January 26, 2011 (Ottawa, ON) – A delegation of 102 student-athletes and 39 officials will represent Canada at the 2011 Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, from January 27 to February 6. The opening ceremonies of the 25th Winter World University Games are set for 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. Eastern) on Thursday.

The two Canadian hockey teams will be in action on opening day, both at 4 p.m. local. The women begin the defence of their Universiade title against Finland while the men – silver medallists in 2009 – kick off the tournament against Slovenia.

“Our group of athletes is going to be competitive,” said Canadian chef de mission, Beth Ali. “We’ve seen success over the years in curling, hockey and speed skating and we hope to see similar results here in Turkey.”

“The athletes’ village is beautiful with the ski jumping venue visible from most residences including our own,” added University of Toronto’s Director of Intercollegiate and High Performance Sport, who arrived in Erzurum on Saturday. “The staff and volunteers have been great and we look forward to what promises to be an outstanding Games.”

In addition to hockey, Canada will be competing in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, curling, short track speed skating and snowboarding over the next two weeks.

At the last Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, in 2009, Canada tallied six medals including one gold (women’s hockey), four silver (men’s hockey, women’s curling, short track men’s 1000m, short track men’s 5000m relay) and one bronze (short track women’s 3000m relay).

Canada’s best showing at the Winter Universiade came in 1985 when Canadian student-athletes returned from Belluno, Italy, with 18 medals including five gold. An exceptional short track speed skating team featuring numerous Olympic medallists such as Susan Auch, Maryse Perreault, Louis Grenier and Michel Daignault accounted for 17 of those podiums and all five first-place finishes.

Canada also hit double digits in 2003 in Tarvisio, Italy, amassing 10 medals including two gold, five silver and three bronze.

The first Winter Universiade were held in 1960 in Chamonix, France. Canada claimed its first medal in 1968 at the fifth biennial Games in Innsbruck, Austria, when the men’s hockey team skated to a third-place finish. The first Canadian gold medal came four years later in Lake Placid, NY, when alpine skier Lisa Richardson won the downhill race.

Websites and Links
– Team Canada website HERE.
– Team Canada schedule by sport HERE.
– Team Canada schedule by day HERE.
– Official Universiade website HERE.

Following is a complete list of student-athletes and officials representing Canada in Erzurum (listed by sport).

TEAM CANADA STUDENT-ATHLETES

Alpine Skiing
– Maëlle Bergeron Cegep F.-X.-Garneau Quebec City, Que.
– Kendall Brown Westminster College Toronto, Ont.
– Catherine Morel Cegep F.-X.-Garneau Quebec City, Que.
– Rebecca Nadler Harvard University Ottawa, Ont.
– Nicole Poleschuk University of Nevada Reno Winnipeg, Man.
– Marie-France Tessier University of Montreal Montreal, Que.
– Philippe Crête Belzile Laval University Cap-Rouge, Que.
– Olivier Lacaille University of Montreal Montreal, Que.
– Braden Long Dartmouth College Clarksburg, Ont.
– Simon Mannella Laval University Montreal, Que.
– Louis Morin Laval University Montreal, Que.
– Philippe Rivet Champlain College Greenfield Park, Que.

Biathlon
– Lauren Brookes University of Alberta (Augustana) Halifax, N.S.
– Elizabeth Mawdsley University of Alberta (Augustana) Fort Smith, N.W.T.
– Jennifer Paterson University of Alberta (Augustana) St. Albert, Alta.
– Kathryn Stone University of Alberta (Augustana) Camrose, Alta.
– Johnathon Forward University of Alberta (Augustana) Corner Brook, Nfld.
– Jaime Robb University of British Columbia Hay River, N.W.T.
– Jon Skinstad University of Alberta (Augustana) Camrose, Alta.
– Kai Skinstad University of Alberta (Augustana) Camrose, Alta.

Cross Country Skiing
– Adele Lay Carleton University Eden Mills, Ont.
– Alexia Pichard-Jolicoeur Laval University St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que.
– Zoe Roy University of Utah Bracebridge, Ont.
– Mary Thompson Laurentian University Woodstock, Ont.
– Maja Zimmermann University of Alberta (Augustana) Edmonton, Alta.
– Colin Abbott Carleton University Whitehorse, Yukon
– Benjamin Hébert Laval University Montreal, Que.
– Jesse Heckrodt University of British Columbia Enderby, B.C.
– Anthony Killick University of Calgary Fort McMurray, Alta.
– Vincent Ruel Laval University Charny, Que.

Curling
– Brooklyn Lemon University of Regina Maryfield, Sask.
– Chelsey Peterson University of Regina Estevan, Sask.
– Ashley Green University of Regina Yellowknife, N.W.T.
– Nicole Lang University of Regina Regina, Sask.
– Sarah Watamanuk University of Regina Crane Valley, Sask.
– Jonathan Beuk Queen’s University Kingston, Ont.
– Andrew Inouye Queen’s University Ottawa, Ont.
– Chadd Vandermade Queen’s University Ottawa, Ont.
– Scott Chadwick Queen’s University Marysville, Ont.
– William Francis Queen’s University Toronto, Ont.

Hockey (men)
– Scott Aarssen Western Ontario University London, Ont.
– Kevin Baker Western Ontario University Georgetown, Ont.
– Ryan Berard Carleton University Niagara Falls, Ont.
– Matt Caria Lakehead University Sault St. Marie, Ont.
– Francis Charland U of Quebec at Trois-Rivières Victoriaville, Que.
– Marc-André Dorion McGill University St-Hubert, Que.
– Yashar Farmanara Western Ontario University West Vancouver, B.C.
– Anthony Grieco Western Ontario University Brampton, Ont.
– Dominic Jalbert University of Ottawa Hull, Que.
– Geoff Killing Western Ontario University Embro, Ont.
– Thomas Kiriakou University of Guelph Richmond Hill, Ont.
– Maxime Langelier-Parent McGill University Montreal, Que.
– Brandon MacLean Carleton University Burlington, Ont.
– Matthieu Methot University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ont.
– Tim Priamo University of Guelph Guelph, Ont.
– Chris Ray University of Waterloo Kelowna, B.C.
– Jean-Michel Rizk Wilfrid Laurier University Durham, Que.
– Jordan Smith Lakehead University Sault St. Marie, Ont.
– Kyle Sonnenburg University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ont.
– Keaton Turkiewicz Western Ontario University Brantford, Ont.
– Evan Vossen McGill University Swift Current, Sask.
– Jim Watt University of Windsor Edmonton, Alta.

Hockey (women)
– Ann-Sophie Bettez McGill University Sept-Iles, Que.
– Andrea Boras University of Alberta Calgary, Alta.
– Beth Clause Brock University Hamilton, Ont.
– Kim Deschênes University of Montreal Saint-Quentin, N.B.
– Jenna Downey StFX University Stratford, Ont.
– Suzanne Fenerty StFX University Cole Harbour, N.S.
– Breanne George University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Sask.
– Carly Hill McGill University Dorval, Que.
– Andrea Ironside Wilfrid Laurier University Collingwood, Ont.
– Liz Knox Wilfrid Laurier University Stouffville, Ont.
– Erin Lally Concordia University Calgary, Alta.
– Jocelyn Leblanc Dalhousie University Moncton, N.B.
– Alicia Martin Wilfrid Laurier University Etobicoke, Ont.
– Addie Miles University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Man.
– Mariève Provost University of Moncton Laval, Que.
– Ellie Seedhouse Western Ontario University Whitby, Ont.
– Jacalyn Sollis University of Guelph West Vancouver, B.C.
– Candice Styles Wilfrid Laurier University Orangeville, Ont.
– Courtney Unruh York University Fort St. John, B.C.
– Kelsey Webster York University Duncan, B.C.
– Jessica Zerafa University of Guelph Mississauga, Ont.

Short Track Speed Skating
– Gabrielle Waddell University of Calgary Red Deer, Alta.
– Andrea Do-Duc Concordia University Montreal, Que.
– Sabrina Bourgela Maisonneuve College Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que.
– Valérie Lambert U of Quebec at Montreal Montreal, Que.
– Kristy Shoebridge University of Calgary Calgary, Alta.
– Gabriel Chiasson-Poirier U of Quebec at Montreal Sherbrooke, Que.
– Allyn Gagnon U of Quebec at Montreal Montreal, Que.
– Pier-Olivier Gagnon Cegep Rosemont Quebec City, Que.
– Liam McFarlane University of Calgary Calgary, Alta.
– Vincent Cournoyer Cegep Édouard-Montpetit Boucherville, Que.

Snowboarding
– Anne-Frédérique Grenier Laval University Beaupré, Que.
– Justine Côté Laval University Petite-Rivière-St-François, Que.
– Antoine Laurin-Lalonde École de technologie supérieure Montreal, Que.
– Dylan Riley University of Calgary Calgary, Alta.
– Frédéric Laurin-Lalonde University of Montreal Montreal, Que.
– Mackenzie Carter Carleton University Maryhill, Ont.
– Pierce Smith Humber College Caledon, Ont.
– Rob Ritchie University of Calgary Calgary, Alta.
– Taylor Ronsky University of Calgary Calgary, Alta.

TEAM CANADA PERSONNEL AND COACHES

Mission Staff
– Chef de Mission: Beth Ali (University of Toronto)
– Assistant Chef: Mary MacDonald (CIS)
– Communications Manager: Ari Grossman (Wilfrid Laurier University)
– Operations Manager: Elizabeth Kiraly (CIS)
– Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Devin Nielsen
– Chief Therapist: Andrea Prieur (University of Toronto)
– Physician: Dr. Taryn Taylor (Carleton University)
– Therapist: Jacques Lavergne (Laval University)
– Therapist: Vicky Wiltshire (Queen’s University)

Alpine Skiing
– Head Coach / Team Leader: Vincent Lavoie (Laval University / Quebec City, Que.)
– Coach: David Côté (McGill University / St-Hubert, Que.)

Biathlon
– Team Leader: Joan Skinstad (University of Alberta – Augustana / Camrose, Alta.)
– Coach: Hans Skinstad (University of Alberta – Augustana / Camrose, Alta.)

Cross Country Skiing
– Team Leader: Mary Waddell (Wahnapitae, Ont.)
– Head Coach: Mark Tierney (Corner Brook, Nfld.)
– Coach: Sara Nielsen (University of Alaska Anchorage / Whitehorse, Yukon)
– Coach: Kirk Potter (Whitehorse, Yukon)

Curling
– Team Leader: Wendy Morgan (Burlington, Ont.)
– Coach (women): Travis Brown (Loreburn, Sask.)
– Coach (men): Richard Henderson (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
– Team official (women): Alison Fisher (Regina, Sask.)

Hockey (men)
– General Manager: Brian Bourque (University of Waterloo)
– Head Coach: Clarke Singer (Western Ontario University)
– Assistant Coach: Kevin Figsby (Concordia University)
– Assistant Coach: Shawn Camp (University of Guelph)
– Equipment Manager: Bob McLeod (Western Ontario University)
– Therapist: Gunner Obrascos (University of Guelph)
– Video Coordinator: Cam O’Donnell (Western Ontario University)

Hockey (women)
– Head coach: Les Lawton (Concordia University)
– Assistant coach: Stacey Colarossi (York University)
– Assistant coach: Mandi Duhamel (Carleton University)
– Therapist: Marcel Charland (University of Toronto)
– Doctor: Patti Galvin (University of Guelph)

Short Track Speed Skating
– Team leader: Jennifer Cottin (Montreal, Que.)
– Coach: Paul Hunter (Calgary, Alta.)
– Coach: Jon Cavar (Calgary, Alta.)
– Coach: Jeff Scholten (Mascouche, Que.)

Snowboarding
– Team Leader: Nadia M’Seffar (Vancouver, B.C.)
– Coach: Patrick Gaudet (Montcalm, Que.)