The Heartbeat

Check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

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It's a very exciting week in Canadian sports with numerous events being held across Canada including RBC Sports Day.

Canada is hosting upcoming World Cup events in Bobsleigh/Skeleton, Alpine Skiing and Luge. The curling Olympic qualifying tournament is starting in Winnipeg on Sunday with coverage on TSN/TSN2.

Objectif Sotchi is back on Radio-Canada as well as numerous livestreams including cross-country skiing, bobsleigh, skeleton, alpine skiing.

CBC Sportsweekend is continuing focusing on RBC Sports Day, alpine skiing, bobsleigh and skeleton World Cups. Sportsnet is rounding out the coverage.

Upcoming Events in Canada

Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup
November 22-30
Calgary, AB
More info

Alpine Skiing World Cup
November 27-December 1
Calgary, QC
More info

Speed Skating Canada Cup and Junior World Cup
November 29-December 1
Québec, QC
More info

Squash Edmonton Open
November 28-Dec 1
Edmonton, AB
More info

Racquetball Manitoba Open and National Team Selection
November 28-Dec 1
Winnipeg, MN
More info

Canadian Cross-Country Running Championships
November 30
Vancouver, BC
More info

World Sledge Hockey Challenge
December 1-7
Toronto, ON
More info

Curling Roar of the Rings - Olympic selection
December 1-8
Winnipeg, MB
More info

Alpine Skiing World Cup - Ladies
December 2-8
Lake Louise, AB
More info

Luge World Cup
December 2-7
Whistler, BC
More info

Women's Water Polo Canada Cup
December 2-8
Gatineau, QC
More info

Olympic Sports on Television:

Alpine Skiing: Men from Lake Louise
Livestream coverage:
Downhill:
Saturday November 30 13:40 on Radio-Canada
Saturday November 30 2pm cbcsports.ca
Super G:
Sunday December 1 11:25am on Radio-Canada
Sunday December 1 12:55pm and 2pm

Television coverage:
Downhill: Saturday November 30 4pm CBC

Alpine Skiing: Ladies from Beaver Creek
Livestream coverage:
Saturday Nov 30 11:25am on Radio-Canada
Saturday Nov 30 12:45pm cbcsports.ca Super-G

Television coverage:
Friday Nov 29 7pm Sportsnet Downhill (2:30pm Saturday) Sportsnet ONE
Saturday Nov 30 4pm CBC Super-G
Sunday Dec 1 5pm Sportsnet ONE GS (11pm) Sportsnet ONE
also Sunday 2:30pm on NBC

Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup
Sportsnet coverage:
Friday 2pm Sportsnet ON/East (5pm Pacific) WinSport World Push Challenge
Friday 8pm Sportsnet ON/East Women Skeleton
Friday 9pm Sportsnet ON/East Men Skeleton (Saturday 9am local Sportsnet Pacific)
Saturday 1:30pm Sportsnet ONE 4 Man Bobsleigh (11pm ET on Sportsnet West/Pacific, Sunday 11am SN ONE)
Saturday 5:30pm Sportsnet ONE Women's Bobsleigh (Sunday noon Sportsnet ONE)

CBC coverage:
Saturday November 30 1:30pm (men's and women's skeleton)
Saturday November 30 2:30pm (men's bobsleigh)

Webdiffusion sur Radio Canada:
Friday November 29 13:25 Men's and Women's skeleton
Friday November 29 19:25 Two man bobsleigh
Saturday November 30 15:25 Women's bobsleigh

Curling Roar of the Rings - Olympic selection
Sunday December 1 2pm TSN, 7:30pm TSN2
Monday December 2 9:30am TSN, 2:30pm TSN, 7:30pm TSN2
Wednesday December 3 9:30am TSN, 2:30pm TSN, 7:30pm TSN
Thursday December 4 1:30am TSN2 2:30pm TSN, 7:30pm TSN
Friday December 5 9:30am, 2:30pm TSN
Weekend times to follow

Speed Skating:
The TVA Sports guide shows speed skating on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, but my television guide does not. The guide on the television shows some snowboard. May be worth checking TVA Sports on the weekend.

Objectif Sotchi (broadcast from Alberta)
Saturday November 30 2pm Radio-Canada (and streamed online 13:55)

RBC Sports Day 
Saturday November 30 1pm, 3:30pm and 5:30pm CBC

New YouTube Channel to follow: 
WinSportTV have a weekly report on events being held in Calgary.
Check out the November 18 report by clicking here.

Other Events and Livestreams

Biathlon World Cup
November 24-Dec 1
Oestersund, Sweden
More info
livestream

Alpine Skiing World Cup - Ladies
November 27-December 1
Beaver Creek, USA
More info
Televised and livestreamed (see above)

Long Track Speed Skating World Cup
November 29-Dec 1
Astana, Kazakhstan
More info
livestream

Cross-Country World Cup
November 28-30
Kuusamo, Finland
More info
livestream 6:15am on Radio-Canada
livestream 5:15am on Radio-Canada
livestream 6:00am on Radio-Canada

Ski Jumping World Cup
November 28-30
Kuusamo, Finland
More info

Nordic Combined World Cup
Novembe 30-Dec 1
Kuusamo, Finland
More info

Luge World Cup
November 30-Dec 1
Winterberg, GER
More info
live results

Waterski World Championships
Nov 26-Dec 1
Santiago, Chile
More info
Livestream

Judo Grand Slam
November 29-Dec 1
Tokyo, Japan
More info
Livestream

Badminton Macau Open
November 26-Dec 1
Macau
More info

Rugby Sevens Women's
November 28-29
Dubai
More info
Livestream

Rugby Sevens Men's
November 28-20
Dubai
More info
Fixtures
Livestream
Highlights on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World

Gymnastics World Cup
November 29-December 1
Struttgart, Germany
More info

Karate Salzburg Premier League
Nov 30-Dec 1
Salzburg, Austria
More info

The Heartbeat

Don’t forget to check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Upcoming Events in Canada

Swimming Canada Cup and University Challenge
November 21-23
Toronto, ON
More info

Fast and Female 
November 23
Montreal, QC
More info
For girls aged 9-19. Hosted by Maghalie Rochette, Jessica Zelinka, Joëlle Numainville, Joëlle Bekhazi and more.

Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup
November 22-30
Calgary, AB
More info

Junior and Youth Canadian Boxing Championships
November 19-23
Québec, QC
More info

Biathlon North American Cup #1
November 23-24
Canmore, AB
More info

Soccer Friendly Canada vs Mexico (Women)
November 24 1pm local
Vancouver, BC
More info
televised on Sportsnet ONE

Alpine Skiing World Cup
November 27-December 1
Calgary, QC
More info

Speed Skating Canada Cup and Junior World Cup
November 29-December 1
Québec, QC
More info


New YouTube Channel to follow: 
WinSportTV have a weekly report on events being held in Calgary.
Check out the November 18 report by clicking here.

Meet 2013 World Cross Country (running) national team members
Monday November 25 2-3pm PT
Mahony and Sons
UBC
More info

Olympic Sports on Television:

Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships
Saturday Nov 23 1pm on CBC

Figure Skating
Saturday Nov 23 2pm on CBC Women's and Pairs Free
Saturday Nov 23 4pm on CBC Men's and Dance Free

Soccer Women's National Team
Canada vs Mexico from Vancouver 4pm ET Sportsnet ONE

One of the Road to Sochi
Sunday Nov 24 2-4pm Sportsnet

Other Events and Livestreams

Sailing Worlds Laser Radial men
Al Musannah, Oman
November 17-23
More info

Figure Skating Grand Prix
Nov 22-24
Moscow, Russian Federation
More info

Ski Jumping World Cup
November 22-24
Klingenthal, Germany
More info

Badminton Hong Kong Open
November 19-24
Hong Kong
More info

Squash Mercedes of Scottsdale Tournament
November 21-24
Phoenix, Arizona
More info

Rugby Friendly vs Portugal
November 23
Lisbon, Portugal
More info

Chiba Ekiden Road Race
November 23
Chiba City, Japan
More info

Luge World Cup
November 23-24
Innsbruck-Igls, Austria
More info

Biathlon World Cup
November 24-Dec 1
Oestersund, Sweden
More info
livestream

Unveiling of CIBC Team Next

Originally published on SportCafé.ca

CIBC unveiled 67 athletes who were chosen for the Team Next Program. You can read the official press release by clicking here.

The event was held at Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto on Monday November 18.

The athletes were nominated by their National and Provincial Sport Organizations and reviewed by a panel of experts, including representatives from AthletesCAN and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO).

Team Next is a program where the athletes will receive

• an annual grant for three years (total $15 000)
• mentorship from current and former world-class Canadian athletes
• workshops and advice on personal finances, post-secondary education and career planning, social media training and public speaking
• exclusive access to the CIBC Team Next online forum
• community support and networking opportunities through local CIBC branches and employees
• preferred CIBC products and services

Speaking to many of the athletes, they especially appreciate the mentorship part of the program. The mentors are:

• Josh Cassidy
• Mark de Jonge
• Stephanie Dixon
• Kara Lang
• Kyle Shewfelt
• Mary Spencer
• Bruny Surin
• Simon Whitfield

The unveiling began with Bruny Surin, Simon Whitfield and Stephanie Dixon taking to the podium to introduce the event. They spoke about the great weekend they just spent with the athletes and their roles as mentors. Although the athletes have been thanking the mentors a lot, Simon, on behalf of the mentors, thanked the athletes for giving them inspiration and said how fulfilling their roles are as mentors.

They were followed by Richard Nesbitt, CEO of CIBC who introduced the $2 million Team Next program to help the next generation of Canadian athletic stars reach their full potential. "What makes this program unique and special" he said, "is the elite team of mentors". He explained that the athletes had gathered from all over Canada - from St. John's to Victoria, from Yellowknife to Windsor. They represent all Pan Am and Parapan sports. CIBC will help build a sports legacy and will provide our next generation of athletes with the kind of support they need to succeed.

Federal Minister of Sport Bal Gosal and Provincial Minister of Sport Michael Chan were the final speakers before the official unveiling of the athletes. "The government can not do it alone" said Minister Gosal. With CIBC being a lead sponsor for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, the public and private partnership will lead to a lasting sports legacy following the Games. The federal and provincial governments are very happy to see corporate sponsors like CIBC who come on board to help ensure athletes stand a better chance at reaching their goals.

The athletes selected for CIBC Team Next are a varied group representing the 51 Pan Am and Parapan Am Sports and disciplines. They range in age from 15-52. The athletes who mostly practice individual sports were excited about being part of a team and learning about the other sports.

As mentioned above, the athletes come from all over Canada representing 9 Canadian provinces and territories.

British Columbia - 11 athletes

“This program will provide for these aspiring athletes many of the tools they’ll need to achieve their goals in 2015 and beyond,” said Simon Whitfield, mentor for CIBC Team Next and winner of multiple Olympic medals in triathlon. “I would like to congratulate our CIBC Team Next athletes for all their hard work so far, and I look forward to being a mentor and a part of their phenomenal journey during this exciting time in their lives.”

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Amanda Yan	25	Burnaby	Wheelchair Basketball
Austin Hinchey	22	Vancouver	Sitting Volleyball
Christabel Nettey	22	Surrey	Athletics
Danielle Kisser	16	Delta	Swimming (Para)
Emily Belchos	18	Langford	Rugby
Hilary Caldwell	22	Victoria	Swimming
Isabella Bertold	22	Surrey	Sailing
Michelle Xin-Rong Liaw	17	Vancouver	Table Tennis
Nicole Luchanski	23	Campbell River	Baseball
Phyllis Chan	22	Vancouver	Badminton
Sukhi Panesar	19	Surrey	Field Hockey

Prairies and Territories - 8 athletes

“Mentorship has always played such an important role in my career as an athlete, and I think it’s important for the next generation of aspiring athletes to have the same positive experience” said Kyle Shewfelt, an Olympic and Commonwealth gold-medal gymnast and CIBC Team Next mentor. “I look forward to helping these athletes develop into Canada’s future sporting champions and more. Congratulations, CIBC Team Next athletes!” 

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Aron Ghebreyohannes	23	Calgary, AB	Goalball
Brett Leavens	20	Chestermere, AB	Speed Skating
Cody Yano	22	Edmonton, AB	Diving
David Letourneau	24	Calgary, AB	Squash
Denise Ramsden	22	Yellowknife, NWT	Cycling
Nikola Goncin	21	White City, SK	Wheelchair Basketball
Russell Wood	19	Calgary, AB	Swimming
Taryn Grant	18	Winnipeg, MB	Water Ski

Ontario - 21 athletes

“Congratulations to all of our CIBC Team Next athletes,” said Josh Cassidy, a CIBC Team Next mentor and five-time Canadian champion wheelchair racer and winner of both the 2012 Boston Marathon and 2010 London Marathon. “I’m excited to be mentoring athletes of all abilities on their journey to represent Canada on the world stage. As an aspiring athlete, it’s so important to have a strong support system around you to keep you motivated and encouraged, which is why I’m thrilled to be part of the CIBC Team Next program.

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Anthony Romaniw	22	Hamilton	Athletics
Brooke Henderson	16	Smith Falls	Golf
Cameron Smedley	23	Ottawa	CanoeKayak
Carling Zeeman	22	Cambridge	Rowing
Christine Roper	23	London	Rowing
Cody Caldwell	25	Cavan	Wheelchair Rugby
Corey Walsh	19	Ayr	Cycling
Emma Wright	17	Lindsay	Water Polo
Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson	18	Ottawa	Swimming
Grant O’Gorman	20	Scarborough	Volleyball
Jessie Fleming	15	London	Soccer
Joanna Brown	21	Guelph	Triathlon
Justin Karn	32	Guelph	Judo (Para)
Karen Van Nest	51	South Bruce Peninsula	Archery (Para)
Mathea Stevens	22	Rockland	Modern Pentathlon
Philip Scrubb	20	Ottawa	Basketball
Patricia Bezzoubenko	16	Thornhill	Gymnastics
Samuel Charron	15	Ottawa	Soccer (Para)
Samantha Sendel	22	Aurora	Trampoline
Vanessa Lee	24	Toronto	Archery
Yvette Yong	23	Etobicoke	Taekwondo

Quebec - 20 athletes

“I would like to congratulate our CIBC Team Next athletes for their hard work and dedication so far,” said Bruny Surin, a seven-time Canadian champion and winner of multiple Olympic medals in sprint and CIBC Team Next mentor. “It’s so important to have a support system with you every step of the way, and I’m honoured to be part of a program that recognizes funding alone isn’t enough for our amateur athletes to reach the podium.” 

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Alison Levine	23	Côte-Saint-Luc	Boccia
Dorothy Yeats	20	Montréal	Wrestling
François Dussault-Lavoie	20	Québec City	Bowling
Gabrielle Pilote Fortin	20	St-Augustin de Desmaure	Cycling
Jacqueline Simoneau	17	Saint-Laurent	Synchronized Swimming
Jean- François Sylvestre	29	Québec City	Wheelchair Tennis
Jean-Michel Lavallière	22	Québec City	Swimming (Para)
Jean-Philippe Maranda	27	Sherbrooke	Athletics (Para)
Kamille Desjardins	21	L’Ange-Gardien	Karate
Kelita Zupancic	23	Montréal	Judo
Kimberly Hyacinthe	24	Terrebonne	Athletics
Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin	23	Sainte-Claire	Cycling (Para)
Mathieu Roy	24	Saint-Gervais	Softball
Maxim Bouchard	23	Saint-Constant	Diving
Maximilien Van Haaster	21	Montréal	Fencing
Michelle Morissette	17	Baie-Comeau	Racquetball
Pamela Ware	20	Montréal	Diving
Pascal Plamondon	20	Ascot Corner	Weightlifting
René Cournoyer	16	Repentigny	Gymnastics
Sylvain Gaudet	24	Brossard	Handball

Maritimes - 7 athletes

“CIBC Team Next is such an essential program because it goes beyond the funding and recognizes the incredible role mentorship also plays in an athlete’s development” said Mark de Jonge, CIBC Team Next mentor and Olympic medalist and sprint kayaker. “I know how important it is to have someone rooting for you in your corner, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this exciting chapter for the members of CIBC Team Next as they strive to reach their goals in athletics and beyond.”  

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Ben Taylor	21	St. John’s, NL	Shooting
Brittany Fraser	25	New Glasgow, NS	Equestrian
Custio Clayton	26	Dartmouth, NS	Boxing
Ian Kent	52	Eastern Passage, NS	Table Tennis (Para)
Jason McCoombs	20	Dartmouth, NS	CanoeKayak
Michelle Russell	21	Dartmouth, NS	CanoeKayak
Pamela LeJean	29	Halifax, NS	Athletics (Para)

I was fortunate to attend the second day of the orientation camp and meet many of the athletes including some interviews. I look forward to following CIBC Team Next towards the 2015 Pan Am Games and 2016 Olympic Games.

(With files from CIBC)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Two videos were brought to my attention today that are sort of related involving learning and careers.

The first has inspired me to learn how to code better. This is timely with SportCafé looking for someone to help with programming. I am not suggesting at all that this would be me, but improving my coding will make me a better Editor and Blogger and who knows where it can take me in the future.

"It's not unlike playing an instrument or playing a sport. It starts out being very intimidating but you kind of get the hang of it over time."

The second focuses on girls, which is timely with the conversations I have been having with Fast and Female this week and the International Canoe Federation proposing a plan that would improve gender equality in canoe (although not as early as many would prefer to see). The video is an ad for a toy company, but you don't realize it until the end. It definitely gets us to think about how girls have been parented especially in the past few decades with the focus on pink, princesses and ponies - not that there is anything wrong with them, but we shouldn't focus only on those options.
   

"GoldieBlox, a toy company out to show the world that girls deserve more choices than dolls and princesses. We believe that femininity is strong and girls will build the future — literally. 

Our founder, Debbie Sterling, is a Stanford engineer who decided last year that girls need more choices than the pink aisle has to offer. She developed GoldieBlox, an interactive book series + construction set starring Goldie, the kid inventor who loves to build.

This year, we wondered what we could do to showcase the amazing inventive power that girls have. So...we might have recruited three young girls and that guy who made OK Go's famous Rube Goldberg machine to turn an average home into a massive, magical contraption."

Lyrics:

Girls.

You think you know what we want, girls.
Pink and pretty it's girls.
Just like the 50's it's girls.

You like to buy us pink toys
and everything else is for boys
and you can always get us dolls
and we'll grow up like them... false.

It's time to change.
We deserve to see a range.
'Cause all our toys look just the same
and we would like to use our brains.

We are all more than princess maids.

Girls to build the spaceship,
Girls to code the new app,
Girls to grow up knowing
they can engineer that.

Girls.
That's all we really need is Girls.
To bring us up to speed it's Girls.
Our opportunity is Girls.
Don't underestimate Girls.

They're both excellent videos that everyone (not only the young) should see.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

The Heartbeat

Upcoming Events in Canada

Bobsleigh and Skeleton North American Cup
November 14-16
Calgary, AB
More info

Curling - Canadian Open Grand Slam Men
Medicine Hat, AB
November 13-17
worldcurl.com
Click here for teams
Click here for draw and standings

Curling - Colonial Square Ladies Women
Nov 15-18
Saskatoon, SK
Click here for teams
Click here for scores

Short Track Speed Skating
National selections #1
Montreal, QC Nov 15-17
More info

Olympian Appearance - Emily Beatty
Nov 16
Newmarket, ON

More info

Fast and Female 
November 23
Montreal, QC
More info
For girls aged 9-19. Hosted by Maghalie Rochette, Jessica Zelinka, Joëlle Numainville, Joëlle Bekhazi and more.

Olympic Sports on Television:

Curling
(bold times are live broadcasts)
Thursday November 14 12pm, 3:30pm Sportsnet, 7:30pm (11:30pm SN ONE)
Friday November 15 3:30pm  SN ONE 10:30p Sportsnet (6am, 8:30am SN ONE)
Saturday 12am SportsnetSaturday 12pm Quarter final CBC
Saturday 5pm, 8:30pm Sportsnet (5am , 7:30am Sportsnet ONE)
Sunday 1am SN ONE
Sunday 1pm Final on CBC

Quarter-Finals:
Saturday 3pm, Sat 10am
Semi-Finals:
Saturday 6:30pm
Finals:
Sun 11am

Figure Skating
Saturday Nov 16 3pm on CBC Men's and Dance Free Programs

Soccer
Friday November 15 11am Czech Republic v Canada

Other Events and Livestreams
Judo Open Oceania
Apia, Samoa
Nov 15-16
More info and livestream

Gymnastics - Artistic
Marseille France
Nov 15-17
More info

Short Track Speed Skating
Nov 14-17
Kolomna, Russia
More info

Long track speed skating
Salt Lake City
Nov 15-17
More info

Rugby friendly vs Romania
November 16
Romania

Sailing Worlds Laser Radial men
Al Musannah, Oman
November 17-23
More info

Figure Skating Grand Prix
November 15-17
Paris, France
More info

Alpine Skiing World Cup
November 16-17
Levi, Finland
More info

Luge World Cup
November 16-17
Lillehammer, NOR
More info
Live results

Wheelchair Basketball World Cup
November 15-17
Kitakyushu, Japan
More info
Schedule
Livestream

1000 Days To Rio 2016 Predictions

[This post was originally written on November 9 2013]

With 1000 days to the Rio 2016 Olympics, I thought I would celebrate the milestone with very early predictions.

One of the first patriotic moments of the Olympics is the teams walking into the Opening Ceremony. Who will be Canada's flag bearer?

We haven't had a female summer flag bearer since 2000 when Caroline Brunet led Team Canada at the opening ceremony in Sydney. All Winter Olympics flag bearers have been women since. I think it's time to switch it up. There are numerous worthy women for 2016 like:

• Rosie MacLennan (sole gold medal winner in 2012)
• Christine Sinclair (soccer captain and legend)
• Diana Matheson (bronze winning goal scorer)

(not sure about having one member of a team as flag bearer)

If not a woman, how about Ian Millar if at age 69 breaks his own record as the Olympian to have competed in the most Olympics Games returning for his 11th Olympics?

Sure-Things

It's a pretty safe bet that an American will win the gold medal in golf although I wouldn't put too much money on Tiger. Looking at the past few years, there have been more first time winners on the PGA tour, so I wouldn't be surprised if the gold medal is won by someone who has not won a tournament before.

Is it safe to say that China will continue to dominate the diving competitions? Our Canadian ladies will give them a run for their money and I would love to see one or two of them (as a single or pair) winning the first gold since Sylvie Bernier in 1984.

Jamaica will continue to dominate in the sprint events, but how fast will the 100m winner go?

Brazil as host will win more medals than they ever have before.

Long Shots (Not likely to happen)

Lolo Jones will return to the Summer Olympics after a stint as a bobsleigh Olympian to capture the hurdling medal that has eluded her.

Mike Weir will find his form and be one of the top Canadians on the Canadian Olympic golf team.

The rest of the world will catch up to the Brownlee Brothers and shut them out of the medals in the triathlon.

The Canadian media and general public will understand that we are the cleanest team at the Games and will not complain or criticize lack of medals.

Top Canadian Moments

Canada will win its first basketball medal since the silver in 1936. With young stars like Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, Kelly Olynyk and Tristan Thompson, Canada is set to surpass the Steve Nash-led amazing 7th place at the 2000 Olympics.

Canada will be a triple threat in tennis. With 5 events, 3 medals is not an impossible feat.
Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil, Filip Peliwo (Junior Wimbledon and US Open Champion in and #1 ranked junior in 2012) and possibly Daniel Nestor could combine with Eugenie Bouchard, Staphanie Dubois, Sharon Fichman or Aleksandra Wozniak for the strongest Canadian tennis team in years.

Canada will have a double medal performance for decathlon/heptathlon.
Damian Warner will continue his ascension in the decathlon ranks to win a medal following his 5th place in 2012. While Jessica Zelinka and Brianne Thiessen will give Canada its second medal.

Moments I'd Love To See
Paula Findlay is healthy and crosses the finish line happy and satisfied.

4x100m relay - the 2012 team is back and captures that elusive medal.

Women's soccer team keeps getting stronger. They make a successful run at the World Cup in 2015 held in Canada and finish it off with Olympic gold in Rio.

Boxer Mary Spencer overcomes 2012 disappointment and comes home from Rio with a medal.

Zach Bell makes me realize that medals are not that important in the big picture though.  Zach competed at the 2012 Olympics and although was a medal hopeful, he did not podium. A few months later his son died a couple of days after he was born. Of course every athlete competes to win but a medal doesn't necessarily bring happiness or meaning. So rather than just winning a medal, I would love to see more meaningful happiness for Zach Bell than a medal can bring.

The Heartbeat

Originally published on SportCafé.ca



Don’t forget to check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.
If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Upcoming Events In Canada

Curling - Olympic pre-qualifier
November 5-10
Kitchener, ON
More info Team John Morris and Team Kelly Scott captured their respective A-Event titles and earn playoff spots. They are one win away from qualifying for the Olympic trials in Winnipeg in December

National Rowing Championships
November 8-10
Welland, ON
More info Click here for preview article by Rowing Canada.

Speed Skating World Cup
November 8-10
Calgary, AB
More info
Tribute to Clara Hughes on Saturday at 2:30pm following by a meet and greet.
Live coverage on ISU Skating Channel. Click here.
Click here for preview article from Speed Skating Canada.

Bobsleigh and Skeleton North American Cup
November 11-17
Calgary, AB
More info

Sports on Television:

Curling:
Saturday November 9 9am Women's Playoff Game TSN
Saturday November 9 2pm Men's Trials Qualifier TSN (midnight TSN2)
Saturday November 9 7pm Women's Trials Qualifier TSN (3am TNS2)
Sunday November 10 9am Men's Playoff Game TSN
Sunday November 10 7pm Men's Trials Qualifier TSN2
Monday November 10 12:30am Women's Trials Qualifier TSN2

Figure Skating Grand Prix Japan
Saturday November 9 3pm Pairs' and Men's Free Programs
Sunday November 10 2pm Women's and Dance Free Programs
Sunday November 10 1:30pm NBC

Speed Skating World Cup
Saturday November 9 5pm ET/2pm PT
Sunday November 10 4pm local (3pm online)

Basketball
Canada's Andrew Wiggins is starting his college career playing for Kansas. TSN/TSN2 will be broadcasting most of his NCAA games.

Friday, Nov. 8 vs. Louisiana Monroe at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN2
Tuesday, Nov. 12 vs. Duke at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN2
Tuesday, Nov. 19 vs. Iona at 8 p.m. ET on TSN2
Friday, Nov. 22 vs. Towson at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN2
Thursday, Nov. 28 vs. Wake Forest at 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN2

Other Events and Livestreams

Short Track Speed Skating World Cup
November 7-10
Torino, Italy
More info
Live streamed here.
Televised on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on CBC.

Trampoline World Championships
November 7-10
Sofia, Bulgaria
More info
Click here for YouTube channel

Figure Skating Grand Prix - Japan
November 8-10
Tokyo, Japan
More info

Swimming World Cup
November 9-10
Tokyo, Japan
More info
Click here for livestream.

Swimming World Cup
November 13-14
Beijing, China
More info
Click here for livestream

Volleyball Final Four
November 6-10
Monterrey, Mexico
More info

Rugby 7s North America Caribbean tournament
November 9-10
Cayman Islands
More info

Wrestling - NY AC International
Noveber 8
New York
More info
Livestream at themat.com

Olympic hopefuls model the 2014 Olympics collection

Originally published on SportCafé.ca

Hudson's Bay unveiled Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Team's 2014 Olympics collection this past week. Eighteen Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls were on hand to model the collection. Most of the athletes are still competing to qualify for the 2014 Games, but the group of athletes present was very impressive.

(front row left to right)
Chloé Dufour-Lapointe, Moguls - 2013 World Champion (dual moguls), 2011 World silver medallist (dual moguls) 5th 2010 Vancouver Olympics
Brad Bowden, Sledge Hockey and Wheelchair Basketball- 2004 Paralympic gold in wheelchair basketball, 2006 Paralympic gold in sledge hockey, 3-time Olympian, 3-time World Champion
Dylan Moscovitch.  Figure Skating Pairs - 4th 2013 World Championships
Jean-Luc Brassard, Assistant Chef de Mission - 4 time Olympian - moguls, gold medal 1994 Olympics, 44 World Cup moguls' podiums, 18 World Cup victories
Kirsten Moore-Towers, Figure Skating Pairs - 4th 2013 World Championships
Billy Bridges, Sledge Hockey - 2006 Paralympic gold in sledge hockey, 3 time Paralympian, 3 time world chamipon
Justine Dufour-Lapointe, Moguls - 3rd 2013 World Championships, 2nd WC Moguls Standing 2012, 2013

(Middle row)
John Leslie, Para-Snowboarding - 5th in his first World Cup, 2011; 8th 2012 World Championships. Para-Snowboarding makes its official Games debut in 2014.
Erin Mielzynski, Alpine Skiing - World Cup Gold Medallist 2012, World Cup Bronze, 2013
Cheryl Bernard, Curling - 2010 Olympic silver medal
Jan Hudec, Alpine Skiing - 2007 World Silver Medallist (downhill), 4-time WC Medallist, 2-time World Cup Winner including 2007 downhill at Lake Louise, 2010 Olympian
Mark Arendz, Para-Nordic Skiing and Biathlon - 2013 gold medal and two bronze medals at IPC Biathlon World Championships, 2013 overall IPC World Cup Biathlon Champion

(Back row)
Lenny Valjas, Cross-Country Skiing - Five time World Cup medallist
Brad Spence, Alpine Skiing - 2010 Canadian Champion, 12th in slalom Kitzbuehel 2010 and Alta Badia 2009, 2010 Olympian
Andrew Poje, Figure Skating Ice Dance - 4th World Championships, 2012
Kaitlyn Weaver, Figure Skating Ice Dance - 4th World Championships, 2012
Robbi Weldon, Para-Nordic Skiing and Para-cycling - Gold London 2012 Paralympic road cycling, two top-5 2010 Paralympic Games in para-nordic skiing
Jesse Lumsden, Bobsleigh - 2012 World Silver Medallist Men's Two-Man, 2010 Olympian

It was revealed that the clothing that the athletes will be wearing are made in Canada. The items for sale in stores are made in China. The more than 200 athletes competing at the Olympic Games will receive 39 items and the 55 athletes competing at the Paralympic Games will receive 32 items as part of their 2014 uniform. "This will outfit them in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, during Podium Presentations, and while hanging out in the Olympic village."

The collection showcases "Canada's iconic colours: Maple Leaf Red, Northern White and Winter Night Black" in colour-blocking patterns. With more than half of my wardrobe being black, I personally love the black accent added to the red and white in the collection.

The Maple Leaf is used throughout the collection along with the 2014 Team Crest representing sportsmanship, competition, athleticism and national pride.

The beaver, the loon and the polar bear are also featured on many items in the collection.

For the fifth Olympics, the mittens are the highlight and this year's edition looked amazing showcased in a display as we entered the venue.

Pairs figure skaters Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch were front and centre wearing the red duffel coat ($275) a single-breasted coat in wool/nylon blend with a zipper and toggle style buttons that is accented with a black stripe around the waist. The duffel coat also looked great paired with the beaver scarf ($25) that alpine skier Brad Spence wore (below).



Ice dancers Andrew Poje and Kaityn Weaver looked great in the Colour-Blocked Soft Shell Jacket ($125) that is weather resistant and warm. These jackets will be a favourite with outdoor-loving Canadians.

I would love to know what black top with the red stripe that skier Erin Mielzynski is modelling. I'm not seeing it in the collection list. Perhaps it's an athlete-only item.

Justine Dufour-Lapointe wore the women's reversible puffer jacket ($150) with a Maple Leaf Appliqué Cotton Tee ($35).

Her sister Chloé modelled the Black Marl Fleece Hoodie ($75) over a Canadian Olympic Team 2014 tee ($30) (or long-sleeve $45).

Jan Hudec was warm in the chunky knit Canada beaver sweater inspired by classic sports like skiing and curling. The Canada maple leaf and 2014 Team crest are featured on the sleeves. A curled up beaver is featured on the back (shown here by curler Cheryl Bernard). Jan also sported the team stripe tuque ($20)

Cross-country skier Lenny Valjas looked sporty in the Colour-blocked polo. This may be another athlete-only item as I don't see it in the collection.

Para-nordic skier and biathlete Mark Arendz sported the Sochi 2014 Canada Tuque ($20), the beaver scarf ($25) and a 2014 Paralympic tee ($30). For the first time, Hudson's Bay has partnered with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to design two unique tees (red for women and black for men) that feature the Canadian Paralympic Team emblem in the 2014. There is also an Olympic version of this tee with the 0 replaced by the oval Canadian Olympic Team logo.

Brad Bowden is wearing what looks like winter mittens. On the collection list, there are winter gloves ($30) described as black finger gloves with a hint of colour-blocking and Canadian symbols.

Brad Spence is wearing the Black Marl Fleece Pants ($60) with  ankle cuffs and waistband bound by two single white and red stripes.

Billy Bridges wore a colour-block hat which may be an athlete only item. Hudson's Bay is selling a black trapper hat ($45) as well as an all-red micro fleece lined beanie ($15). CANADA is showcased in the middle of the scarf that also features a fringed hem.

Most items seen at the unveiling are available at Hudson's Bay stores and at their online store, along with many other clothing items for men, women, children, youth and infants. There are also accessories like pins, bracelets, luggage tags, backpack, plush toys, fleece blankets, towels and a mittens key chain that I may not be able to resist.

I spoke with a few of the athletes afterwards and they loved the collection. Being a part of the unveiling have inspired them even more to make the Olympic Team and be in Sochi in just under 100 days to represent Canada.