DAY 2: TEAM SASK at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games

SWIFT CURRENT, SK (August 10, 2019): Saturday brought a big day of action for Team Sask after Friday night's Opening Ceremony, which saw the lighting of the flame -- signifying the official opening of the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games. All phase one teams were in play aside from Men's and Women's Soccer. Today featured competition in Canoe Kayak, Cycling, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Beach Volleyball, Men's and Women's Softball, and Swimming. A total of 10 medals were earned in Canoe Kayak, Swimming and Cycling, placing Team Sask tied with Manitoba for second in the medal standings after the second day of competition. Sunday will bring further medal opportunities for those three sports, with team sports continuing in their tournaments.

Multiple members of Team Sask, as well as a former Team Sask athlete, were featured at the Opening Ceremony:

  • DONAVEN IRONS (Canoe Lake First Nation, U19 Softball) had the honour of drumming with Elders to welcome guests from across the western provinces and territories to Swift Current
  • NAMMI NGUYEN (Saskatoon, Soccer) and LYNDON BOUVIER (Cole Bay, U19 Softball) recited the Athletes' Oath
  • Coaches JACKIE POWELL (Swift Current, Special Olympics Swimming) and WILL REDL (Saskatoon, Men's Basketball) recited the Coach's Oath
  • B'YAULING TONI (Saskatoon, Cycling), SCOTT JOSEPH (Swift Current, Athletics), HUNTER BERG (Swift Current, Athletics), Coach HARV MARTINEZ (Swift Current, Baseball), and ALEAH NICKEL (Swift Current, 2015 Western Canada Summer Games and 2017 Canada Summer Games Wrestling athlete) served as torch bearers for the Torch Relay

TEAM SASK MEDAL COUNT: 
GOLD: 2 | SILVER: 3 | BRONZE: 5

RESULTS: https://bit.ly/31sAs2x
SCHEDULE: https://bit.ly/2YWqaGe
FULL MEDAL STANDINGS: https://bit.ly/2YW3Nkk 

DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

  • CANOE KAYAK: JAYDEN HINGLEY (Saskatoon) won the first gold medal of the Games for Team Sask in Men's C1 1000m Canoe, with Saskatchewan's Opening Ceremony flag bearer CHRISTIAN PATTERSON (Regina) finishing second. KYLE JACKSON (Regina) earned two bronze medals: solo in the Men's K-1 1000m, and with his teammate LOGAN TAYLOR (Saskatoon) in the Men's K-2 1000m. In the Women's C-2 1000m, ZOE NEISER (Regina) and MATTEA PATTERSON (Regina) earned bronze.
  • SWIMMING: CADENCE JOHNS (Moose Jaw) earned Swimming's first gold medal, taking first place in the 100m Butterfly. JAYDEN BILOUS (Saskatoon) took home bronze in the 200m Freestyle.
  • CYCLING: Saskatchewan cyclists earned a medal each in the Men's and Women's Individual Time Trial event, with CALEB BENDER (Glenavon) taking silver and MICAIAH BESLER (Saskatoon) earning bronze.
  • MEN'S BASKETBALL: Saskatchewan men stand 2-1, falling to Alberta (94-74) and earning two wins against Northwest Territories (53-31, 69-51).
  • WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Saskatchewan women are two for two, earning wins against Alberta (64-56) and Northwest Territories (72-44).
  • MEN'S SOFTBALL: Both Men's Softball teams faced off against Alberta on Saturday, with U16 falling 12-13 and U19 falling 9-21.
  • WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Saskatchewan won over Alberta 6-3.
  • MEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL: SK White is 1-1 in Pool A after taking Yukon White and losing to Alberta Blue. In Pool B, SK Green also stands 1-1 with a win against Yukon Black and a loss to Manitoba Black.
  • WOMEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL: SK Green is 1-1 in Pool C with a win against Yukon and a loss to Alberta, while SK White is also 1-1 in Pool B after a loss to Manitoba Gold and a three-set victory over Nunavut.

QUOTES OF THE DAY:

  • "Due to the conditions, we got a really rough tailwind. We really emphasized the catch and glide to allow the waves to accelerate our boats, and as soon as the wave stopped us, we’d take another stroke and just kept it going -- and it worked.” JAYDEN HINGLEY (Saskatoon) after earning Gold in Men's C1 500m Canoe - Canoe Kayak
  • "I was really excited -- the team was all riled up, and we were all ready to go. It was the first swim of the meet. It was a good swim.... Just being in this environment has been super fun, and it's really got my adrenaline going." CADENCE JOHNS (Moose Jaw) after her gold medal performance in Women's 100m Butterfly - Swimming

TEAM SASK SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT:
Tonight is Team Sask's Supporter Appreciation Reception, an opportunity to recognize the many support systems that go into our athletes' successes on and off the field of play. Team Sask athletes shared who inspires and supports them:

  • RACHEL VANDERHOOFT (Regina, Basketball): "Some of my biggest supporters and role models are: my Coach Bree Burgess, U15 Team Sask Coach, who has instilled confidence in me and has helped me develop my game to become a more of an offensive player. My Coach Phoebe De Cimon has developed me as a wing, has encouraged me to shoot more often, and has depended on me to carry and pass the ball. My three brothers are huge supports, especially my youngest brother, who is going on to play university basketball -- he has always encouraged me and is my mentor."
  • CALEB BENDER (Glenavon, Cycling): "My parents are my personal role models. I want to thank my dad for introducing me to riding and for teaching me to keep calm and in control, and my mom for encouraging me and helping me see the positives in every race."
  • TAYLOR SMITH (Saskatoon, Soccer):  "My mom made me the person who I am today: strong, mature, brave, willing, etc."

RESOURCES:
Photos: https://bit.ly/2YLQ98t (email for athlete ID)
Photo Credit: Matty O'Connell, Makewell Creative Co.
Visit: TeamSask.ca / 2019wcsg.ca
Follow: @goteamsask on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

ABOUT TEAM SASK AND THE WESTERN CANADA SUMMER GAMES:
Athletes who compete at the Western Canada Summer Games represent the country’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions. Team Sask alumni and Olympians KAYLYN KYLE, TARYN SUTTIE and ERICA GAVEL (Paralympian) can all count their previous Western Canada Summer Games experiences as a stepping stone to the highest levels of sport. Many of the athletes competing in Swift Current will go on to compete at the Canada Games, North American Indigenous Games, and even the Olympics.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Lawson, Communications Lead
Team Sask / Saskatchewan Games Council
E: klawson@saskgames.ca
C: (306) 529-3120