERAGE: Nova Scotia athletes at the Games
In many ways, Mike Schmitt, the provincial-champion minor hockey coach, the doting father and ever-proud dad, is with Julia at the Games.
“I have two younger brothers, and we all play hockey,” Julia said. “My mom said now he won’t have to choose which games to go to watch.”
Julia and her teammates were playing Manitoba late Thursday and a victory would send them into the fifth-place game Friday.
The team opened the tournament with a 7-1 loss to Alberta and followed with a 6-0 setback to Saskatchewan. Then, Nova Scotia clipped Manitoba 4-1 on Monday, despite being outshot 36-11. They gave up 40 shots on Wednesday in losing the quarter-final 3-1 to powerful Ontario.
“That’s what makes it really fun,” Julia said of playing powerhouse teams. “I knew there were going to be skilled players here, but if we just worked our hardest and won every little battle, I knew we’d have some success.”
That probably sounds like something her father, her atom and peewee coach, might say.
“He taught me not just to be a better player, but to be a better person and to respect the game, myself, my teammates and the other team.”
Julia is a Grade 10 student at King’s-Edgehill private school in Windsor. Whether playing high school hockey or performing on the bigger stage at the Canada Games, she leans on life lessons from her dad.
“Mostly, when I’m trying to encourage myself and other teammates, that’s when I think of him.
“He always cared about everyone else, in his own way. He didn’t smile that often, but you knew that he was always smiling inside. Even when he was sick, he was always looking out for other people. In the last few weeks, my aunt (Tanya) came home (from Whitehorse) and he told her to go back home and spend time with her family.”
With mom Karyn MacKinnon and brothers, Brody, 13, and Brayden, 10, back home in Bible Hill, Julia gains strength and support from her teammates.
“Everyone that has played hockey with me in the past, that play with me now and friends from school, everyone has just been so supportive.”
A longtime operations manager at the Tim Hortons warehouse in Debert, her father would have been in B.C. to cheer her on. Julia said she never once thought of packing it in after his death.
“Hockey is where we have the most connection. I would never give that up.”
Never giving up chalks up to a goal of playing Division I university hockey in the United States. The work ethic necessary to make that dream a reality comes from her father.
“He used to say that if you work hard, you don’t need your luck.”
And if Julia had the chance to say something now to her father during her fun-filled stint on the West Coast?
“That I’m really proud of him.”
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