Annual Review - Olympic Oval - University of Calgary

Annual
2005/2006
Review

Table Of Contents
2-3 Facility
4 History
5 Events
6-7 Cycling
8-9 Calgary Oval X-Treme Hockey
10-11 Short Track
12-13 Long Track
14-15 Olympic Oval High Performance Athletes
16-17 Research & Development
18 Communications
19 Staff
20 Supporters
Front cover photos by Arno Hoogveld.
Cindy Klassen at the medal ceremony, Justin Warsylewicz strikes paydirt,
the Men’s Pursuit Team on the podium and a Cindy Klassen-Clara Hughes special moment.

Message
from the Director
It’s been a record breaking year at the Olympic Oval with 15 athletes, including Canada’s most decorated Olympian, Cindy
Klassen, reaching the podium at the 2006 Olympics and coming home with medals around their necks.
In 2004 we revised our vision statement to focus even more on helping athletes succeed and coined the phrase, “On Target
for Torino”, setting our sights on top level performances at the XX Olympic Winter Games. This past season, we realized what
we set out to do. Now our focus shifts again, with the same dedication to bringing such performances home to Canada in
2010 and building on the spectacular medal count set in Torino.
Olympic Oval long track speed skaters had a stellar season with Cindy Klassen winning an unprecedented five Olympic
medals, one for each event she competed in. In Torino she won gold in the 1,500 metres, silver in the 1,000 metres and two
bronze in the 5,000 and 3,000 metres. She joined teammates Clara Hughes, Kristina Groves, Shannon Rempel and Christine
Nesbitt in winning silver in the team pursuit event.
The men also made it on to the Olympic podium in the team pursuit, with Jason Parker, Justin Warsylewicz, Denny Morrison,
Steven Elm and Arne Dankers earning silver for Canada. Speed queens Kristina Groves and Clara Hughes won individual
medals too, with Kristina winning silver in the 1,500 metres and Clara finishing the Games off with a gold-medal performance
in the 5,000 metres. The Olympic Oval also contributed to the training program of American Shani Davis, who won a silver and
gold medal in long track.
In short track, Alanna Kraus added a silver Olympic team relay medal to her bronze from the 2002 Olympics. She earned the
medal with her teammates who train in Montreal, Que.
The Olympic Oval women’s hockey team, the Calgary Oval X-Treme, contributed four players, Hayley Wickenheiser, Cassie
Campbell, Danielle Goyette and Colleen Sostorics, and two alumna, Jennifer Botterill and Carla MacLeod, to Canada’s goldmedal
winning team.
All together, Canadian Olympic Oval athletes brought home ten Olympic medals in three sports; women’s hockey, short track
and long track speed skating.
Capping off this amazing season, the Olympic Oval hosted the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships and
celebrated two Olympic Oval athletes crowned as champions of the event – Cindy and Shani.
In cycling Tanya Dubnicoff, Olympic Oval Cycling Head Coach, was named the first-ever national coach for BMX, which will
debut at the upcoming Summer Olympics. Many Olympic Oval cyclists, including Samantha Cools, are well positioned as
medal contenders for the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.
The Calgary community was welcomed to the Olympic Oval this past season as well.
Our building was open for public skating and running and Calgarians were invited to
our free community events such as the FedEx Kinko’s Christmas Skate and Papa John’s
Family Fun Day. At these events and the Oval’s weekly Share in the Community Spirit
public skating sessions, Calgary families donated more than 9,724 tones of food to the
Calgary Food Bank and helped raise $2,500 for Olympic Oval athletes.
Congratulations to all of our successful athletes and thank you to Olympic Oval staff,
our partners, and our sponsors for making this an amazing year for the Olympic Oval.
Mark Greenwald
Director, Olympic Oval
on behalf of the Olympic Oval Executive Management Team 1

Facility
The Olympic Oval is a world class facility
for training, competing and public
events. Our building offers athletes
of many disciplines and all skill levels
amazing facilities for training and competition
and for the community to enjoy
skating, running and watching a variety
of public events.
Features:
400m oval ice surface, 13 metres wide
and approximately ¼ of a mile in
circumference.
Two international sized ice surfaces
(30m X 60m)
* North rink is used by the short track
speed skating program
* South rink is used by the Oval
X-Treme female hockey program
450m, two-lane running track
110m, eight-lane sprint track
Long jump pit
Pole vault box
High performance weight room for elite
athletes
Air duct system which helps to control
airflow and building temperatures
Boardroom and front lounge for staff
meetings, press conferences, athlete
study area and group gatherings
Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame
and Olympic Oval Tradition of
Excellence displays on the third floor
foyer
Seating for 2,500 in permanent and
moveable bleachers
Equipment
Centurian ST-2000 safety mat system,
which greatly reduces the chance
and severity of injury, is outfitted on
the north short track rink
Two ice resurfacing machines,
Zambonis (1 x 700 and 1 x 520 Class)
65’ boom and 32’ scissor lift to access
the light and air fixtures
Forklift for moving equipment and
setting up for events and competitions
Seating for approximately 700
spectators in moveable bleachers
Ice Makers
Not only can we boast a world class
building, but the Olympic Oval is also
home to the world’s best ice makers.
Mark Messer, the Olympic Oval
facility specialist, was requested to
supervise the ice making at the Oval
Lingotto for the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Torino, Italy. He has also overseen
the making of speed skating ice at the
2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and
other previous Olympic Games.
Kameron Kiland, the Olympic Oval
Operations Manager, spent time in
Torino during the Olympics with the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee
as a consultant for the buildings and
overlay that will be built for their Winter
Games in Richmond, B.C. Both
Mark and Kameron are working with
Cameron Design in the design, building
and commission of the Richmond
Speed Skating Oval.
2

Maintaining the Olympic Oval ice, a surface where world records are consistently broken, is
no easy feat. Factors such as humidity, air temperature, air circulation, as well as the
number of spectators all make a difference, and need to be carefully monitored and
controlled. Olympic Oval icemakers are continually looking for ways to make sure that the
Olympic Oval continues to hold the title of “Fastest Ice in the World”. They have helped the
world’s best speed skaters set 109 World Records on our ice and this season helped add 23
more (19 senior and 4 junior world records).
World Records
Small Allround Men 146.365 Erben Wennemars NED 13 Aug. ‘05
1500 M Ladies 1.53,77 Cindy Klassen CAN 28 Oct. ‘05
3000 M Men 3.37,28 Eskil Ervik NOR 5 Nov. ‘05
3000 M Men Junior 3.43,66 Håvard Bøkko NOR 5 Nov. ‘05
3000 M Ladies 3.55,75 Cindy Klassen CAN 12 Nov. ‘05
3000 M Jr. Ladies 4.03,35 Martina Sáblíková CZE 12 Nov. ‘05
Team Pursuit Men 3.39.69 Denny Morrison, Steven Elm, Arne Dankers CAN 12 Nov. ‘05
Team Pursuit Ladies 2:56,04 GER 13 Nov. ‘05
5000 M Men 6.09,68 Chad Hedrick USA 13 Nov. ‘05
1500 M Ladies 1.53,22 Anni Friesinger GER 6 Nov. ‘05
5000 M Jr. Men 6.18,93 Håvard Bøkko NOR 13 Nov. ‘05
Allround Ladies 157.177 Cindy Klassen CAN 22 Jan. ‘06
Allround Men 148.799 Chad Hedrick USA 22 Jan. ‘06
1500 M Men 1.42,68 Shani Davis USA 19 Mar. ‘06
10000 M Men 12.51,60 Sven Kramer NED 19 Mar. ‘06
Allround Men 145.742 Shani Davis USA 19 Mar. ‘06
3000 M Ladies 3.53,34 Cindy Klassen CAN 18 Mar. ‘06
Allround Ladies 154.580 Cindy Klassen CAN 19 Mar. ‘06
3000 M Jr. Men 3.43,20 Håvard Bøkko NOR 21 Mar. ‘06
3000 M Jr. Ladies 4.00,63 Martina Sáblíková CZE 22 Mar. ‘06
Sprint Ladies 149.305 Cindy Klassen CAN 24-25 Mar. ‘06
1000 M Ladies 1.13,46 Cindy Klassen CAN 24 Mar. ‘06
1000 M Ladies 1.13,11 Cindy Klassen CAN 25 Mar. ‘06
Cindy Klassen Shines!
Cindy Klassen became Canada’s most
decorated Olympian this year, winning
five Olympic medals, setting 8 world
records, taking home ten World Cup
medals and claiming the World Allround
Championship title.
The 26-year-old Olympic Oval long track
speed skater from Winnipeg, started the
2005-2006 season with three world
records and three first place World Cup
finishes. When she got to the 2006
Winter Olympics she competed in five
events, skating a race every third day.
She won a medal in every event including
gold in the 1,500 metres.
Instead of slowing down after the
Olympics, Cindy went on to win two
more World Cup medals and the World
Allround Championship title and beat her
own world record twice!
The Olympic Oval in 1987. Photo by M. Buschert
3

History
A history of champions . . . In December
1987, the world’s best speed skaters
stepped onto the Olympic Oval ice for
the very first time. It was the first
competition in the only covered, indoor
oval in North America. After getting a
feel for the Calgary ice, most of the
skaters competing in that World Cup,
returned a few months later for the main
event, the XV Winter Olympics.
Here on our ice, they helped make
the 1988 Calgary Games the most
successful winter Olympics ever and
established the new building as home to
the world’s fastest ice, setting the most
world records ever in a single
competition.
This proud tradition of fast ice was
launched thanks to the Olympic Oval’s
ice makers, combined with Calgary’s
altitude, barometric pressure and
unique Chinook weather conditions.
All factors have worked together for
almost 20 years to create the fastest ice
conditions for the world’s best speed
skaters, allowing them to skate 125
world records and set more than 40,000
personal best times since 1988. This
remarkable institution of fast ice and
world-class competitions has been
partnered with an amazing tradition of
elite, Olympic-medal-winning athlete
training programs.
When the building was completed in
1987 the Olympic Oval’s High
Performance Sport Program in long
track speed skating was established
followed by short track in 1992, cycling
in 1995 and women’s hockey in 1996.
These programs have yielded over 50
Olympians with 33 of these athletes
winning Olympic medals.
Thanks to legacy funds from the 1988
Games and the Calgary Olympic
Development Association (CODA),
these programs have grown and
established the Olympic Oval as a world
class training centre, attracting coaches
and athletes from across the country
and around the world.
The Olympic Oval has also been part of
the University of Calgary and the larger
city community since it was built in
1987. For the last 19 years the Olympic
Oval has been hosting skating parties
and community events and inviting the
public to more than 50 such events
this year, including the FedEx Kinko’s
Family Christmas skating party and the
Papa John’s Family Fun Day. Over the
ice-out period the Olympic Oval is home
to the Cassie Campbell Street Hockey
Festival, Calgary’s Child Fun Fair and
other events.
The 1988 Winter Olympics opened on Feb. 13,
1988. Photo from Canadian Press.
As well, University of Calgary Dino
athletes have been training at the
Olympic Oval since the building opened,
using our high performance weight
room, 450 metre two-lane running track,
110 m, eight-lane sprint track, long jump
pit and pole vault box. As well, all
university students have enjoyed free
access to public skating and running.
The Olympic Oval’s mission is to work
with our partners to help Canadian
athletes reach the Olympic podium.
Through the Olympic Oval’s history,
we’ve seen 33 athletes return to our
building with Olympic medals, we have
contributed to the health and well being
of city residents, University of Calgary
students and varsity athletes and to
the amazing successes of Canada’s
best athletes. The Olympic Oval is very
proud of its history of champions.
7 World Records were set at
1988 Winter Olympics:
Gaetan Boucher: One of Canada’s most decorated Winter Olympians with four Olympic
medals, skated his final race at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Although he finished 9th
in the 1,500 metres, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Photo Canadian Press
Uwe-Jens Mey, GDR
– Men’s 500 metres in 36.35
Andre Hoffmann, GDR
– Men’s 1,500 metres in 1.52.06
Tomas Gustafson, SWE
– Men’s 10,000 metres in 13.48.20
Bonnie Blair, USA
– Ladies 500 metres in 39.10
Christa Rothenburger, GDR
– Ladies 1,000 metres in 1.17.65
Yvonne van Gennip, NED
– Ladies 3,000 metres in 4.11.94
Yvonne van Gennip, NED
– Ladies 5,000 metres in 7.14.13
4

Events
The Olympic Oval hosted more than 50
events over the 2005-2006 season for
the Calgary community. We did this with
the help of more than 200 volunteers
and Olympic Oval staff and in collaboration
with many partner organizations
and sponsors.
Public Events
Skating Parties
FedEx Kinko’s Christmas Skating
Party, December 22, 2005
More than 2,500 Calgarians came out
to skate on the Olympic Oval ice with
Ollie, the Olympic Oval mascot, and
Santa. Families donated over 1,500
pounds of food to the Calgary Food
Bank and enjoyed some holiday cheer.
Papa John’s Family Fun Day
Monday, February 22, 2006
Over 4,500 people came out to watch
Canada’s women’s hockey team win
gold at the 2006 Olympics on our bigscreen
TVs, have a pizza lunch, enjoy
skating on our fast ice and help raise
money for the Calgary Dream Centre,
the Olympic Oval’s short track and
cycling programs and donate more than
3,500 pounds of food to the Calgary
Food Bank.
Calgary Oval X-Treme Hockey Games
* The Olympic Oval hosted 7 home
games and welcomed 2,500 spectators
to cheer on the Calgary Oval X-Treme.
* Team Sweden, the 2006 Olympic
silver medalists, faced-off against the
Oval X-Treme in December 2005 in an
exhibition game. Girls Hockey Calgary
supported the event with more than 250
fans coming out to watch.
* The fourth annual Champions’ Cup
took place at Max Bell Arena with the
Oval X-Treme taking on The Calgary
Flames Alumni in front of 1,200 fans.
More than $10,000 was raised in support
of the Goal On Sight charity and
the Olympic Oval High Performance
Female Hockey Program.
ISU Speed Skating Events
November 12 & 13, 2005
the Olympic Oval hosted
the Essent ISU World Cup.
The building was full of spectators,
cheering on the world’s best speed
skaters as they started the pre-Olympic
season.
March 18 & 19, 2006 the Olympic
Oval sold out the ISU World Allround
Speed Skating Championships. The
packed crowd was rewarded for their
support as they saw Canada’s most
decorated Olympian, Cindy Klassen,
set the world record in the 3,000 metres
and win the World Allround title.
Free Speed Skating Competitions
The Olympic Oval opened its doors to
all spectators to watch 12 speed skating
competitions, three short track and nine
long track events. During the last event
of the season, the ING Olympic Oval
Finale, presented by Conematic Heating
Systems, the stands were full of
speed skating fans as they watched
Cindy Klassen set another two world
records before finishing her most
impressive season ever.
Ice Out Events
* SML Pool Tournament
* Calgary’s Child Fun Fair
* Cassie Campbell Street
Hockey Festival
* Driven to Perform Car Show
* Alberta Volleyball Associations’
Canadian Open Midget
Volleyball Tournament
Public Skating
The Olympic Oval offered 368 public
skating sessions. Monday evening
‘Share in the Community Spirit’ skating
sessions generated 4,304 pounds of
food for the Calgary Food Bank.
Public Running
The Olympic Oval offered 438 public
running sessions.
Olympic Oval Summer Camps
The Olympic Oval offered five, week
long skating camps in July and August
2005.
Summer Speed Camp: 260
participants from ages 5 to 65 years old
Absolute Speed Camp: 50
participants from ages 8 to 18 years old
Female Hockey School: 90
participants from ages 8 to 18 years old
Tryout Conditioning Camp: 30
participants from ages 8 to 18 years old
Top Blade Power Skating Camp: 60
participants from ages 8 to 18 years old
More than 4,500 Calgarians came out the Olympic Oval on Monday, Feb. 22 to celebrate Family Day at
the Papa John’s Family Fun Day.
5

Cycling
Coaches Message
2005 was a great year for the Olympic
Oval High Performance Cycling
Program. We have seen a changing of
the guard with three of Canada’s top
track athletes going on to compete on
the World stage - at the 2006
Commonwealth Games and the 2006
Track World Championships in Bordeaux,
France. Zach Bell, Cam
McKinnon and Travis Smith started as
development athletes in our cycling
program and are now knocking on the
door of the world’s best.
The athletes replacing them are the new
youth of the sport. Athletes aged 14 -17
make up the second larges group of
athletes in our National Cycling Centre
program. This Learn to Train group
focuses on all cycling abilities, having
fun and doing well in competition, with
races in every cycling discipline, road,
track, mountain biking and BMX.
A major success for the National
Cycling Centre at the Olympic Oval was
in June 2005 when we hosted the 2005
Tim Horton’s Canadian Track Nationals
at the Glenmore Velodrome. A record
number of participants turned out, with
110 athletes registered from all over
Canada. The event was a great
success with almost three-quarters of
the medals going to Olympic Oval
cyclists and the Olympic Oval was
named the CCA Track Event Organizer
of the Year.
We are now looking towards 2008 when
our athletes, veteran and developing,
will head to the Summer Olympics
in Beijing, China. In BMX, which will
debut at the Games, the Olympic Oval
Cycling Program is well positioned to
do well with the first-ever National BMX
Coach based here at the Olympic Oval
and Samantha Cools poised to do well.
Tanya Dubnicoff
Head Coach, Olympic Oval High
Performance Cycling Program
and National Cycling Centre, Calgary
Philip Abbot competes in the 2005 Track Nationals at the Glenmore Velodrome, hosted by the Olympic Oval. Photo by Arno Hoogveld.
6

Coaches
Tanya Dubnicoff
- Head Coach National Cycling Centre,
Calgary, Olympic Oval High
Performance Cycling Program
- Head Coach National BMX program
- Head Coach Elite Sprint
and Endurance Program
Stephen Burke
Head Coach National
Paralympic Program
Jayson Gillespie
Provincial Coach Junior Elite
and Club Racer Program
Adam Bailey
Junior Development Coach
Preston Smith
Junior Development Club Racer Coach
Stu McMillan
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Training Camps
The Olympic Oval High Performance
Cycling Program is home to the
National Cycling Centre in Calgary,
where five cycling disciplines – track,
road, mountain bike, BMX and paralympic
– are pursued at an elite level. The
program features five training programs
with 128 cyclists. The BMX Cycling
program has eight athletes with 12 in
the Olympic Oval High Performance
Program training in track cycling, eight
in Junior Elite Cycling, 16 Junior
Development athletes, 78 Club Racer
and six Paralympic cyclists.
Highlights
Olympic Oval cyclist Aaron Lepp competes at the UCI BMX World Championships
in France in July, 2005. Photo credit Barney Brown.
High Performance Cycling Program
Track
Canadian Track Nationals – Glenmore
Velodrome, Calgary, Alta. Canada
Eric Smith picked up five medals,
including gold in the Junior Men’s Kilo.
Monique Sullivan set a record in the
500 metre Junior Time Trials.
Zach Bell, Philip Abbot, Mark
MacDonald, Bob Veroba and Laura
Brown all medalled.
Eric Smith placed 25th at the Junior
World Championships breaking a
Canadian record in the 3,000 metres
individual pursuit.
BMX
Samantha Cools, Pat Lebell and Aaron
Lepp competed in the BMX World
Championships in Paris, France.
In April 2006, Samantha Cools won
Bronze at the UCI European
Championships in La Chappelle St.
Mesmin, France.
National Cycling Centre Calgary Head
Coach Tanya Dubnicoff was named
Canada’s first-ever National BMX
Coach.
Winter Cross Training Camp
Kananaskis, AB Nov 25-27, 05
Winter Road Camp
Victoria, BC Dec 26-Jan 8, 2006
10th Annual Penticton Road Camp
Penticton, BC March 24-April 2, 2006
Junior Track Camp
Houston USA April 13-15, 2006
Competitions
UCI BMX World Championships
Paris, FRA July 29 -31, 2005
Ardrossan Stage Race
Edmonton, AB May 7-8, 2005
Canadian Road Championships
Kamloops, AB June 27- July 2, 2005
Canadian Track Championships
Calgary, AB June – July 2, 2005
2006 Commonwealth Games
Melbourne, AUS March 15 – 16, 2006
World Track Championships
Bordeaux, France March 13-16, 2006
7

Calgary Oval X-Treme
Coaches Message
The Calgary Oval X-Treme started the
2005 -2006 season with 16 young
rookies to compensate for the loss
of seven veteran players to the 2006
Olympic Team. Even though this was a
development year, our very young team
was focused on winning and our 21
players did an amazing job.
There were four major competitions this
season, the first being an international
pre-Olympic series against Team
Sweden, where the X-Treme were
successful in beating the future 2006
Olympic silver medal team 2-1. We also
faced off against Canada’s 2006
Olympic gold medallists, losing 4-1.
In our second major competition, the
WWHL Championships in Sask., the
X-Treme successfully defended their
2005 title, blowing away arch rivals, the
Edmonton Chimos, 7-2 in the semi-final
game and beating the Minnesota
Whitecaps 3-2 in the final to win the
2006 Championship.
In the third big competition, the Esso
Women’s Nationals, where the X-Treme
represented Team Alberta, we won
bronze. Although this was a disappointing
result, as we’d hoped to capture
gold, but the experienced Olympic
players on Team Ontario proved to be
too much for our young squad.
In the Battle of the Border tournament,
our last major competition of the year,
we faced the USA Selects Team,
featuring four Olympians. Our Oval
X-Treme closed out the season winning
in a dramatic overtime in the fifth and
deciding game.
Oval X-Treme players were also
successful in joining other teams and
development camps with five players
invited to join the Senior National Team
Camp as well as another five making it
to the Under-22 National Team Camp.
Assistant Captain Kaley Hall and
Jocelyne Laroque were also invited to
play with Canada’s U22 team and
compete in the European Air Canada
Cup in January 2006 in Germany.
Overall, this season’s Oval X-Treme
overachieved. We carried 16 rookies,
with an average age of 19 years-old,
played 53 games (exhibition, regular
season and championship) and came
out with a record of 42 – 10 - 1. It was
another “X-Tremely” successful year.
Tomas Pacina
Oval X-Treme Head Coach
Olympic Oval High
Performance Female
Hockey Program
The Olympic Oval High Performance
Female Hockey Program offers three
levels of training, bronze, silver and
gold, to developing and elite athletes.
Gold level players are part of the
Calgary Oval X-Treme team and play in
the Western Women’s Hockey League
(WWHL). 2005 – 2006 was the tenth
season for the X-Treme, who have won
four league championships, four
national titles and have an incredible
Olympic history, including 12 Olympic
medallists, two assistant and one
Olympic head coach.
Calgary Oval X-Treme Head Coach Tomas Pacina. Photo credit Arno Hoogveld.
8

Results
2005 – 2006 WWHL Season
* Played 24 league games, earning 46
points and a record of 22 - 0 – 1 – 1 .
* Scored 126 goals (11 power play and
1 short-handed), with 197 assists, and
384 penalty minutes
* Rebecca Russell, #11, led the WWHL
with 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists),
with Oval X-Treme Team Captain
Meagan Walton having the second
most points in the league (42 points,
18 goals, 24 assists).
* 2005 – 2006 WWHL Champions,
winning all three tournament games
against the Saskatchewan Prairie
Ice, Edmonton Chimos and Minnesota
Whitecaps.
WWHL teams included:
Edmonton Chimos
B.C. Breakers
Saskatchewan Prairie Ice
Minnesota Whitecaps
2005 – 2006 Exhibition Season
* Played 15 exhibition games vs. AA
Midget Boys, Calgary Oval X-Treme
Corporate Challenge Teams,
University of Alberta Pandas, Team
Canada and Team Sweden
* Won exhibition series vs. Team
Sweden, 2006 Olympic silver
medallists
2006 Esso Women’s Nationals
* Played seven games in five days of
tournament with a record of 3 - 4 - 0
* Won bronze medal game vs. Team
New Brunswick, 7-3.
2006 Battle of the Border,
sponsored by EnCana
* Played USA Selects Team in Three
Hills, Vulcan, Brooks and Warner, AB
* Won four-game championship series
3-2.
Pictured...Cassie Campbell, Danielle Goyette,
Carla MacLeod, Colleen Sostorics and Hayley
Wickenheiser and former Calgary Oval X-Treme
Assistant Coach Tim Bothwell.
2006 Winter Olympic Games
Oval X-Treme players/alumnae on the
2006 Canadian Olympic Gold Medal
Winning Team:
Cassie Campbell
Hayley Wickenheiser
Jennifer Botterill
Carla MacLeod
Danielle Goyette
Colleen Sostorics
Individual Accomplishments
of Oval X-Treme players
Invited to Senior
Team Canada Camp
Meagan Walton
Rebecca Russell
Heather Logan
Monica Dupuis
Kayley Hall
Invited to Under - 22
Team Canada Camp
Jocelyne Larocque
Chantal Larocque
Laura Fridfinnson
Stephanie Ramsay
Sam Watt
Coaching
Tomas Pacina
Calgary Oval X-Treme Head Coach
Steve Carlyle
Calgary Oval X-Treme Assistant Coach
Chris Chisamore
Goaltending Coach
Kathy Berg
Olympic Oval Female Hockey High
Performance Program Director and Calgary
Oval X-Treme Governor
Support Staff
Kelsey Andries
Assistant Strength Conditioning Coach
Kelly-Ann Carter
Sport Nutritionist
Clare Fewster
Sport Psychologist
Jennifer Hanson
Athletic Therapist
Jason Poole
Strength Conditioning Coach
Dr. Sharisse Kyle
Team Physician
Oval X-Treme team members celebrate their second WWHL Championship title. The series was played
in Saskatchewan in March 2006.
9

Short Track
Coaches Message
The 2005-2006 season was a great
development year for the Olympic Oval
High Performance Short Track
Program. Our athletes gave great
performances at the series of
competitions used to select skaters for
the Canadian Olympic Team and the
Canadian National and Development
Teams. We sent one of our athletes,
Alanna Kraus, to the Olympics where
she won a silver medal and she earned
a spot on the National Team, while four
others qualified for the National
Development Team.
We welcomed several international
athletes to train with our program and
share the amazing facilities of the
Olympic Oval and the University of
Calgary. Two-time long track Olympic
medallist and short track skater Shani
Davis has trained with the group, helping
to raise the skill level and inspire
younger skaters. Here at the Olympic
Oval our program is
surrounded by elite athletes, coaches
and support staff from long track speed
skating, female hockey and cycling.
This environment helps inspire and
elevate our athletes to train hard and
compete at the highest level.
All of our skaters worked hard this
season, competing in 18 competitions
around the world and completing two
training camps here in Canada. Many
of our junior skaters consistently placed
in the top 15 nationally and
internationally with Jessica Gregg
placing first overall, Michael Gilday
seventh, Jessica Hewitt ninth and Guy
Abbott 10th at the Canadian Junior
Team Trials at the Olympic Oval.
Their successes demonstrate that we
have several athletes with strong
potential to compete and win at the
2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Over
the next four years we will continue
to develop their skill and competition
experience, while growing our program
and building on the successes of this
season.
Jonathon Cavar
Olympic Oval Short Track Coach
Olympic Oval short tracker (L-R) Alanna Kraus won her second Olympic team relay medal with
teammates Tania Vicent, Kalyna Roberge, Anouk Leblanc-Boucher and Amanda Overland at the
2006 Olympics. Alanna also won bronze in the same event at the 2002 Olympics. Photo credit Arno
Hoogveld.
Olympic Oval Short Track Program
The Olympic Oval High Performance
Short Track Program has been around
for 15 years, since 1992. The program
consists of three levels; national and
international athletes, provincial and
national athletes and development
athletes.
During the 2005-2006 season 40 short
trackers trained at the Olympic Oval,
including Olympic silver medallist
Alanna Kraus and National
Development Team member Cory
Rasmussen. International athletes from
the USA, Czech Republic, Japan and
Israel were part of the program while
other provincial athletes came to train at
the Olympic Oval for short periods.
Alana Kraus
A highlight for the short track program
was the Olympic success of Alanna
Kraus, an Olympic Oval speed skater
for 13 years. This year she added a
second Olympic medal to her
collection, showcasing the great
training and coaching she’s received
at the Olympic Oval. Alanna, from
Abbotsford, B.C., won a bronze medal
in the team relay at the 2002
Olympics in Salt Lake City. This
season she won silver in the same
event at the 2006 Olympics in Torino,
Italy.
- Olympic Trials, first over all with 5290
points
- World Cup 1 in China, 5th in the 500m
and bronze in the 3000m relays
- World Cup 2 in Korea, 4th in the 500m
and bronze in the 3000m relays
- World Cup 3 in Italy, 6th in the 500m
and silver in the 3000m relays
- World Cup 4 in Netherlands, 9th in
the 500m and Gold in the 3000m relays
- Olympic Games, 3rd in the 500m
quarter final and Silver in the 3000m
relays
- World Team Championships, first in
the 500m, 2nd in the 1000m and
Gold in the 3000m relays
- World Championships, silver in the
3000m relays
10

Results
Four Olympic Oval athletes qualified
for the 2006-2007 Canadian National
Development Team:
Jessica Gregg
Jessica Hewitt
Richard Shoebridge
Michael Gilday
Alanna Kraus qualified for the 2006-
2007 Canadian National Racing Team.
Short track speed skating coach
Jonathan Cavar was selected as the
Team Leader for the Canadian Team at
the Junior Worlds competition in
Romania where Olympic Oval short
tracker Jessica Gregg won bronze in
the 500 metres and came in fifth place
overall.
Olympic Oval short track speed
skating results at 2005-2006
Canadian Junior Trials:
Overall Results
- Jessica Gregg, 1st
- Jessica Hewitt, 9th
- Michael Gilday, 7th
- Guy Abbott, 10th
Canadian Junior Trials #1
Edmonton, AB
- Jessica Gregg , 6th overall
- Jessica Hewitt, 9th overall
- Kylee Toth, 10th overall
- Richard Shoebridge, 5th overall
- Michael Gilday, 9th overall
- Five ladies in top 15
- Four men in top 15
The Olympic Oval hosted the Canadian Junior Short Track Trials in January 2006.
Canadian Junior Trials #2
Saguenay, QC
- Jessica Gregg, 6th overall
- Jessica Hewitt, 8th overall
- Richard Shoebridge, 7th overall
- Michael Gilday, 8th overall
- Cory Rasmussen, 10th overall
- Four ladies in the top 15
- Three men in the top 15
Coaching
Jonathon Cavar
Olympic Oval Short Track Coach
Yvon De Blois
Olympic Oval Short Track Coach
Alan McIlven
Olympic Oval Short Track Coach – part-time
Mark Wild
Olympic Oval Short Track Coach – part-time
Support Staff
Dr. Dave Smith Physiologist
Steve Norris Physiologist
Derek Robinson Sports Psychology
consultant
Scott Maw Strength Trainer
Jeremy Kozubach Massage Therapist
Lorrie Maffey Physiotherapist
Dr. Victor Lun Physician
Dr. Preston Wiley Physician
Lelly Anne Carte Erdman Nutrionist
Training Camps
Fernie Training Camp
Chicoutimi National Team Training Camp
Competitions
Bell Short Track Olympic Trials
Saguenay, QC Sept. 1–11, ‘05
World Cup #1
Hangzhou, China Sept. 30–Oct. 2, ‘05
Olympic Oval Short Track Invitational
Olympic Oval Oct. 7-9, ‘05
World Cup #2
Seoul, Korea Oct. 7–9, ‘05
Regional Qualifier #1 – East
Cambridge, ON Nov. 5–6, ‘05
World Cup #3
Bormio, Italy Nov. 11–13, ‘05
Regional Qualifier #1 – West
Prince George, BC Nov 19–20, ‘05
World Cup #4
The Hague, the Netherlands
Nov. 18 – 20, ‘05
Canadian Junior Championships
Olympic Oval Dec. 3–4, ‘05
National Team Trials #1
Edmonton, AB Dec. 9–11, ‘05
World Junior Championships
Mercurea Ciuc, Romania Jan. 6–8, ‘06
Regional Qualifier #2 – East
Montreal, QC Jan. 28–19, ‘06
Winterfest Regional Qualifier #2 West
Olympic Oval Feb. 4–5, ‘06
XX Olympic Winter Games
Torino, Italy Feb. 10–26, ‘06
World Short Track
Team Championships
Montreal, QC Mar. 25–26, ‘06
World Short Track Championships
Minneapolis, USA Mar. 31–Apr. 2, ‘06
Canada Post Canadian
Age Class Championships
Whitehorse, YK Mar. 31–Apr. 2, ‘06
American Cup #1
World Cup Qualifier
Saratoga Springs, USA Mar. 4–5, ‘06
11

Long Track
Coaches Message
Long Track Program
Since the 1988 Olympics in Calgary,
the Olympic Oval has been one of two
national training centres for long track
speed skating in Canada. This season
91 speed skaters trained with the
Olympic Oval’s High performance long
track program.
With thoughts of an Olympic year
approaching, the Olympic Oval slogan
“On Target for Torino” was running
through many people’s minds. The
Olympic Oval High Performance Long
Track Speed Skating Program headed
into the 2005-2006 season with
outstanding talent on skates, a
dedicated team of coaches and support
staff off the ice, and this slogan
embedded in their soul.
Overwhelmingly, this team
accomplished their goal and brought
home eight medals from the Olympics,
one third of Canada’s total medal count!
Teamwork was the key to our success.
Our team developed a commitment that
created a positive attitude and
inspiring environment, which the
athletes harnessed leading up to Torino.
The successes of our 17 Olympians
provided great examples of how hard
work, long days of training and
competition, and determination can lead
to amazing success. For our younger
skaters, the benefit of training with elite
athletes was evident in Canada’s strong
results at the Junior World
Championships in Erfurt, Germany.
The success of the Olympic Long Track
team filtered down through the different
levels of the sport, reaching the grass
roots where we have already started to
see an increase in interest in the sport.
As our focus now shifts to the 2010
Winter Olympics in Vancouver, our
accomplished team is again preparing
athletes to compete on the world stage,
this time in their own country. The
Olympic Oval continues to be the
premier long track speed skating
facility in the world for training and
competition. Seven of the twelve
current senior world records were
skated in the Olympic Oval, five of
which were set by Canadian athletes!
Initiatives such as the Own the Podium
program will bring increased funding
and opportunity to the sport over the
coming quadrennial. This focus on
developing young athletes will continue
to raise the bar that all future
Olympians will aim to beat. The
Olympic Oval coaches, athletes, and
support specialists will work together
over the next four years to produce
Canada’s strongest team on the “Road
to Vancouver 2010”.
Mark Wild
Associate Director of High
Performance Sport
Results
In its 19 year history, the 2005-2006
season was the most successful ever
yielding 17 Olympians, ten Olympic
medallists and 16 Olympic medals,
including Cindy Klassen’s record-breaking
five medals, two Team Pursuit team
medals and Christina Groves and Klara
Hughes individual medals.
2006 Winter Olympics
Arne Dankers Silver medal – men’s
team pursuit, 5th - 5,000M,
9th - 10,000M, 17th - 1,500M
Steven Elm Silver medal – men’s team
pursuit, 29th - 1000M, 12th - 1500M,
22nd - 5000M
Kristina Groves Silver medal - ladies’
team pursuit, Silver medal - 1500M,
8th - 3000M, 5th - 1000M, 6th - 5000M
Clara Hughes Gold medal - 5000M,
Silver medal -ladies’ team pursuit,
9th - 3000M
Mike Ireland 7th - 500M
Cindy Klassen Gold medal - 1500M,
Silver medal - 1000M,
Silver medal - ladies’ team pursuit,
Bronze medal - 5000M,
Bronze medal - 3000M
Brock Miron 28th - 500M
Denny Morrison Silver medal – men’s
team pursuit, 11th - 1500M,
19th - 1000M
Krisy Myers 22nd - 500M
Christine Nesbitt Silver medal - ladies’
team pursuit, 7th - 1500M,
14th – 1,000M
Jason Parker Silver medal – men’s
team pursuit
Shannon Rempel Silver medal -
ladies’ team pursuit, 16th - 500M,
24th – 1,000M
Kerry Simpson 21st - 500M
Justin Warsylewicz Silver medal
– men’s team pursuit, 27th - 1500M,
24th - 5000M
Kim Weger 26th - 500M
Jeremy Wotherspoon 9th - 500M,
11th - 1000M
Teamwork was the key as the men captured silver in the Team Pursuit in Torino. (L-R on the ice: Justin
Warsylewicz, Denny Morrison and Arne Dankers, not on the ice, but on the team; Jason Parker and
Steven Elm). Photo by Arno Hoogveld.
12

World Cup Successes
This was Jeremy Wotherspoon’s tenth
season as Canada’s top sprinter. He
won nine World Cup medals, including
two gold.
Canada’s young talent broke onto
the long track scene this year, with
Christine Nesbitt and Denny Morrison
earning their first World Cup medals
this season. Christine picked up a
bronze medal in the 1,500 metres in
November 2005 and Denny won two
medals, a bronze in the 1,000 and
silver in the 1,500 metres at a World
Cup in December 2005.
Shannon Rempel, Cindy Klassen and Christina Groves celebrate another medal performance.
Photo by Arno Hoogveld.
Coaching
Kevin Crockett
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Arno Hoogveld
Natl. Team/Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Sean Ireland
Natl. Team/Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Marcel Lacroix
Natl. Team/Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Neal Marshall
Natl. Team/Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Todd McClements
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Crispin Parkinson
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Xiuli Wang
Natl. Team/Olympic Oval Long Track Coach
Selina Elm
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach – part-time
Bill Hoyne
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach – part-time
Angela Seulean
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach – part-time
Sterling Sobczak
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach – part-time
Neal Zaluski
Olympic Oval Long Track Coach – part-time
Support Staff
Dr. Dave Smith Physiologist
Derek Robinson Sport Psychologist
Dr. Kimberly Amirault Sport Psychologist
Cal Botterill Sport Psychologist
Danelle Kabush Sport Psychologist
Scott Maw Strength Trainer
Matt Jordan Strength Trainer
Jeremy Kozubach Massage Therapist
Leo Flore Massage Therapist
Ed Louis Massage Therapist
Shayne Hutchins Massage Therapist
Lorrie Maffey Physiotherapist
Greg Redman Physiotherapist
Dr. Victor Lun Physician
Dr. Nick Mohtadi Physician
Dr. Winne Meeuwisse Physician
Andrea Holwegner Nutrionist
John Berardi Nutrionist
Dr. Sean Maw Biomechanics
Training Camps
Lompoc Training Camp
California, May 2005
Mount Tremblent Training Camp
QC, June 2005
Fernie Training Camp
BC, June 2005
Penticton Training Camp
BC, August 2005
Santa Cruz Training Camp
California, September 2005
Competitions
International
Allround World Cup #1
Olympic Oval, Nov. 12–13, ‘05
All Distances World Cup #2
Salt Lake City, USA, Nov. 18–20, ‘05
Sprint World Cup #3
Milwaukee, USA Nov. 26–27, ‘05
Allround World Cup #4
Heerenveen, the Netherlands
Dec. 3–4, ‘05
All Distances World Cup #5
Torino, Italy Dec. 9–10, ‘05
All Distances World Cup #6
Inzell, Germany Dec. 17–18, ‘05
Allround Continental Championships
Olympic Oval Jan. 21–22, ‘06
World Sprint Championships
Heerenveen, the Netherlands
Jan. 21–22, ‘06
Sprint World Cup #7
Colabo, Italy Jan. 28–29, ‘06
XX Olympic Winter Games
Torino, Italy Feb. 10–26, ‘06
World Cup Final #8
Heerenveen, the Netherlands
Mar. 3-5, ‘06
ISU World Allround Championships
Olympic Oval Mar. 18-19, ‘06
National
Olympic Oval Long Track Invitational #1
Olympic Oval Oct. 29-30, ‘05
Olympic Oval Long Track Invitational #2
Olympic Oval Nov. 4–6, ‘05
Can/Am Competition
Olympic Oval Nov. 24–27, ‘05
Canada Post Single Distances
Championships
Olympic Oval Dec. 27–Jan. 3, ‘06
Canada Post Cup #1
Olympic Oval Jan. 6–8, ‘06
Canada Post Cup #2: Junior Canadian
Championships
Ottawa, ON Feb. 3–5, ‘06
Canada Post Cup #3
Ste. Foy, QC Mar. 3–5, ‘06
ING Olympic Oval Finale,
presented by Conematic
Heating Systems
Olympic Oval Mar. 21–25, ‘06
13

Olympic Oval
Olympic Oval High Performance
Long Track Program
Aaron Sadlier
Adam McCabe
Aihua Xing (CHN)
Amanda Queen
Anna Ringsred (USA)
Anna Rokita (AUT)
Arne Dankers
Beixing Wang (CHN)
Brian McSorley
Brittany Schussler
Brock Anderson
Brock Miron
Cailean Duggan
Catherine Raney (USA)
Christine Nesbitt
Cindy Klassen
Clara Hughes
Crystal Phillips
Dan Adlam
Dan Wang (CHN)
Danielle Wotherspoon
Denny Morrison
Derek May
Dustin Johnston
Dustin Molicki
Eric Kryski
Fraser Stinson
Graeme Koelwyn
Ian Houghton
James Bruner
James Lewis
James Monson
Jamie Ivey
Jason Parker
Jay Morrison
Jeff Kitura
Jeff Moir
Jeff Shikaze
Jeremy Luterbach
Jeremy Wotherspoon
Jeung Lee (KOR)
John Dobrowolski
Justin Warsylewicz
Katie Hay
Keith Sulzer
Kelsey Duffield
Kerry Simpson
Kim Weger
Kirsti Lay
Kristina Groves
Krisy Myers
Kyle Parrot
Kylee Toth
Lauren Wetzel
Li Yu (CHN)
Lucas Makowski
Marcin Gosczcynski
Marilou Asselin
Mark Jesney
Mark Neilsen
Matt McLean
Matt Nykolichuk
Michael Hons
Mike Ireland
Mykola Makowski
Neal Zaluski
Owen Roberts
Patrick Marsh
Pei Yu Jin (CHN)
Ricky Kriek
Ruby Van der Hoff
Sarah Anderson (SWE)
Sarah Smith
Sean Jackson
Shani Davis (USA)
Shannon Rempel
Shannon Sibold
Sophia Lee (KOR)
Stacie Coder
Stefan Waples
Stephan Wapels
Sterling Sobczak
Steven Elm
Terrence McConnell
Tiffany Hughes
Tim Gladysz
Tim Kury
Tobey Berriault
Tyler Johnston
Yoshiatsu Tanaka
Zitong Chen (CHN)
The sweet smiles of success in Torino! Photo credit Arno Hooveld.
Olympic Oval High Performance
Short Track Program
Alanna Kraus
Andrew Dutcher
Brenda Friesen
Bryan McSorley
Christina Homer
Christopher Dahl (USA)
Cory Rasmussen
Cullen Taylor
Dave Laurie
Derek Gray (USA)
Dustin Miller
Elizabeth Dier
Erin Copeland
Gabrielle Waddell
Gillian Richmond
Guy Abbott
Jenna Gallant
Jessica Gregg
Jessica Hewitt
Katerina Novotna (CZE)
Katie McRuvie
Kira Fling (USA)
Kyle Winters
Kylee Toth
Liam McFarlane
Michael Friesen
Michael Gilday
Mikael Messing
Naohisa Takehara (JPN)
Richard Shoebridge
Ryan Hickman
Sarah Lang (USA)
Shani Davis (USA)
Steve Buzinski
Steven Friesen
Tara Kergan
Trevor Rasmussen
Tyler Derraugh
Yasuhito Nakahara (JPN)
14

High Performance Athletes
Club Racer Program
Adam Geml
Al Reid
Alice Daszkowski
Bob Grill
Brian Walsh
Bridget Linder
Bruce Druery
Christopher Bilick
Cindy Koo
Craig DeBellefeville
Craig Stappler
Dan Fraser
Dave Franks
David Roberts
David Skillen
Dawn Dittman
Dennis Gregory
Dennis Potharst
Elaine Kenny
Francois Belanger
Gerry McCuaig
Giulia Maida
Gord Coveney
Gord James
Grant Los
Gwynneth Lochhead
Husain Esmail
Ian Robinson
Jack Gregory
Jeff German
Jennifer Thiel
Jill Parnell
John Walsh
Jon Cavar
Jordan Girman
Karyn Silenzi
Keith Vos
Kellie Dearden
Kelly Barnett/Guss
Kelly Mazurenko
Kelsey Miller
Ken Gordon
Kevin Walsh
Kim Crowe
Kim McMurty
Kobe Davis
Larry McDougall
Lee McDougall
Lisa Stowe
Lloyd Murray
Martin Lambert
Matthew Joss
Michael De Luca
Mike Grattan
Nancy Lopez
Neal Stoughton
Nicole Girman
Nicole Ruest
Norm Kalmanovitch
Paul Broska
Randa Sultan
Rebecca Morris
Rod Saville
Ron Keating
Roxanne Elenko
Scott Wilkinson
Sean (Louis) Quirk
Sharla Howard
Shawn Bond
Sherwood Plant
Stasy Presutto
Stephen Kenny
Tami Thicke
Terry Andrichuk
Tim Guss
Tommy Mak
Vince DiStefano
Vince Elenko
Cycling Program
Philippe Abbott
Laura Brown
Mark Foster
Felix Haspel
Dianna Kennedy
Mark MacDonald
Rene Regimbald
Eric Smith
Monique Sullivan
Alison Testroete
Bob Veroba
Alex Wrubleski
BMX Program
Aaron Lepp
Jim Brown
Karsten Millman
Kenneth Cools
Michael Bailey
Patrick Lebel
Sabrina Millman
Samantha Cools
Junior Elite Program
Nicolas Andrichuk
Neal Gregory
Danielle Kenny
James Mollison
Brian Robinson
Eric Smith
Kasper Woiceshyn
Julie Beveridge
Junior Development
Program
Stephen Andrichuk
Michelle Beveridge
Mac Brentnall
Garielle Brown
Hilary Ebbern
Mac Garvin
Ben Gavinchuk
Jessica Kisell
Brad Knapik
Lauren Lankester
Michael Lankester
Isaac Niles
Basia Okoniewski
Jennifer Virtue
Michael Weldon
Felix Wilberg
Paralympic Program
Photo credit Arno Hooveld.
Tammy Cunnington
Brayden McDougall
Jaye Milley
Courtenay Sarvis
Lisa Stowe
Jean Paul Veress
15

Research & Development
Over the 2005-2006 season, the
Olympic Oval continued to pursue its
research and development initiatives,
providing athletes with one of the most
technologically advanced training
centers in the world.
Research Team
Dr. Sean Maw
Sports Science Research
and Development Consultant
Dr. Clifton Johnston
Mechanical & Manufacturing
Engineering
Mark Messer
Olympic Oval Ice Specialist
Dr. Larry Katz
University of Calgary
Faculty of Kinesiology
Dr. Peter Ehlers
University of Calgary, Department of
Mathematics and Statistics
Dr. Brian MacIntosh
Faculty of Kinesiology
Dr. Edward Lozowski
University of Alberta, Faculty of Earth
& Atmospheric Sciences
The research team worked with the
support of:
Speed Skating Canada
Canadian Sport Centre Calgary
Innovation Alberta
Health Sciences Program, University
of Calgary
Olympic Oval Coaches
The group focused on three main
areas of activity:
athlete performance
coaching effectiveness/efficiency
athlete safety
All research and development projects
at the fall into one of these categories
with the results applied to short track,
long track, cycling and female hockey.
Research Projects
National Sprint Team Member, Kim Weger. Photo by Arno Hoogveld.
National Team Skin Suit Design
Drs. Maw and Johnston, and University
of Manitoba research assistant Janelle
Vincent, worked with Descente, the
National Research Council, and
members of the National Short and
Long Track programs to produce the
final skin suit designs for the Canadian
Olympic Team in Torino. Combined
with work performed on the Canadian
National Team Cross Country Skiing
Suits for the Torino Olympics, 14 of 24
Canadian Olympic medal winners wore
suits with design input from the
Olympic Oval R&D Team. This design
work included wind tunnel testing both
at the University of Calgary and at the
NRC Low Speed Wind Tunnel in
Ottawa. Different fabrics were tested in
different configurations, to produce the
most aerodynamic suit possible. In the
case of short track, an additional
consideration was safety, as the suits
had to include cut and puncture resistant
areas that would meet the latest
ISU safety standards for 2005-2006.
16

National Team Skin Suit Design
Drs. Maw and Johnston, and University
of Manitoba research assistant Janelle
Vincent, worked with Descente, the
National Research Council, and
members of the National Short and
Long Track programs to produce the
final skin suit designs for the Canadian
Olympic Team in Torino. Combined
with work performed on the Canadian
National Team Cross Country Skiing
Suits for the Torino Olympics, 14 of 24
Canadian Olympic medal winners wore
suits with design input from the
Olympic Oval R&D Team. This design
work included wind tunnel testing both
at the University of Calgary and at the
NRC Low Speed Wind Tunnel in
Ottawa. Different fabrics were tested in
different configurations, to produce the
most aerodynamic suit possible. In the
case of short track, an additional
consideration was safety, as the suits
had to include cut and puncture
resistant areas that would meet the
latest ISU safety standards for 2005-
2006.
Speed Skating Crash Pad Research
Intensive work continued on crash
pad evaluations at the Olympic Oval.
This past year the focus was on short
track pad testing with Health Sciences
research assistant Kali Nunweiler. A
number of different pads were built
specifically for this testing. They were
evaluated with impacts at various
velocities. The work has resulted in
guidelines for pad selections in
Canadian short track facilities. As well,
a paper describing the work has been
accepted for presentation at the 2006
International Sports Engineering
Association (ISEA) conference in
Munich, July 2006.
Video Processing and Dartfish
The Olympic Oval continued to
develop its video processing capacity
with University of Calgary Kinesiology
students Lisa Wong and Kevin Huang,
supervised by Dr. Larry Katz, helping to
construct the video room in the South
Storage facility. This room allowed
coaches to easily examine video taken
from speed skating practices. An
archive is being created that will store
all videos for Olympic Oval athletes.
Crash/Fall/Injury Database
Working with Speed Skating Canada,
Dr. Maw and his students, Mercedes
Louro and Rory Sykes, constructed a
database cataloguing all of the falls and
crashes at most of the Canadian Short
Track Team Trials over the last few
years. With this information, the team
was able to produce credible statistics
relating falls to various causal factors.
A first study of its kind in sport and in
speed skating, the results will soon be
published in an academic journal.
Recommendations have also been
made to Speed Skating Canada on
safety enhancements for team trial rules
and procedures.
Short Track Start Statistics
Jessica Vredenburg, a University of
Calgary Kinesiology graduate student
and researcher in the area of sports
psychology, continued work
investigating the effects of start position
on finishing position in short track speed
skating, under the supervision of Drs.
Sean Maw and Peter Ehlers.
Crash/Fall/Injury Database
GPS Evaluation in
Competitive Cycling
With the cooperation of Alberta
Innovation and the Canadian Sports
Centre Calgary, Drs. Maw and
MacIntosh (Kinesiology) supervised
undergraduate student Travis Saunders
in a project looking at the value of GPS
systems in competitive cycling.
Working with Olympic Oval Cycling
Coaches Tanya Dubnicoff and Stephen
Burke, the project explored various
training regimes, race preview
scenarios, and race monitoring
situations. It was shown that GPS
systems do have a lot to offer cyclists
and as a legacy of the project, the
CSCC has inherited an FRWD GPS
transceiver for multisport use, including
cycling.
The Klap Trap
Drs. Maw and Johnston worked with
Engineering undergraduate Allen Yuen
to develop a unique system to
monitor the activity of the klap
mechanism in long track speed
skating, while the skater is skating. The
skater wears a small backpack holding
a laptop. Instrumentation on one skate
records the movements of the klap
mechanism. The output allows coaches
and researchers to see how the klap
behaviour changes on straights versus
corners, at various speeds, and under
different levels of fatigue. This will allow
for technical improvements both in
coaching and in klap mechanism
design. A paper presenting the work has
been accepted for the ISEA conference
in Munich, July 2006.
Ice Research
Olympic Oval Ice Specialist Mark
Messer and Dr. Maw worked with ice
researcher Dr. Edward Lozowski
worked with ice researcher Dr. Edward
Lozowski to model the behaviour of ice
as skate blades pass over and through
it. This work has the potential to lead to
new skate blade designs and ice
maintenance techniques that will
produce faster racing times. Research
is ongoing.
17

Communications
Press Conferences:
Calgary Oval X-Treme
Season Opener
Calgary Oval X-Treme vs. Calgary
Flames Alumni in the Champions Cup
This year the Olympic Oval hosted more than 15 press conferences and
sent out over 100 press releases, media advisories and public service
announcements, letting the local, national and international media know
about the news and successes of our athletes, staff and facility. All of this
successful communication with reporters, editors and producers led to
more than 1,000 news and feature stories published in newspapers, aired
on radio and shown on television – in Calgary, throughout Canada and
around the world.
Stories about Olympic Oval athletes and staff and their
amazing skills and achievements were reported on,
including:
Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary Program
Official Opening of the Hockey Hall of
Heroes
Essent ISU World Cup
Canada Post Single Distances
Championships, Announcement of
Canadian Long Track Olympic Team
Papa John’s Family Fun Day
2006 Olympic Oval Speed Skaters
return from Olympics
The Score’s Cabbie on the Street feature
with speed skater James Monson
W-Five Report; feature on Olympic Oval
speed skater Cindy Klassen
Global Television Morning Show; three live
feeds from the Olympic Oval
CBC Sports Saturday; two day-long shows
from the Olympic Oval including full
coverage of the ISU World Cup and World
Allround Championships
Discovery Channel feature on Sean Maw’s
work on speed skating skin suit
development including interviews with
Denny
Morrison
Features on CTV and CBC local and
national news about developing athletes
preparing for the 2010 Olympics in female
hockey, short track and long track
Local and national media coverage of Papa
John’s Family Fun Day events at the
Olympic Oval
All local television stations aired stories on
speed skater Crystal Phillips and her MS.
Helia Team
Local and national features on long and
short track speed skaters preparing for the
2006 Olympics
Daily stories on female hockey and long and
short track speed skaters by local, national
and international media during the 2006
Winter Olympics
National and local interviews and
commentary with Olympic Oval staff,
athletes and coaches during the 2006 Winter
Olympics
Rick Mercer Report; feature with Shannon
Rempel teaching Rick Mercer to speed
skate
Calgary Herald four-page Skate Extra
special feature on Olympic Oval long track
speed skating during World Allround
Championships
Calgary Booster Club, Athlete of the
Year Announcement
ISU World Allround Championships,
daily press conferences
Clara Hughes Right to Play
Announcement
ING Olympic Oval Finale, presented
by Conematic Heating Systems
Alberta Sport Hall of Fame Inductee
Announcement
Olympic Oval Speed Skaters in Rona
MS Bike Tour with Crystal Phillips
CBC feature and coverage by other local
and national media about Mark Messer and
Mick Kiddle and the making the fastest ice in
the world at the Olympic Oval and in Torino,
Italy
The Rick Mercer Report came to the Olympic Oval to get a lesson in speed skating from Olympian
Shannon Rempel. Rick also was able to speak to Cindy Klassen.
18

Staff
Executive Management Team
Mark Greenwald
Karrie Kreutz
Kameron Kiland
Marnie Beaugie
Catriona Le May Doan
Carol Meibock
Dawn Brown
Darlene Kastner
Building Operations
Mark Messer
Mick Kiddle
Joachim Kuzel
Brad Kowal
Marc McGee
Norm Lennon
Terry Masikewich
John Dobrowolski
Cameron MacLeod
Alan McIlveen
Bart Doan
Mark Wild
Building Maintenance
Ed Zoller
Eva Sy
Lance Moore
John Yallop
JC Jassak
Gary Wright
Guest Services
Director, Olympic Oval
Events Manager
Operations Manager
Business Manager
Olympic Oval Liaison
(On Leave)
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant
Facility Specialist
Ice Maintenance Supervisor
Ice Technician
Ice Technician
Ice Technician
Ice Technician
Ice Technician
Ice Technician, part-time
Ice Technician, part-time
Ice Technician, part-time
Ice Technician, part-time
Ice Technician, part-time
Building Maintenance Supervisor
Building Maintenance
Building Maintenance
Building Maintenance
Building Maintenance, part-time
Building Maintenance, part-time
Lucie Fortier
Guest Services / Business
Development Manager
Sharon deBoer Staff Coordinator
Megan Kelly
Financial Assistant
Terry Lockhart
Finance
Catherine Kingdon Reception
Kelly McSweeny Reception
Mike McCorkell Evening Supervisor
Cailean Duggan Evening Supervisor
Barbara Scott
Evening Supervisor
Kyle Winters
Olympic Oval Tech Shop Attendant
Michael Yee
Olympic Oval Weight Room
Attendant
High Performance Sport
Kurt Innes
Associate Director,
High Performance Sport
Stacey Crockett/Mark Wild
Associate Director, High Performance Sport Development
Kathy Baker
Athlete Services
Matt Jordan
Strength Consultant
and Weight Room Supervisor
Alex Moritz
National Team Skate Technician
Debby Fisher
Speed Skating Development Coordinator
Veronick Gagnon Own the Podium
Cara Thibault
Own the Podium
High Performance Long Track Program
Kevin Crockett National Team/Olympic Oval Coach
Arno Hoogveld National Team/Olympic Oval Coach
Sean Ireland
National Team/Olympic Oval Coach
Marcel Lacroix National Team/Olympic Oval Coach
Neal Marshall
National Team/Olympic Oval Coach
Xiuli Wang
National Team/Olympic Oval Coach
Todd McClements Olympic Oval Coach
Crispin Parkinson Olympic Oval Coach
Selina Elm
Olympic Oval Link Coach – part-time
Bill Hoyne
Olympic Oval Coach – part-time
Angela Seulean Olympic Oval Link Coach – part-time
Sterling Sobczak Olympic Oval Coach – part-time
Neal Zaluski
Olympic Oval Coach – part-time
High Performance Short Track Program
Jonathon Cavar
Yvon De Blois
Alan McIlveen
Mark Wild
Olympic Oval Coach
Olympic Oval Coach
Olympic Oval Coach – part-time
Olympic Oval Coach – part-time
High Performance Cycling Program
National Cycling Centre - Calgary
Tanya Dubnicoff Head Coach, National Cycling Centre-Calgary
Stephen Burke Head Coach, National Paralympic Program
Jayson Gillespie Provincial, Junior Elite and Club Racer Coach
Adam Bailey Junior Development Coach
Preston Smith Junior Development Club Racer Coach
Stuart McMillan Strength and Conditioning Coach
High Performance Female Hockey Program
Tomas Pacina
Steve Carlyle
Kathy Berg
Jennifer Hanson
Jason Poole
Head Coach & General Manager
Calgary Oval X-Treme
Assistant Coach, Calgary Oval X-Treme
Director, High Performance
Female Hockey Program
Athletic Therapist, Calgary Oval X-Treme
Strength Trainer, Calgary Oval X-Treme
Bookings
Karen Delaney
Facility Scheduling Administrator,
Faculty of Kinesiology
Joanne Billingsley Facility Scheduling Manager,
Faculty of Kinesiology
Marketing, Communications and Events
Bridget Cox
Derek Rogers
Jock Wilson
Ellen Huynh
Gregg Planert
Communications Specialist
Events Specialist
Sales, Marketing and Promotions
Volunteer Coordinator
Competition Coordinator
Guest Services Business Development Manager Lucie Fortier and Guest
Services Staff Coordinator Sharon deBoer relaxed after the 2006 ISU World
Allround Championships. Photo by Jeff Godfrey.
19

Supporters
The Olympic Oval is grateful to all corporate sponsors, volunteers and partner organizations. Without your
support, the Olympic Oval would not be a world class facility, home to the fastest ice in the world, and
Olympic Oval athletes would not be able to succeed as they have this season or as they will in the future.
Thank you.
Olympic Oval staff, athletes and coaches
FUNDING AGENCIES
MAJOR SPONSORS
The Calgary Sun
Canon
ING
Conematic Heating Systems Inc.
Papa John’s
Remax
Impark
Canada’s most decorated Olympian Cindy
Klassen skated away with a $25,000 prize
for setting a new world record in the 1,000
metres.
Supporters
Husky Energy
FedEx Kinko’s
McDonalds
Super Drug Mart
McNeil Consumer Healthcare (Motrin
and Tylenol)
Imagewear by Mark’s Work Wearhouse
Kelsey’s Restaurants
Wyeth Healthcare (Chapstick)
Russell Athletics
Shine FM
Penny Lane Entertainment
Centaur Products
Flagworks
Bow Cycle
Kelsey’s Restaurants
Molson Canadian
Great West Kenworth
Official Host Hotels
Four Points Sheraton, Calgary West
Hotel and Suites
Quality Inn, University
Olympic Oval Partners
Canadian Olympic Association (COA)
Canadian Olympic Committee (COC)
Canadian Sport Centre, Calgary
City of Calgary
Coaching Association of Canada
International Skating Union (ISU)
National Coaching Institute, Calgary
Olympic Oval Organizing Committee
(OOOC)
Canadian Hockey Association/Hockey
Canada
Girls Hockey Calgary
Western Women’s Hockey League
(WWHL)
Women At Centre Ice
Canadian Cycling Association
Canadian Cyclist
Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association
(AASSA)
Calgary Speed Skating Association
(CSSA)
Speed Skating Canada (SSC)
SPONSORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Thanks to all our guests at the 2005 UFA Olympic Oval Stampede Party
and the more than $30,000 raised to support our virtual coaching multimedia
room and the Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary Fund. Generous donations came
from Catriona Le May Doan and Southern Music.
Carma Developers once again supported the Olympic Oval High
Performance Female Hockey program with a major contribution raised
through their annual golf tournament.
EnCana sponsored the second annual Battle of the Border hockey series
featuring the Oval X-Treme and the US Selects. This program is a major
fund raiser for the Olympic Oval High Performance Female Hockey program.
The Olympic Oval Finale was taken to a new level in 2006 with major
financial support from ING Insurance and Conematic Heating Systems
Inc. For the first time ever, the ING Olympic Oval Finale had a world record
prize purse of over $30,000.
Catriona Le May Doan (centre) presents a cheque to (L –R) Cailean Duggan,
Tyler Johnston, Ricky Krieck, Alisen Testroete, Matt McClean and
Neil Zuluski. Each athlete received $1,000 as part of the Olympic Oval
Athlete Bursary Fund. 20

Printing Courtesy:

2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
www.oval.ucalgary.ca