February 21, 2014
Thunderwolves aim to defend titles as Nipissing hosts OUA Nordic skiing championships
HAMILTON, Ont. – After one of the coldest winters in recent years, the Nordic ski teams across the OUA are clamouring to hit the trails this weekend at the 2014 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Nordic skiing championships, hosted by the Nipissing Lakers.
The Lakehead Thunderwolves will be in North Bay to defend their men’s and women’s titles from a year ago, in the three-day event that kicks off Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend.
The Lakehead men have claimed the last two OUA banners and are primed to repeat this year. The team is led by fifth-year veteran Harry Seaton. Seaton’s list of accomplishments is impressive. He was the men’s overall champion at the 2011-12 OUA championships, is a two-time OUA all-star, and represented Canada at the Winter Universiade in Italy in December. Joining Seaton on the Thunderwolves push for a championship will be a trio of previous OUA all-stars; Victor Hopper, Leif Lennie and Nick Monette.
For the past nine years the Thunderwolves women have been OUA Nordic skiing champions, and this year’s team is looking to cap off a decade of dominance. The team will be without three-time overall champion Andrea Lee, who was lost to graduation, but features previous OUA all-stars Alannah MacLean, and Moira and Daphne Haggarty. MacLean and Daphne Haggarty are coming of first and third place finishes respectively in the Open division at an Ontario Cup event on February 13.
Both the Carleton men and women were runners up a year ago. On the men’s side, the Ravens boast an experienced group of racers who are looking to return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2011. The Raven men will be led by Leeland Hawkings and Peter Beisel. Both former OUA all-stars, the duo also wore the maple leaf and represented Canada at the Winter Universiade in December.
Kendra Murray will be leading the charge for the Carleton women. Murray is a two-time OUA all-star and also competed at the Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy. Most recently Murray paired with Liza Rozina to claim the gold in the Free Sprint Relay at the University Invitational in Huntsville in late January.
The Nipissing Lakers will have the home course advantage this weekend and will hope to push the other teams and find themselves in contention for a banner. On the women’s side, Kajsa Heyes will be key to the success of the Lakers. At the University Invitational in Huntsville, Heyes teamed with Shelby Dickey to claim silver. Heyes also finished ninth in the sprint and 13th in the middle distance event at the Eastern Canadian Championships in early February.
Jordan Cascagnette is a medal hopeful for the Nipissing men. Competing in his first OUA championships, Cascagnette enters the event after claiming top 16 finishes in the sprint and long distance events at the Eastern Canadian Championships in Ottawa. The Lakers will also hope for a strong result from Matt Chalmers and Kevin Durkee. The pair joined forces to win a bronze medal in the Free Sprint Relay at the University Invitationals.
Rounding out the competition will be teams from Guelph, Laurentian, Queen’s, Toronto, Waterloo, and first time competitors Algoma.
The 2013-14 OUA Nordic skiing championships will kick off Friday, February 21 at 2 p.m. with the Classic Interval Start event on the Nipissing Campus trails. Competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday in downtown North Bay and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday from the North Bay Nordic Ski Club course. Medals will be handed out each day following the races, and the team banners will be awarded following competition on Sunday.
Stay tuned to OUA.ca for event results and recaps.
The Lakehead Thunderwolves will be in North Bay to defend their men’s and women’s titles from a year ago, in the three-day event that kicks off Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend.
The Lakehead men have claimed the last two OUA banners and are primed to repeat this year. The team is led by fifth-year veteran Harry Seaton. Seaton’s list of accomplishments is impressive. He was the men’s overall champion at the 2011-12 OUA championships, is a two-time OUA all-star, and represented Canada at the Winter Universiade in Italy in December. Joining Seaton on the Thunderwolves push for a championship will be a trio of previous OUA all-stars; Victor Hopper, Leif Lennie and Nick Monette.
For the past nine years the Thunderwolves women have been OUA Nordic skiing champions, and this year’s team is looking to cap off a decade of dominance. The team will be without three-time overall champion Andrea Lee, who was lost to graduation, but features previous OUA all-stars Alannah MacLean, and Moira and Daphne Haggarty. MacLean and Daphne Haggarty are coming of first and third place finishes respectively in the Open division at an Ontario Cup event on February 13.
Both the Carleton men and women were runners up a year ago. On the men’s side, the Ravens boast an experienced group of racers who are looking to return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2011. The Raven men will be led by Leeland Hawkings and Peter Beisel. Both former OUA all-stars, the duo also wore the maple leaf and represented Canada at the Winter Universiade in December.
Kendra Murray will be leading the charge for the Carleton women. Murray is a two-time OUA all-star and also competed at the Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy. Most recently Murray paired with Liza Rozina to claim the gold in the Free Sprint Relay at the University Invitational in Huntsville in late January.
The Nipissing Lakers will have the home course advantage this weekend and will hope to push the other teams and find themselves in contention for a banner. On the women’s side, Kajsa Heyes will be key to the success of the Lakers. At the University Invitational in Huntsville, Heyes teamed with Shelby Dickey to claim silver. Heyes also finished ninth in the sprint and 13th in the middle distance event at the Eastern Canadian Championships in early February.
Jordan Cascagnette is a medal hopeful for the Nipissing men. Competing in his first OUA championships, Cascagnette enters the event after claiming top 16 finishes in the sprint and long distance events at the Eastern Canadian Championships in Ottawa. The Lakers will also hope for a strong result from Matt Chalmers and Kevin Durkee. The pair joined forces to win a bronze medal in the Free Sprint Relay at the University Invitationals.
Rounding out the competition will be teams from Guelph, Laurentian, Queen’s, Toronto, Waterloo, and first time competitors Algoma.
The 2013-14 OUA Nordic skiing championships will kick off Friday, February 21 at 2 p.m. with the Classic Interval Start event on the Nipissing Campus trails. Competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday in downtown North Bay and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday from the North Bay Nordic Ski Club course. Medals will be handed out each day following the races, and the team banners will be awarded following competition on Sunday.
Stay tuned to OUA.ca for event results and recaps.
