Year in Review. Olympic Oval oval.ucalgary.ca The Fastest Ice in the World TM

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1 Year in Review Olympic Oval oval.ucalgary.ca The Fastest Ice in the World TM

Two Years In! Here we are two years into our game plan!

In partnership with Speed Skating Canada, our team kept its focus on building new internal assets for sustainable Canadian success for not only 2018 Olympians, but our next generation of athletes for

At the same time, the university community and our students were fully integrated into this approach.

We have already seen tangible outcomes such as: 1 - A training structure and integrated support team for optimal athlete development 2 - An emphasis on improving our approach with our customers to

2 Two Years In! Here we are two years into our game plan! In May of 2015 the Olympic Oval came out with a threeyear strategic plan to build the momentum toward the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Korea. In partnership with Speed Skating Canada, our team kept its focus on building new internal assets for sustainable Canadian success for not only 2018 Olympians, but our next generation of athletes for Beijing 2022 and beyond. Key to this focus was aligning actions, investments, structures and partnerships to optimize and enhance our capacity to support athletes and coaches. At the same time, the university community and our students were fully integrated into this approach. The Oval Team put a tremendous amount of effort into achieving what has been implemented over the last two years. We have already seen tangible outcomes such as: 1 - A training structure and integrated support team for optimal athlete development 2 - An emphasis on improving our approach with our customers to ensure an amazing experience in all areas 3 - A game ready international event set up allowing for a positive fan experience for our speed skating, university and Calgary community 4 - New imaging that strengthens our alignment with our faculty at the University of Calgary and the Canadian speed skating team Internally our expertise and capacity evolved to adapt to such a changing environment. Investing in the development of our staff remains an integral part of our plan to stay at the forefront of today s requirements. We are constantly highlighting the outstanding achievement from our ice making team led by our own Mark Messer. Their expertise allowed the PyeongChang Organizing Committee to create not just an amazing building, but their own world class ice conditions in time for a pregames ISU test event held last February. This season, we once again saw Canadian skaters achieve impressive results at the senior and junior level on the highly competitive world stage. We are proud to be a key player in helping these athletes deal with such a challenging context. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our awesome employees, volunteers, partners and sponsors - without whom all of these achievements could not be reached. Game Ready We hope that you are as excited as we are for year three of our plan. This coming season is guaranteed to be an exciting one for everyone involved as we make the final sprint towards the Korean Olympic games. The journey remains as challenging as ever, but our Canadian athletes will always find us behind them to support them in their push towards achieving their personal best. Yves Hamelin Director, Olympic Oval The Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary refreshed its visual identity this season. The new visual leverages and respects the Oval s university and faculty ties yet maintains a strong and compelling presence in the competitive market for high-performance ice training venues around the world. A simple change in our image makes us more accessible, it can attract the public into our facility and help them develop an understanding of what we do, said Yves Hamelin, Director of the Olympic Oval. The refreshed visual identity respects and reflects the long-standing legacy of the Olympic Oval in Calgary and the new colour and wordmark emphasize our long-standing place as part of the University of Calgary. The Olympic Oval is a University of Calgary facility operated with the support of its legacy partners Winsport, the Government of Canada and the University of Calgary. New Look New Era Jeff Kitura Stage 2 Coach

ISU World Cup Speed Skating In November, the Olympic Oval played host to 204 athletes from 32 different countries for the

This marked the first short track World Cup event in Calgary since 2012.

Sprint Speed Skating Championship and saw a pair of new World Record Sprint combinations set by the Champions; Nao

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend came when Vincent De Haître thrilled the crowd with a new Canadian record

Oval skater Marco Schumann skated to a thrilling victory in the final event of the 2016 Canadian Junior Championship in

The third overall finish was enough for Schumann to book his first trip to represent Canada at the 2017 World Junior

Just Krillin It Graeme Fish capped a breakout season with his first trip to the World Junior Championship but his biggest

3 ISU World Cup Speed Skating In November, the Olympic Oval played host to 204 athletes from 32 different countries for the first short track World Cup event of the season. This marked the first short track World Cup event in Calgary since Over 4000 fans saw 22 new national records and one new World Record (Team Korea in the Women s Relay) set on the Fastest Ice in the World. Calgary sports fans also saw one of our #OvalFamily, Jamie Macdonald, the only Western Canadian participant in the event capture a World Cup silver medal! Celebrate 2017 ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championship In late February the Oval played host to the 2017 ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championship and saw a pair of new World Record Sprint combinations set by the Champions; Nao Kodeira & Kai Verbij. One of the biggest highlights of the weekend came when Vincent De Haître thrilled the crowd with a new Canadian record becoming first Canadian in history to skate under 1:07.00 in the 1000m! Go Marco! Oval skater Marco Schumann skated to a thrilling victory in the final event of the 2016 Canadian Junior Championship in December to vault himself onto the overall podium. The third overall finish was enough for Schumann to book his first trip to represent Canada at the 2017 World Junior Championship held in Innsbruck, Austria. He was joined by Oval short track coach Alan McIlveen. Just Krillin It Graeme Fish capped a breakout season with his first trip to the World Junior Championship but his biggest performance of the year came in setting a new Canadian Junior Record in the 10K with a 13:35.23 at the Canadian National Single Distance Championship held at the Oval in January. McDougall, Fish & Howe Represent Canada at World Juniors A trio of Olympic Oval Skaters. Calgary locals; Brooklyn McDougall and Connor Howe and Graeme Fish from Moose Jaw, were selected as part of Team Canada for the 2017 ISU World Junior Championship held in February in Helsinki, Finland. This was the first World Junior Championship for all three skaters and they were joined by Oval Coach Jeff Kitura as well as Oval Associate Director of Sport Marcel Lacroix who served as the Canadian er.

Responsibility The Oval continues to remain a landmark in the Calgary community.

Whether our athletes are home grown or international, the Oval and this city truly become a second home.

The project, which came about as part of UCalgary s 50th Anniversary saw staff, athletes and volunteers paint the lines of 50 city school yards to promote a healthier lifestyle.

As one of the most unique venues on campus the Oval welcomed many visitors for interactive, athlete led, behind the scenes tours during the 2016 Fall Classic long track speed

For the Love Oval Athletes teamed up with Alberta Speed Skating volunteers to once again bring the For the Love of Speed Skating fundraiser to the Oval s two largest events of

In total, the program raised over $1,750 for local speed skating athletes.

#SkateCalgary In the lead up to the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championship, Oval and Speed Skating Canada athletes participated in #SkateCalgary, a downtown event

We are ALL Dinos As part of the University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology the Olympic Oval shares the same passion and drive for sport as our fellow Dinos.

4 Responsibility The Oval continues to remain a landmark in the Calgary community. Being a true legacy facility in this Olympic city carries with it a responsibility to give back to the community. Whether our athletes are home grown or international, the Oval and this city truly become a second home. Community Gift of Play As part of the University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology, the Olympic Oval was very proud to take part in the Gift of Play. The project, which came about as part of UCalgary s 50th Anniversary saw staff, athletes and volunteers paint the lines of 50 city school yards to promote a healthier lifestyle. Doors Open YYC The Oval was one of 10 University of Calgary facilities who took part in Doors Open YYC As one of the most unique venues on campus the Oval welcomed many visitors for interactive, athlete led, behind the scenes tours during the 2016 Fall Classic long track speed skating competition. For the Love Oval Athletes teamed up with Alberta Speed Skating volunteers to once again bring the For the Love of Speed Skating fundraiser to the Oval s two largest events of the season - the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championship and the ISU World Cup Speed Skating events. In total, the program raised over $1,750 for local speed skating athletes. Skate with Santa The Oval continued our annual holiday Skate with Santa event which welcomed over 1000 members of the community for a day of free skating and a visit from Santa. #SkateCalgary In the lead up to the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championship, Oval and Speed Skating Canada athletes participated in #SkateCalgary, a downtown event organized by the Organizing Committee Calgary. Athletes skated and interacted with fans in Olympic Plaza. We are ALL Dinos As part of the University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology the Olympic Oval shares the same passion and drive for sport as our fellow Dinos. The Oval is proud to be the training home of many of the finest varsity athletes in the country. Niki Oudenaarden Women s Track & Field Women s Rugby, Canada West (CW) Champions Football, CW Champions Greg Ord, CW Rookie of the Year Cross Country Emma Cook-Clarke, CW Champion, CW Athlete of the year Cross Country Elgin Pearce, U SPORTS & CW Most Sportsmanlike Player of the year Hockey DaLeaka Menin, U SPORTS & CW Player of the Year Bori Falaye, CW Rookie of the year Soccer Jordan Smith, CW Player of the year Soccer Talia White, CW Rookie of the year Soccer Danica Ludlow, U SPORTS Gold (400m, 800m free) Swimming Tianna Rissling, U SPORTS Gold (50m breaststroke) Swimming Niki Oudenaarden, U SPORTS & CW Field Athlete of the Year, U SPORTS Gold (Pentathlon) Track & Field Conlon Foy, CW Rookie of the Year Wrestling Simon Chi U SPORTS Coach of the Year Women s Rugby Passion Dinos Men s Hockey Forward Elgin Pearce

Short Track Christian Liebzeit Marco Schumann Nils Engholm Sam McEachran Vincent Girard Kelly Cayford Drake Foo Matthew Daly Sarah St.

Mathias Bathe Molly Young Paul Coderre Jackson Hunter Caitlin Pelkey Hee Won Son Heather Clarke Aaron Cooney Keanan St Rose Claudia Heeney Seamus Smith Adrian Rudy Mitchell Schrum Brittany Yuen Edin

Pearman Keri Morrison Lauren Mcguire Tori Spence Brianne Tutt Cooper Hunter Jacob Graham Anastasia Bucsis Richard MacLennan Shannon Rempel Jacob McKenzie Ben Donnelly Braden Clouthier Sam Dekert Dan

5 Short Track Christian Liebzeit Marco Schumann Nils Engholm Sam McEachran Vincent Girard Kelly Cayford Drake Foo Matthew Daly Sarah St. Marie Anneke Pederson Akash Aradhya Anton Shekhter Abbey Young Brendan Yamada Cameron Copeland Connor Doud Isaac Sherwood Jackson Christie Keegan Dunbar Maggie Beynon Zach Lacroix Matej Pederson Mathias Bathe Molly Young Paul Coderre Jackson Hunter Caitlin Pelkey Hee Won Son Heather Clarke Aaron Cooney Keanan St Rose Claudia Heeney Seamus Smith Adrian Rudy Mitchell Schrum Brittany Yuen Edin Brankovic Ranya Ezzi Anne Marie Van der Wal Tyson Langelaar Eric Orlowski Jonah Hurtubise Cimon Deschenes Charest Einar Døving Agdestein Christopher Peljer-So Long Track Isabelle Weidemann Maddison Pearman Keri Morrison Lauren Mcguire Tori Spence Brianne Tutt Cooper Hunter Jacob Graham Anastasia Bucsis Richard MacLennan Shannon Rempel Jacob McKenzie Ben Donnelly Braden Clouthier Sam Dekert Dan Caruthers Hamish Black Bursary Jess Neufeld Konrad Nagy Magne Notland Martin Corbett Nick Goplen Sam Pollock Simon Koots Thomas Meline Wojciech Kraśnicki Abigail McCluskey Adrian Hannigan Carolina Hiller Connor Woods Graeme Fish Jake Weidemann JC Lataille Lindsey Kent The Calgary Olympic Oval is very proud to congratulate the 15 athletes awarded Intact Insurance Olympic Oval Athlete Bursaries for the season. Congratulations go out to Maggi Beynon (Barrie, ON), Hannah Clark (Yellowknife, NWT), Sam Deckert (Winnipeg, MB), Alison Desmarais (Vanderhoof, BC), Graeme Fish (Moose Jaw, SK), Jacob Graham (Dawson Creek, BC), Jordan Henkelman (Calgary, AB), Keil Hillis Calgary, AB), Connor Howe (Calgary, AB), Abigail McCluskey (Penticton, BC), Keri Morrison (Burlington, ON), Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, AB), Marco Schumann (Saskatoon, SK), Tori Spence (Kamloops, BC) and Brendan Yamada (Calgary, AB). This season the Oval would like to thank all of our supporters including Intact Insurance, Nick s Steakhouse, Organizing Committee Calgary, Shawn Holman, Jeremy Wotherspoon & École Airdrie. Athletes Nicolas Hiller Taylor White Jeffrey Ross Hayden Mayeur Caleb Hovey Cameron Mason Connor Howe Cooper Emin Danielle Dumouchel Jasmine Chase Jenna Merth Jeslyn Chantler Jill Yuen Mark Golden Matthew Laxton Max Halyk Oliver Scharf Pauline Sutherland Samara Thew Stan Van Reisen Joshua Hathaway Noemi Zurbuchen Olivia Scott Cassidy Peterson Staff Yves Hamelin Director, Olympic Oval Darlene Kastner Manager Administrative and Business Operations Suma Joshua Business Operations Coordinator Family Marcel Lacroix Associate Director High Performance Programs Eric Bedard Manager High Performance Programs Stacey Polet Oval Program Coordinator Ryan Rausch Oval Program Coordinator Arno Hoogveld Long Track Todd McClements Crispin Parkinson Oval Progam Coach Jeff Kitura Oval Progam Coach Justin Warsylewicz Oval Progam Coach Joffrey Larocque Alan Mcllveen Maggie (Mengyao) Qi Cristina Lazarescu Lisa Robertson Associate Director, Sponsorship & Competitions David Vink Marketing & Corporate Events Specialist Ryan Ohashi Communications & Community Relations Specialist Robyn WIlson Advisor, Sponsorship & Events Mark Messer Operations Manager Cameron MacLeod Operations Andy Yardy Oval Facilities Luke Janetski Facility Ops Building Operator Brad Kowal Justin Murphy Brandon Hogberg Troy Taylor Norm Lennon Gregg Planert High Performance Competitions Coordinator Maggie Dekking Development Competitions Coordinator Dawn Brown Competitions Support Specialist John Little Competitions Technical Systems Specialist Sylvie Tanguay Associate Director Guest & International Relations Ivonne Vargas Guest Relations Caroline Dubuc Guest Relations James Monson Skate Shop Coordinator Braeden Elliot Skate Shop Senior Technician Robert Porter Sport Activities Ian Turner Sport Activities Allison Bischler Front Desk Receptionist Congratulations go out to Cameron MacLeod and Mark Messer who celebrated an amazing work anniversary of 30 years at the Olympic Oval. MacLeod continues to be an integral part of the Fastest Ice in the World and Messer has been an important consultant for yet another Olympic games as the Oval and its staff help to bring world class ice to Korea in 2018.

6 Major Sponsor Oval Supporters Sport Partners fuel for gold Safe and fun for the whole family ISU World Cup Supporters Legacy Partners Thank You Photo credits: Arno Hoogveld, Bill Christ, David Vink, Ryan Ohashi, Sophia Robertson

7 The Olympic Oval University of Calgary 2500 University Dr. NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 CANADA (1) oval.ucalgary.ca

AB Speed Skating Happy New Year 2018 enews

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