Men’s Volleyball: Durham wins 2009 Fleming College Invitational Tournament

Peterborough, Ont. – The Durham College men’s volleyball team were crowned champions of the 2009 Fleming College Invitational Tournament as they defeated the Sheridan Bruins on Saturday in the championship finals.

En route to the tournament title, the Lords went 2-1 in round robin play picking up wins against Fleming and Sheridan, while dropping a close decision to Nipissing. The Lords would end up winning the pool, advancing to the semi-finals based on points as the tie-breaking rule. The Lords would then pick up back-to-back wins against La Cite and Sheridan to claim the tournament title.

The provincially fourth ranked Lords are on fire heading into the 2009 portion of the regular season as they have won six straight conference games and now adding the tournament title victory to their repertoire.

DC will now meet up with the Seneca Sting on Thursday, January 8 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre for an 8 p.m. match.

All teams in Ontario will have their sights set on Oshawa as the Lords are set to host the 2009 OCAA Provincial Championships from February 27-28.

Full Tournament Summary including scored to be sent out shortly.

TOURNAMENT SUMMARY

Round Robin
Durham defeated Fleming 2-0
Durham defeated Sheridan 2-1
Nipissing defeated Durham 2-1

Semi-Finals
Durham defeated La Cite

Finals
Durham defeated Sheridan

A QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS

Conference Record: 7-2
Overall Record: 13-5
*Tournament games do not reflect in the Lords overall record as they are the best of three sets.

Next Home Action:
Thursday, January 8 vs. Seneca (8 p.m.) – CRWC

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)

MONTREAL – Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, a freshman from Sherbrooke, Que., netted a hat-trick and added a pair of assists as No.1-ranked McGill trounced Toronto 9-0, Sunday, to capture the Theresa Humes women’s hockey tournament – for the third consecutive year – at Concordia University’s Ed Meagher arena.

The Martlets, who outscored their opponents 21-2 over the weekend, extended their win streak to 36 straight games against Canadian university opponents.

The victory over the nation’s No.8-ranked team improved McGill’s record to 9-0 against teams that been listed in the CIS Top 10 this season, outscoring those squads by a lopsided 62-12 margin.

Vanessa Davidson, a senior from Kirkland, Que., tallied twice and added a pair of helpers. She finished the three-game tourney with nine points, including five goals, and received the tournament’s most outstanding forward award.

Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., made 24 saves to register her 46th shutout in 98 career games. She turned aside 52 of 54 shots in three contests to earn the tourney’s top goaltending honours.

Also scoring for McGill, which outshot the Varsity Blues 42-24, was Dorval, Que., native Caroline Hill, plus Alessandra Lind-Kenny of Calgary, Alyssa Cecere of Brossard, Que., and defender Jasmine Sheehan of Mississauga.

The tournament was a bit of a coming-out party for McGill sophomore Cathy Chartrand, a native of Lac Nominingue, Que. The 5-foot-10 blueliner, a former member of the Canadian national team, was credited with four assists in the game and led all rearguards over the weekend with eight points, including three markers, but was overlooked in the voting for the tourney’s most outstanding defenceman. That honour went to U of T captain Lyndsey Ryan, who had a pair of assists, and appeared to have a somewhat sheepish look on her face when she skated out to receive her award at centre ice.

“It was disappointing to see Chartrand overlooked,” said McGill head coach Peter Smith, when asked how that could happen. “She was a dominant force from the first shift of the opening game to her final shift in the last game. We started out a little rusty as a team in Game 1 (of the tournament) but there was no rust on her.”

Chartrand, a physical education sophomore with a booming slapshot, was also strangely overlooked by the conference coaches in the all-star voting last year. She is easily among the elite blueliners in the country and is currently the fourth-leading scorer on the team with nine goals and 29 points in 21 games overall.

McGill resumes regular-season play on Jan. 10 when they travel to the nation’s capital to play Carleton.

MARTLET MURMURS: McGill is 18-0 against CIS teams and 21-2 overall, including a 3-2 record versus NCAA teams… Forward Ann-Sophie Bettez and defenceman Catherine Ward – both of whom earned CIS rookie of the year honours over the past two seasons -- were missing from McGill’s lineup over the weekend in order to play with the Canadian under-22 team currently at the MLP Nations Cup tournament in Ravensburg, Germany. Bettez scored once and added a helper in Canada’s 11-0 win over Russia on Sunday. She also set up Ward for a goal in Canada’s 3-0 win over Finland in the tourney opener last Friday. Ward also tallied in a pre-tourney exhibition win against Switzerland.


SCORING SUMMARY

Toronto 0 vs. McGill 9

(Jan 4, 2009 - Ed Meagher Arena @ Concordia)

FIRST PERIOD
Scoring -
1. McGill, Jasmine Sheehan (3) (J. Casavecchia, C. Chartrand) 2:31
2. McGill, Vanessa Davidson (24) (C. Chartrand, M.A. Leclerc-Auger) 16:01
3. McGill, Caroline Hill (6) (S. Tardif, A. Soberano) 16:54
4. McGill, Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger (24) (V. Wells, V. Davidson) 19:08

Penalties -
M.A. Leclerc-Auger Mcg (interference) 2:45

SECOND PERIOD
Scoring -
5. McGill, Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger (25) (C. Chartrand, J. Sheehan) 3:53
6. McGill, Alyssa Cecere (6) (J. Sheehan, C. Chartrand) 7:40 (PP)

Penalties -
A. Del Guidice Tor (hooking) 7:24,
L. Hill Tor (holding) 8:22,
M.A. Leclerc-Auger Mcg (tripping) 10:58,
S. Stephen Tor (tripping) 17:31,
L. Hill Tor (bodychecking) 18:14

THIRD PERIOD
Scoring -
7. McGill, Vanessa Davidson (25) (M.A. Leclerc-Auger, V. Wells) 0:41
8. McGill, Alessandra Lind-Kenny (7) (J. Peroff, R. Martindale) 1:50
9. McGill, Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger (26) (V. Wells, V. Davidson) 11:59 (PP)

Penalties -
S. Tardif Mcg (hooking) 2:59,
A. Cecere Mcg (interference) 5:48,
A. Del Guidice Tor (interference) 7:19,
A. Cornell Tor (interference) 10:36,
S. Rabinovich Mcg (hooking) 15:22,
V. Wells Mcg (roughing) 15:43,
A. Fawns Tor (bodychecking) 17:58

SHOTS BY PERIOD:
TOR: 10 9 5 -- 24
McG: 16 15 11 -- 42

GOALS BY PERIOD:
TOR: 0 0 0 -- 0
McG: 4 2 3 -- 9

POWER PLAY CONVERSION:
TOR: 0-6.
McG: 2-7.

PENALTIES (No./Mins.):
TOR: 7-14.
McG: 6-12.

GOALTENDERS:
Toronto
Kendyl Valenta [L, 2-1-0] Start, 20:00; SV: 12, GA: 4
Mima Markicevic, 40:00, SV: 21, GA: 5
McGill
Charline Labonté [W, 16-2-0], 60:00, SV: 24, GA: 0, SHO

Start : 4:15 PM
End : 6:05 PM
Attendance : 200
Referee: Stephanie Normand

THREE STARS:
---------------------
1. MCG- 22 Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger
2. MCG - 8 Cathy Chartrand
3. MCG - 25 Vanessa Davidson

McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
-----------------------------------------
F: Ann-Sophie Bettez (with national U22 team)
D: Catherine Ward (with national U22 team)
G: Kalie Townsend
G: Gabrielle Smith (dressed but DNP)

SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
McGill University Dept. of Athletics
475 Pine Ave. W.,
Montreal, Que. H2W 1S4
(514) 398-7012 (phone)
(514) 398-1956 (fax)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
www.athletics.mcgill.ca

Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury.

The Senegalese strained ligaments in his right knee while attempting to make a challenge in Pompey's Barclays Premier League defeat at Arsenal on December 28.

And after visiting a consultant, head physio Gary Sadler confirmed that the former Fulham enforcer will be out for a minimum of 12 weeks, with damage to Diop's posterior cruciate ligament a particular worry.

"We'll be taking him back to see the consultant in six weeks and then we'll know a little bit more about it then," Sadler told his club's official website, www.portsmouthfc.co.uk.

"He's in a brace and he's having treatment trying to get some of the swelling down on his knee."

There is better news elsewhere, though, with England right-back Glen Johnson continuing his rehabilitation from a bruised knee and twisted ankle to put himself in line for a potential return against Manchester City at the weekend.

Johnson returned to training alongside ankle injury victim Younes Kaboul last week, and with winger John Utaka also back, manager Tony Adams could have an extra trio of players to call upon for the Fratton Park clash.

More cheer for Adams came with the news that midfielder Richard Hughes, who also came off against Arsenal with a slight strain in his knee, had suffered "nothing serious", according to Sadler, and could be back in a fortnight.

Second-choice goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown is currently on crutches with a ruptured ligament in his ankle and is unlikely to return for eight weeks.

The Pompey walking wounded is completed by fringe winger Jerome Thomas who has been receiving injections for a troublesome back problem which will take at least six weeks to heal.

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Diop - injured. PAPA OUT FOR THREE MONTHS
Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury. The Senegalese strained ligaments in his right knee while attempting to make a challenge in Pompey’s Barclays Premier League defeat at Arsenal on December 28. And after visiting a consultant, head physio Gary Sadler confirmed that the former Fulham enforcer will be out for a minimum of 12 weeks, with damage to Diop’s posterior cruciate ligament a particular worry. “We’ll be taking him back to see the consultant in six weeks and then we’ll know a little bit more about it then,” Sadler told his club’s official website, www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. (Read the full post about ‘PAPA OUT FOR THREE MONTHS’…)

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Former chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth has predicted Kevin Pietersen will win his power struggle with coach Peter Moores - and believes the England captain must be central to all major decisions within the team.

Pietersen and Moores have reportedly been at loggerheads ever since the England selectors decided to overlook Michael Vaughan for the forthcoming Test series with the West Indies.

Pietersen replaced Vaughan as captain last summer, and it is believed that the South-Africa born batsman wanted his predecessor on the tour of the Caribbean to help him.

Vaughan's omission led to reports that Pietersen had issued an ultimatum to the England and Wales Cricket Board, demanding they sack Moores or risk losing him as captain.

Illingworth, chairman of selectors between 1994 and 1997, believes it is imperative that Pietersen is the main decision-maker in the squad.

"The captain should have the main say; he has to be the main person," the former England captain told Sky Sports.

"If he doesn't have the main say then he doesn't have the backing of the players when he gets on to the field, and it's very important that he has the backing of the other 10 players."

Illingworth cites the difference in style between the pair as the likely reason why they fell out, and predicts that Moores will have to leave his post in the near future.

"The coach and the captain have to be on the same wavelength," he said.

"Moores is more of a stats man with a clipboard and pen, and Pietersen is more of a flair man with his own instincts - so it's a clash of personalities.

"(The ECB) have to make a decision, because if they are not getting on then it won't work. Someone needs to make a decision as to which one goes - and so I suppose really, if they are backing the captain, then the coach will get the sack."

Mick Newell, director of cricket at Pietersen's former county Nottinghamshire, admits the player may lack respect for Moores.

Pietersen's spell at Trent Bridge ended in acrimony in 2004, but Newell believes his appointment as England captain was a good one.

Newell told BBC Radio 5Live: "It was the right thing to make him captain. But I think the people around him had to adapt and work with his style of captaincy rather than the previous captain, Michael Vaughan.

"Kevin is a lot more determined, single-minded and knows that he wants to be in charge. You really have to work with that if you want to get the best out of that relationship.

"There is a certain type of person that Kevin would respect as a coach. You either need to have a lot of international experience, or you're looking for a former great cricketer.

"The captain-coach relationship in cricket is quite a lot more important than in most other team sports. I think you've got a whole respect issue going on."

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Fernando Alonso's agent has denied reports that the Formula One star was involved in a minor plane accident on Sunday.

There had been suggestions the two-time world champion was flying back from a holiday in Kenya with his wife when the light aircraft he was travelling in brushed a building on take-off, damaging a wing.

But the agent for the Renault driver insisted it was not as serious as reported.

"It seems that the plane took a blow while they were parking it," said Luis Garcia Abad. "Fernando wasn't even inside the aircraft.

"We didn't give it the slightest importance and because of that this commotion surprises us. It doesn't even qualify as an accident."

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Alonso - not in plane. ALONSO NOT IN PLANE ACCIDENT - AGENT
Fernando Alonso’s agent has denied reports that the Formula One star was involved in a minor plane accident on Sunday. There had been suggestions the two-time world champion was flying back from a holiday in Kenya with his wife when the light aircraft he was travelling in brushed a building on take-off, damaging a wing. But the agent for the Renault driver insisted it was not as serious as reported. “It seems that the plane took a blow while they were parking it,” said Luis Garcia Abad. “Fernando wasn’t even inside the aircraft. “We didn’t give it the slightest importance and because of that this commotion surprises us. (Read the full post about ‘ALONSO NOT IN PLANE ACCIDENT - AGENT’…)

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ZAGREB, CRO (January 3, 2009) – The first ladies’ slalom of the 2009 calendar year saw Germany’s Maria Riesch take her third victory of the season in the discipline. Clocking a two-run cumulative time of one minute 58.96 seconds, Riesch convincingly edged runner up Nicole Gius of Italy by 0.44s and third-place finisher Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic by 0.63s.
Clocking the fastest time of the first run, the USA’s Lindsey Vonn failed to complete the second course, allowing Riesch to take home her second consecutive slalom win.

Of the 76 racers taking part in this sole event held on Croatian snow, 24 skiers failed to complete the first run including Canada’s Anna Goodman (Mont-Tremblant, QC) and Brigitte Acton (Mont-Tremblant, QC). Both narrowly missed completing the first course but faced challenges on the 63rd gate of the 68-gate course.

Wearing bib number 27, Goodman was aiming to repeat her career best 19-place result achieved on the same slope just about a year ago. Since the start of the 2008-2009 season, Goodman has achieved four top 24 results and accumulated a career best 35 World Cup points in slalom. With two slalom races remaining prior to the World Championships to be held in Val d’Isère, France from February 3 to 15, Goodman sits in 25th place in the slalom World Cup standings.

With bib number 41, Brigitte Acton had her sights on building momentum from her second career best 19th place result achieved in slalom less than a week ago in Semmering, AUT. With a total of 16 World Cup points so far this season, Acton sits in 35th place in the slalom standings.

Following today’s event, Vonn remains at the top of the overall World Cup standings with 1648 points, edging Riesch by 221 points. Canada’s Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC) and Emily Brydon (Fernie, B.C.) are the top two Canucks sitting in 12th and 13th position with 551 and 544 points respectively.

The ladies White Circus now moves to Maribor, SLO for a series of technical events including a giant slalom on Saturday followed by a slalom the next day.

ZAGREB, CRO – JAN. 4, 2009 – SLALOM - LADIES
1 3 RIESCH Maria 1984 GER 58.60 1:00.36 1:58.96
2 20 GIUS Nicole 1980 ITA 1:00.15 59.25 1:59.40
3 7 ZAHROBSKA Sarka 1985 CZE 59.79 59.80 1:59.59
4 10 PAERSON Anja 1981 SWE 1:00.85 59.35 2:00.20
5 16 ZETTEL Kathrin 1986 AUT 1:01.02 59.21 2:00.23
6 23 HANSDOTTER Frida 1985 SWE 1:00.74 59.56 2:00.30
7 5 POUTIAINEN Tanja 1980 FIN 1:00.11 1:00.42 2:00.53
8 13 GINI Sandra 1982 SUI 1:00.69 1:00.10 2:00.79
9 9 MOELGG Manuela 1983 ITA 1:01.05 59.75 2:00.80
10 32 RIESCH Susanne 1987 GER 1:01.51 59.54 2:01.05

***
DNF 1st Run
27 GOODMAN Anna CAN
41 ACTON Brigitte CAN

COMPLETE RESULTS

-- with files from activ8 communications (www.activ8communications.com).

ABOUT ALPINE CANADA ALPIN
Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) is the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada with more than 50,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteer members and over 200,000 supporting members. ACA manages the high performance programs for the athletes of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team who represent Canada throughout the world. For more information on Alpine Canada Alpin, visit www.canski.org.

“Relentlessly Pursuing Excellence”

- 30 -

INFORMATION:
Kyle Marr
Director of PR & Media Communications /
Directeur, RP et médias communication
Alpine Canada Alpin
Tel: (403) 777-3204
TELUS: (403) 860-0665
kmarr@canski.org
www.canski.org

CANMORE, Alta.—Dave Nighbor and Madeleine Williams turned up the heat on a chilly afternoon at the Canmore Nordic Centre, winning the men’s and women’s individual start races at the Haywood NorAm Race Series on Sunday.

With a conservative game plan heading to the start line of one of the most difficult courses in the country, the 24-year-old Nighbor posted the fastest opening split time and held down the throttle to the finish line in the men’s 15-kilometre skate race where he stopped the clock at 36 minutes 01.0 seconds.

“It was a pretty good day and I skied very consistent which you have to do out here,” said Nighbor, who is the top-ranked man in the country on the Haywood NorAm Series, North America’s premier development race series. “You have to be cautious out here because the hills are so steep and long.”

With the ultimate goal of qualifying for Canada’s World Championship Team this week, Nighbor has been a mainstay on the podium this year on the Haywood NorAm circuit.

“This is a big week for sure and there is always pressure on everyone for tomorrow’s (World Championship) qualifier race,” said Nighbor. “I was a little nervous today to find out where my shape is. I’m looking forward to tomorrow which is the one that really matters.”

Nighbor was joined on the podium by Graham Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, Yukon, who posted the second fastest time of the day in the men’s race at 36:31.0. Len Valjas, of Thunder Bay, Ont , who skis on Team Hardwood, finished third (36:35.1).

The top-ranked woman on the NorAm circuit also lived up to her billing in the women’s 10-kilometre individual start skate-ski race on Sunday. Edmonton’s Madeleine Williams carried her top form into the most important week on the NorAm calendar, shattering the field with a winning time of 30:52.0.

“It was a good solid effort for sure,” said the 25-year-old Williams, who will be suiting up for Canada at the World Cup at Whistler Olympic Park in mid-January. “It is really big to get this experience on the top course in the country to help prepare for the World Cup.”

Williams admitted the cold weather, which plagued the Canmore Nordic Centre for the second straight day, forced athletes to ski a little more conservatively, but made for good, hard-packed snow.

Williams led an Alberta sweep of the women’s podium. Amanda Ammar, of Onoway, Alta., finished second at 31:21.1, while Rhonda Jewett, of Canmore, Alta., was third (31:37.6).

The Canmore stop of the Haywood NorAm Series, which is also serving as selection trials for Canada’s World Championship teams, continues on Monday with the men’s and women’s pursuit races.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 51,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities, including those on Canada’s National Ski Teams and Para-Nordic Ski Teams. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

Complete Results: www.zone4.ca
Top-Five Men’s Results:
1.Dave Nighbor, North Bay, Ont., 36:01.0; 2. Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse, Yukon, 36:31.0; 3. Len Valjas, Thunder Bay, Ont., 36:35.1; 4. Brendan Green, Calgary, 36:44.0; 5. Frederic Touchette, St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., 36:55.5.

Top-Five Women’s Results:
1. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton, 30:52.0; 2. Amanda Ammar, Onoway, Alta., 31:21.1; 3. Rhonda Jewett, Canmore, Alta., 31:37.6; 4. Sara Hewitt, Calgary, 32:14.9; 5. Aimee Watson, Australia, 32:30.9.

*****

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Media and Public Relations
T: 281-703-4394

VAL DI FIEMME, Ita.—Canada’s Ivan Babikov saved his best for last, winning the gold medal at the seventh and final stage of the nine-day Tour de Ski – an 11-kilometre pursuit race in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Sunday.

In one of the most difficult races on a cross-country skiers schedule that ends with a 425-metre climb to the finish line at the top of Alpe Cermis, Babikov fought off the world’s best skiers and sickness that has disrupted the momentum of the Canadian team to win his first ever World Cup race. Babikov clocked a winning time of 33 minutes 51.2 seconds.

“I am so thrilled and totally couldn’t believe it when I was standing on top of the podium,” said Babikov following the awards ceremony, who added he nearly didn’t’ even race today because of an illness rolling through the team. “Our entire men’s team has been sick and yesterday was so hard for us, but I have been looking forward to this uphill climb all year and told myself to pass as many skiers as I could today.”

The victory puts Babikov in some prestigious company. The only other Canadian male to win a World Cup cross-country ski race is Pierre Harvey who made three trips to the top step of the podium. Babikov’s previous best finish was a fourth-place result at the Alberta World Cup in Canmore, Alta. in 2005.

“A World Cup win is something you dream of,” said Babikov, who is a gritty, tough skier that specializes in long distances and challenging climbs. “Our team has been so strong throughout this tour and I am just so happy to be a part of a great team. I have been waiting for this final day and glad it happened.”

Babikov’s new team extends far beyond the sport of cross-country skiing. The 28-year-old Babikov received his Canadian citizenship nearly one year ago after emigrating to Canmore from Syktyvkar, Russia. Babikov, who now resides in Canmore, Alta. with his wife Svetlana and two-year-old son Sergei, raced for Russia at the 2006 Olympics and is competing in his first full season with the Canucks.

The victory marks the second podium appearance by the Canadian men during the seven-race Tour de Ski that was contested in three countries over the last two weeks. Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., won a bronze medal in the men’s 15-kilometre classic race at the second stage of the Tour in Oberhof, Germany. Battling illness which nearly forced him to the sidelines, the 29-year-old Kershaw sucked up the pain to finish 22nd on Sunday with a time of 35:11.8, putting him 21st overall.

“I’m done and to finish is a big step forward for me,” said Kershaw who failed to complete his first two trips to the Tour de Ski, and was in seventh spot overall heading into the final weekend. “It is obviously disappointing to get sick and that put me back in the standings, but I had some great results and collected a bunch of World Cup points so it was important for me to finish. Ivan was the man today and I’m very happy for him.”

Sara Renner was the lone Canadian to start and finish the enduring trek against the top women cross-country skiers in the world. One of the most consistent athletes on the circuit, the Canmore, Alta. native finished 15th overall after a 22nd-place finish (37:37.6) in the women’s nine-kilometre pursuit on Sunday.

Norway’s Therese Johaug won the final women’s stage after clocking a winning time of 35:07.7. Johaug’s teammate, Kristin Stoermer Steira, was second at 35:16.4, while Valentina Shevchenko, of the Ukraine, was third (35:52.0).

Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen were crowned the king and queen of cross-country skiing after finishing first in the overall men’s and women’s Tour de Ski respectively.

The Canadian team will now head home and prepare for a World Cup race at Whistler Olympic Park, January 16-18, 2009

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 51,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities, including those on Canada’s National Ski Teams and Para-Nordic Ski Teams. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

Complete Tour Standings: www.tour-de-ski.com

STAGE SEVEN RESULTS:

TOP-5 MEN AND CANADIAN RESULTS:
1.Ivan Babikov, Canmore, Alta., CAN, 33:51.2; 2. Tom Reichelt, GER, 33;52.7; 3. Giorgio Di Centa, ITA, 33:54.4; 4. Matti Heikkinen, FIN, 34:03.2; 5. Lukas Bauer, CZE, 34:06.4.
Canadian Results:
22. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont.

TOP-5 WOMEN AND CANADIAN RESULTS:
1. Therese Johaug, NOR, 35:07.7; 2. Kristin Stoermer Steira, NOR, 35:16.4; 3. Valentina Shevchenko, UKR, 35:52.0; 4. Justyna Kowalczyk, POL, 35:54.8; 5. Evgenia Medvedeva, RUS, 36:02.3
Canadian Results:
22. Sara Renner, Canmore, Alta., 37:37.6.

*****

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Media and Public Relations
Cross Country Canada
T: 281-703-4394

ST. JOHANN, AUT. (January 4, 2009)- On a technically demanding track further complicated by water injection, The Canadian Ski Cross Team was able to overcome adverse conditions and qualify 4 athletes for tomorrows race in St. Johann, Austria.

Brady Leman (Calgary, AB), one of the newest members of the team, was the fastest member of the men’s team to qualify for tomorrow race, securing 9th position on the day. Followed by veterans Stanley Hayer (Calgary, AB) in 12th spot and Chris DelBosco (Sudbury, ONT.) in 13th.

Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, BC) was the lone woman from the Canadian Team to qualify, battling from a start of position of 45th, Kelsey managed to secure 10th spot.

“This was a first for me, I’ve never seen a Ski Cross track that’s water injected,” said Eric Archer, head coach of the team, “ These conditions are really tough, if your not training on this type of snow regularly it is almost impossible to gather the skills needed in two days of training, it was bulletproof out there. The Canadian athletes that qualified were able to pull it together really well.”

The race will begin tomorrow 9:45am MT with final starting at 11am MT.

MEN’S RESULTS
9TH – BRADY LEMAN (CALGARY, AB.)
12TH - STANLEY HAYER (CALGARY, AB.)
13th - CHRIS DELBOSCO (SUDBURY, ONT.)

DNQ - DAVEY BARR (WHISTLER, BC.)
DNQ - CAMRON CULBERT (NORTH BAY, ONT.)
DNS - DAVE DUNCAN (GOLDEN, BC.)

WOMEN’S RESULTS
10TH – KELSEY SERWA (KELOWNA, BC.)

DNQ – ANIK DEMERS-WILD (LAC BEAUPORT, QB.)
DNQ – JULIA MURRAY (WHISTLER, BC.)
DNQ – ASHLEIGH MCIVOR (WHISTLER, BC)
DNQ – DANIE POLESCHUK (CALGARY, AB)
DNQ – ALEISHA CLINE (SQAMISH, BC.)

Andrew Squires
Canadian Ski Cross Team
Director of Marketing and Supplier Services
Ph- (403) 397 9943
Email – asquires@ski-cross.ca
Web – www.ski-cross.ca

KÖNIGSSEE, Ger.—Canada’s Jeff Christie finished 12th on one of the toughest tracks on the World Cup luge circuit in Königssee, Germany on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Calgarian, who is ready to be a mainstay with the elite athletes in the world, continues to search for two consistent runs in order to put his name on the World Cup podium for the first time of his career.

Fast and highly-technical, Christie had a strong opening run on the Königssee track which is recognized as the Kitzbuhel venue of luge, but made a costly mistake in his second trip down the track.

“This track is a man track. I am satisfied, but made a couple of key mistakes that cost me,” said Christie, who clocked a two-run time of one minute 35.627 seconds. “The best thing is I know what my mistakes are and know what I need to do to correct them. I have been there in the top-six before and I can consistently be there.”

Christie’s World Cup mates and fellow Calgarians, Sam Edney and Ian Cockerline, also suited up for the first time after the 10-day holiday break. Edney finished 20th at 1:35.901, while Cockerline was 24th (1:36.453).

Italy’s Armin Zöggeler continued his dominance of the World Cup circuit. Zöggeler clocked a winning time of 1:34.458. Germany’s David Möller was second at 1:34.818, while Germany’s Felix Loch rounded out the men’s singles podium in third (1:35.003).

The Canadian Luge Team now head to Cesana, Italy for a World Cup race January 10-11, 2009.

The Canadian Luge Association is the governing body for luge racing in Canada. The Canadian Luge Association operates the Olympic Luge Training Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, which develops our nation’s high-performance luge athletes and promotes the sport across the country. For more information on the Canadian Luge Association, please visit us at www.luge.ca on the Internet.

COMPLETE RESULTS: www.fil-luge.org
Men’s Top-Five Results:
1. Armin Zöggeler, ITA, 1:34.458; 2. David Möller, GER, 1:34.818; 3. Felix Loch, GER, 1:35.003; 4. Daniel Pfister, AUT, 1:35.005; 5. Jan Eichorn, GER, 1:35.048.
Canadian Results:
12. Jeff Christie, Calgary, 1:35.627; 20. Sam Edney, Calgary, 1:35.901; 24. Ian Cockerline, Calgary, 1:36.453.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Media and Public Relations
Canadian Luge Association
T: 281-703-4394