Banner Season: Thunderwolves, Ravens aim to maintain lofty skiing status amidst growing championship field
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. – Two schools have secured sizzling success in the snow over the years, as the Lakehead Thunderwolves and Carleton Ravens have long broken away from the pack. Both teams will have their sights set on repeat triumphs in their latest banner season endeavors, taking place at the Hiawatha Highlands this weekend, but in a field that continues to grow and with competition that is steadily improving, the feat will be as tough as ever. And with three days of racing determining who takes home the crowns at the 2020 OUA Nordic Skiing Championships, experienced and incoming skiers alike will need to put their fastest foot forward this weekend.
2020 OUA Nordic Skiing Championships Fan Guide
Two major reasons that the Carleton Ravens have been able to maintain such lofty success on the banner season stage are Zoë Williams and Aidan Kirkham, and the decorated duo are back to spearhead the black birds’ quest for gold. The former has been crowned an individual champion for two straight years, and now competing in her fifth OUA championship, the Cantley, Que. native has her sights set on the three-peat. Similarly, Kirkham, who hails from Kanata, Ont., will be vying for a third consecutive individual title; a feat that would go a long way in helping the Ravens take that one step up the podium this time around and dethrone the powerhouse Thunderwolves.
Like Carleton, the perennial powers from Lakehead will contend with a capable crew at their disposal, even though just one of their five all-stars from a year ago is competing. Despite the new-look group, there is still plenty to look forward to for the multi-time champions, including aforementioned all-star Conor McGovern (Winnipeg, Man.); fellow veteran Levi Warkentine (Winkler, Man.), who has long been a leader for the group and has put together another solid season on the snow; and new recruit Andy Shields. The Kitchener, Ont. native, who is a former World Cup skier and 2018 overall NorAm champion, showcased his elite skill by finishing on the podium in all three races at last month’s Ontario Cup in Thunder Bay, which was highlighted by a first-place finish in the 15km final race.
A trio of all-stars will suit up for the Thunderwolves on the women’s side, headlined by the always impressive Alannah Maclean (Sudbury, Ont.). The gifted veteran, who took home three medals a year ago at the OUA championships, is certainly no stranger to the big stage, having represented Canada and Lakehead on the World Cup circuit. Last year’s Canadian Open champion in the women’s 30km is a big reason why the Thunderwolves will once again be in a battle for the banner with the reigning champion Ravens and the rest of the talent-laden rosters.
Among those rosters contending for top spot is that of the Nipissing Lakers, and after claiming the final positions on the overall podium a year ago and building on their budding foundation this season, they will once again set their sights on a title. “The strength of the team has been building all year through the incredible team culture and the huge gains they’ve made in their training,” said assistant coach Jordan Cascagnette. “We’re looking forward to a great championship in the Sault.”
Someone who can help make these championships truly great for the Lakers is Alex Maycock, who is coming into the 2020 edition strong. After a very successful start to the calendar year, the junior from Orangeville, Ont. is poised to battle for the top spot on the podium. The 2019 FISU Team Canada member has been part of a slow and steady rise up the OUA rankings for the Nipissing men’s team, and alongside the third-year skier, the Lakers boast the strength and depth in their roster to bring home their first OUA banner.
While the veteran will lead on the men’s side, the women’s team enters with a younger contingent looking to get a taste for OUA competition. And despite a shrinking roster throughout the season, the veterans that are returning, including third-year all-star Emily Drake (Stratford, Ont.), are looking for some personal best performances. Last year’s fourth-place finisher at the championships, Drake has steadily improved as the season has progressed and hopes to parlay her impressive start to 2020 into another competitive performance against the province’s top skiers.
Youth will also be the name of the game for the Laurentian Voyageurs, who will bring their 17 total banners to the snow with a slew of fresh faces. Of the team’s 15 skiers, only three have OUA experience under their belts, with one of them being Matteo Reich. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. native, now in his fourth year, will bring leadership and pedigree to the table in his hometown. Having taken home some hardware at the Ontario Cup in North Bay – a silver and two bronze – Reich will be a lynchpin to the team’s aspirations of climbing the standings.
Among those joining the university ranks this year, meanwhile, are the trio of Jayde Hurley (Whitefish, Ont.), Elizabeth Drake (Stratford, Ont.), and Hannah Cutler (McDougall, Ont.). The collection of first-year skiers have been consistently fast all winter and will eye a similarly speedy result as they conclude their debut campaigns.
Bringing a larger contingent than in the past, including one team member from Russia, the Toronto Varsity Blues are looking forward to another year of competition on the championship stage. Just making the move from Moscow, Arina Sitnikova will be one to watch for the Blues as she approaches her debut banner season event. Sitnikova is in the first year of her Masters degree and the team is excited to welcome her to the Canadian skiing scene. Also competing for Toronto as a graduate student in his first championship outing is Rui Xu. The Dundas, Ont. native is no stranger to university competition, as he competes for the Blues rowing team, and even though much of his time has been spent on the water, he has proven to be a natural in his transition to the snow.
While several individual participants are entering the skiing ranks this season, the McMaster Marauders as a whole are diving into this year’s competition and are excited to tackle their first OUA championships. “I’m so excited for OUA championships and for all the athletes to feel proud being a McMaster Marauder on snow and skinny skis,” said coach and student-athlete Soren Meeuwisse. “We have seen so many athlete accomplishments in everything from technique to fitness and from nutrition to mentality.”
Even though the maroon machine is new to the university ranks and has an overall goal of gaining experience at the event, their women’s squad still boasts some major potential to surprise some schools this weekend. The group has experience racing, as well as performing at the provincial and national levels, and will use that track record to make the most of their trip up north.
Milla Tarnopolsky (Collingwood, Ont.) is one such Marauder looking to make a splash. In addition to her leadership, positivity, and creativity – having designed the team’s race suits and jackets – she is also a top competitor on the trails. She was a standout at the OFSAA Nordic Skiing Championships throughout high school, was on Team Ontario, and competes at an international level for Nordic skiing orienteering; all of which should come in handy against the OUA’s best and brightest.
The men’s side may not boast the type of experience that Tarnopolsky does – with last month’s North Bay Ontario Cup race serving as the first ski race ever for many of Mac’s athletes – but they do boast the desire to learn. Case in point is the team’s adventure soul, Erik Reimers. The senior from Maple Ridge, B.C. checks the endurance box in spades, having hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and setting his sights on other long adventures, but as the season has progressed, he has better incorporated the speed component as well.
A team that is familiar with McMaster’s position this year is the Ottawa Gee-Gees, who entered the university ranks a year ago, and it is a feeling that head coach Sheila Kealey remains elated about. “We’re excited that the Ontario university skiing scene and the OUA field is getting larger, stronger, and providing more opportunities for Nordic skiers to compete after high school.”
Even with a year under their belts, the Garnet and Grey will still feature several skiers taking advantage of these growing opportunities and making their foray into championship weekend. Among those hitting the snow for their first banner season is Shilo Rousseau. The Thessalon, Ont. native, not too far from Hiawatha Highlands, has excelled in biathlon as a member of the Junior National Team and is having an amazing cross-country season. Within her many outstanding results was her finish at the recent Eastern Canadian Championships, checking in as the top U20 female in the pursuit.
Rousseau, along with another three first-timers and three returnees, will see plenty of support from their fellow Gee-Gees, including Zoe Pekos (Richmond Hill, Ont.), who had a few twists and turns along her path to this weekend’s event. The first-year biology student qualified to represent Canada at the World U23 Nordic Ski Championships, which initially meant she could not compete this weekend. An unfortunate injury to her shoulder forced her to give up her spot on the national team, but since she can’t compete or go to Worlds, she is back with her team support them at the conference finale.
Hosting all of the aforementioned teams, along with the Guelph Gryphons, Queen’s Gaels, and Waterloo Warriors, at the Hiawatha Highlands are the Algoma Thunderbirds. The Sault Ste. Marie squad is not only looking forward to their own championship experience, therefore, but according to Connor Psiuk and Ian Sinclair, also “welcoming the very best varsity skiers in Ontario”.
The two coaches went on to praise the training that their Algoma skiers, Nick Korkunski (Toronto, Ont.) and Rebekah Gwynn (Hamilton, Ont.), have put in ahead of this weekend’s events. While the former will be unable to participate in this year’s finale due to injury, he remains determined to compete next year. The latter, however, is looking forward to racing on home snow and she is poised to take her skiing to the next level at the upcoming championships. The second-year skier has gained valuable experience while racing across Ontario and Michigan, which she hopes will serve her well as she wraps up the year.
Gwynn and the rest of the eager group of participants will see the championships’ three days of racing commence on Friday, February 21 with women’s and men’s Mass Start Freestyle (Open, 10km), followed by the Interval Start Classic (Open, 12km) on Saturday, and the 3x5km Relay Classic wrapping things up on Sunday.
