CALGARY — Four-time Olympic medallist Denny Morrison headlines the Canadian roster for the first four ISU long-track speedskating World Cups of the 2014′-15 season.
Morrison, from Fort St. John, B.C., won silver and bronze at the Sochi Games last winter. He was the lone pre-selected skater for the fall World Cup team.
The Canadian squad also includes 2014 Olympians Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa, Kali Christ of Regina, Vincent de Haitre of Ottawa, William Dutton of Humboldt, Sask., Marsha Hudey of White City, Sask., and Gilmore Junio of Calgary.
Returnees from the previous fall World Cup team include Jordan Belchos of Markham, Ont., Tyler Derraugh of Winnipeg, Laurent Dubreuil of Levis-Saint-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que., Alec Janssens of Chilliwack, B.C., Richard MacLennan of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Heather McLean of Winnipeg, Lauren McGuire of Ottawa and Josie Spence of Kamloops, B.C.
Stefan Waples of Winnipeg also returns after making six World Cup starts from 2011-’13. Alexandra Ianculescu of Toronto, Kate Hanly of Calgary and Robert Watson of Whitby, Ont., will make their World Cup debuts.
"I’m really excited for the buildup towards the 2018 Olympics for our young speedskating team," Morrison said Wednesday in a Speed Skating Canada release. "The energy and determination of these young skaters is what ups the ante and will bring a heightened level of competitiveness and depth to our team come 2018.
"It will be very interesting to see who reaches their potential at just the right time for Korea."
Dutch native Ted-Jan Bloemen was also named the team after moving to Calgary last June to attempt to skate for his father’s country of birth. The Canadian made 14 World Cup starts for the Netherlands in individual races from 2007-’13 and won a World Cup silver medal in team pursuit in 2008.
Bloemen set a Canadian record in the 10,000 metres at the selections at the Olympic Oval in Calgary last weekend.
The first World Cup is scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at Obihiro, Japan.