Binns, Connell take top honours
Award winners named after strong season for Island athletes
The Island speed skating community recently celebrated a season highlighted by P.E.I.’s first medal wins and being named the most-improved province at the Canada East short track championships in Ottawa.
Andrew Binns of Stratford and Carly Connell of Charlottetown took home the top athlete awards.
Binns won three medals at the Canada East event, helping him repeat as winner of the top male athlete award. Binns also put his name on five new P.E.I. records during the standout year.
Connell, meanwhile, became the first five-time winner of the Nancy White Award as the Island’s top female speed skater. Connell’s season was highlighted by a seventh-place finish in the 500-metre distance and a 13th overall placing at the Canadian Junior Selections No. 2 event in Trois-Rivieres, Que., in March.
Jacob Theriault and Olivia Wood were named top intermediate male and female skaters, respectively, while Zack O’Meara picked up rookie of the year honours for the same group.
William Lyons was named most promising skater in the advanced competitive group after a pair of medal wins in his rookie appearance at the Canada East Short Track Championships. Anderson Arseneau was selected as the most promising skater at the intermediate competitive level. Rob Binns was named masters skater of the year.
In the learn to speed skate program, Brendan Reynard picked up top male skater honours, while Una Grant was named top female skater. Cohen Manuel was named rookie of the year and Ava Reynolds picked up the rising star award.
The president’s award was presented to Rob Binns and Gordon Rogers, both longtime
volunteers as board members and coaches with the provincial
body, in recognition of their service.
Jean MacDonald was named volunteer of the year and Dawn Binns won the inaugural official of the year award.
Matt Kozma won the mentorship award in recognition of his contributions to the learn to skate program.
All learn to skate and learn to speed skate participants received medals and were recognized for their significant improvements during the year.
More information is online at www.speedskatepei.com.