Gangwon 2024: Team Canada at the end of Day 8
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA (January 27, 2024) – Day 8 of competition at Gangwon 2024 saw the start of the mixed doubles curling, figure skating and hockey events, as well as continued freestyle skiing and snowboard. A jam-packed day for Team Canada, 16 athletes, as well as the hockey team, were in action in five sports.
CURLING
Cailey Locke (Conception Bay South, N.L.) and Simon Perry (Portugal Cove, N.L.) kicked off Team Canada’s mixed doubles curling tournament with a decisive win over hosts South Korea. Playing in the morning draw in front of energetic Korean fans, the Canadians led the entire game, winning 9-5 and finishing after seven ends.
“Oh it was amazing, the ice and the venue were just so beautiful, I couldn’t ask for anything better. We hope to do Canada proud and try to enjoy wearing the maple leaf as much as we can.”
– Cailey Locke
For Locke and Perry, playing mixed doubles in the same venue that Canadian Olympians Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris made history in by being the first-ever Olympic champions in mixed doubles, made it even more special.
“It’s amazing – I remember watching that game, I was sitting in my grade six classroom and just eating it up, it was so much fun. They played so well and it just really made me want to come play here one day.”
– Simon Perry
FIGURE SKATING
The men’s and pairs short programs were contested today at the Gangneung Ice Arena, the same venue that Canadian figure skaters had incredible success at during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
David Li (Richmond, B.C.) sits in 11th place after the short program after falling on his combination jump and triple lutz. A natural performer, Li ranked seventh in program components, and loved skating for such a large and enthusiastic crowd – by far the largest of his skating career thus far. The 16-year-old was a past recipient of the Canadian Olympic Foundation’s Toller Cranston Award.
Pair skaters Annika Behnke (Peace River, Alta.) and Kole Sauve (Edmonton, Alta.) had a solid skate in front of the largest crowd they’ve ever performed for as well. Although they took a fall on the throw element, they were the only pair team to attempt a throw triple loop, with the rest of the teams attempting the much easier throw double loop. Behnke and Sauve are sitting in first place after the short program.
“I loved that there were so many people here so we could show off what we can do. It’s been so fun to meet all the different teams and interact with them.”
– Kole Sauve
“It was incredible, loved the atmosphere! It was so positive and everybody just loves skating here, so nothing could go wrong!”
– Annika Behnke
FREESTYLE SKIING
Charlie Beatty (Horseshoe Valley, Ont.), Gabi Dinn (Kamloops, B.C.) and Ella Garrod (Vernon, B.C.) were back in action today in the ski big air qualification events at Welli Hilli Park Ski Resort. Dinn and Garrod finished in 11th and 13th, just missing the top-10 cut-off to make the final. Beatty ranked fourth after his two runs, and will compete in the final tomorrow. Matthew Lepine (Ottawa, Ont.) was injured during yesterday’s training and did not compete today.
The events at Jeongseon High 1 Ski Resort, wrapped up with the women’s and men’s dual moguls. Citrine Boychuk (Sherwood Park, Alta.) finished fifth overall, while Flavie Lamontagne (Quebec, Que.) finished ninth. Bradley Koehler (Quebec, Que.) and Jeremy Sauvageau (Montreal, Que.) both finished their days in the heats, and ended up tied for fifth.
HOCKEY
Team Canada’s men’s hockey team began their tournament against hosts South Korea in front of a packed crowd at Gangneung Hockey Centre, winning 8-0. Shortly before the start of the game, Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, Alta./Northern Alberta, CSSHL-U18) was named as Captain, with Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./RHA Kelowna, CSSHL-U18) and Braidy Wassilyn (Puslinch, Ont./Markham, GTHL-U16) named assistant captains.
The first goal of the game and first of Team Canada’s tournament was scored by Mathis Preston (Penticton, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL-U18), while Liam Ruck (Osoyoos, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL-U18), whose twin brother Markus (Osoyoos, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL-U18) logged three assists, scored a hat-trick. Alessandro Di Iorio (Vaughan, Ont./Vaughan, GTHL-U16), Tynan Lawrence (Fredericton, N.B./Shattuck-St. Mary’s, USHS), Aiden O’Donnell (Cole Harbour, N.S./Dartmouth, NSU18MHL) and Adam Valentini (Toronto, Ont./Toronto Marlboros, GTHL-U16) scored the other goals.
“It was unbelievable, the crowd was pretty second-to-none – I’ve never seen anything like that. It was awesome, seeing all the fans there. It’s a huge honour to put the leaf on the jersey and to represent your country.”
– Mathis Preston
“It was incredible, playing with guys like I was, it just makes my job easier and I’m just super excited to get that first win. My twin brother, he just makes my job way easier out there, and to share this experience with him, it’s something we’ve always dreamed of and just to be here – we’re so grateful.”
– Liam Ruck
SNOWBOARD
Amalia ‘Billy’ Pelchat (Whistler, B.C.) and Avery Spalding (Havelock, Ont.) wrapped up their competition at the Youth Olympic Games today, competing in the women’s snowboard big air qualification event, finishing in 16th and 17th. In the men’s snowboard big air, Neko Reimer (Rossland, B.C.) placed 12th and missed qualifying for the final by two spots, while Eli Bouchard (Lac-Beauport, Que.) who won a silver medal in the men’s snowboard slopestyle, was the top qualifier. Finishing with a score of 96.00, more than five points ahead of second place, he will compete in the men’s snowboard big air final tomorrow, hoping to upgrade his slopestyle silver to a big air gold.
“Slopestyle and big air, I love them both. Big air is, I would say, easier, because there are less tricks to think about. But yeah, I like both of them. I’m trying to get a gold to Canada (laughs).”
– Eli Bouchard
For full Team Canada results from Day 8, click here.
SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS – JANUARY 28 (Day 9) / JANUARY 29 (Day 10)
*The “Potential / Comp. possible” column represents a potential phase of competition should a competitor advance. Rows in red are medal events.
TEAM CANADA MEDAL COUNT:
Gold – 0 | Silver – 2 | Bronze – 0
HOW TO WATCH:
As the official Gangwon 2024 broadcaster in Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada will provide coverage of the Games on cbcsports.ca, radio-canada.ca/sports and the CBC Sports app.
The Olympic Channel also has coverage of Gangwon 2024, live-streamed on their free app.
RESOURCES:
PHOTOS: Submit a request to Tara (tmacbournie@olympic.ca) for editorial photos from images.olympic.ca. Additional photos for editorial use only are available to media at oisphotos.com
VISIT: Olympic.ca/press-resources/ for athlete bios and other Gangwon 2024 information.
FOLLOW: @teamcanadapr on Twitter (X)
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Tara MacBournie, Team Canada’s Gangwon 2024 Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
WhatsApp: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca