REGINA, SK (February 8, 2023): Team Sask is pleased to announce that speed skating athlete, Luca Veeman of Saskatoon has been selected as Team Saskatchewan’s Opening Ceremony flag bearer for the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.
As flag bearer, Veeman will lead Team Saskatchewan into the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Canada Winter Games which will be held at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on Saturday, February 18, 2023. The Canada Winter Games are scheduled from February 18- March 5, 2023, throughout the province of Prince Edward Island.
Veeman, 17, is one of Saskatchewan’s most promising young speed skaters. Veeman started training and competing at the young age of six years old. Veeman trains with the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club under Tim Comfort and father, Chris Veeman (President of Speed Skating Saskatchewan).
With an outstanding work ethic, Veeman has received numerous club awards for most outstanding skater and the most personal bests. His hard work earned him a spot on the Speed Skating Saskatchewan Development and Provincial Team for both short and long track speed skating. In October, Veeman was accepted to the National Training Centre at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Recently, Veeman switched from short track to focus on long track speed skating.
“We are proud to have an athlete of Luca’s calibre lead Team Sask into the Opening Ceremony," stated Mark Bracken, Team Sask Chef de Mission.
"Luca also represented Team Sask at the Canada Summer Games in cycling this past summer which shows his commitment, dedication, and passion for sport. To be an elite level athlete in two sports is amazing. The support and leadership Luca has demonstrated makes him a true role model. On behalf of all of us with Team Sask, congratulations, Luca!”
In 2022, Veeman qualified for the Canadian Junior National Team in long track speed skating but due to pandemic restrictions Canada did not send athletes to compete in Poland. Veeman is currently ranked in the top 3 in Canada for junior speed skaters and is a RBC athlete. This January, at the Canadian Junior Speed Skating Championships he won bronze in the 1500m and silver in the 5000m, qualifying him once again to race for the Canadian Junior National Team in Germany. In Prince Edward Island, Veeman will be representing Saskatchewan in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, mass start, and team pursuit events.
“It is a great honour to represent Saskatchewan as the team’s flag bearer," said Veeman upon learning the news. "I’m looking forward to seeing Team Sask succeed at these Games. Go Sask!”
In the off season, Veeman became a multi-sport athlete and started cycling. He is nationally ranked in both short and long track speed skating, and now cycling. He is no stranger to Team Sask as he was a cycling athlete at the 2022 Canada Summer Games this past August in Niagara, ON.
Athletes who compete at the Canada Games represent the country’s next generation of national, international, and Olympic and Paralympic champions. Team Sask alumni Mark McMorris, Emily Clark, Rylan Wiens, Shelby Newkirk, Kenzie Priddell, Catriona LeMay Doan, Graham Fish and Brittany Hudak to name a few, can all count their previous Canada Games experiences as a steppingstone to the Olympic or Paralympic Games.
Team Sask will consist of a total of 317 athletes, coaches, managers, and support staff and will participate in all 20 Canada winter games sports.
The full list of athletes, coaches, and staff with breakdown by sport and community can be found here and their bio information here.
Team Sask results will be updated daily throughout the Games on the Team Sask website at teamsask.ca and can also be found at cg2023.gems.pro/. The official 2023 Canada Winter Games website is: 2023canadagames.ca/
Team Sask is also active across social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
