REGINA - Team Saskatchewan entered the 2023 Canada Winter Games opening ceremonies, held in Charlottetown, P.E.I. led by speed skater Luca Veeman, the team’s official flag-bearer. Veeman, joined by the flag-bearers of each province and territory took part in a ceremonial finish to the torch relay which, fittingly, was in the shape of a lighthouse.
The theme throughout the night was “we are all Islanders!” Performers and speakers welcomed the athletes, coaches and support staff to the province, claiming that all were honorary Islanders now.
Team Saskatchewan is made up of 217 total athletes taking part in all 20 sports, 74 coaches and support staff, and 26 mission staff coming from 60 communities across Saskatchewan, forming a full contingent of 317 participants.
The PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games will feature an inaugural Karate match, Mixed Doubles Curling match, and the first-ever women's Boxing match in the history of the Canada Games. Canadians nationwide will be able watch competitions live and other on-demand content on the new Canada Games streaming platform for free. The 15-day broadcast will feature over 1,200 hours of live event coverage.
Week one sports include: Biathlon, Curling - Female, Freestyle Ski, Gymnastics - Artistic, Gymnastics - Trampoline, Hockey - Male, Karate, Ringette, Speed Skating - Long Track, Speed Skating - Short Track, Squash, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball.
TEAM SASKATCHEWAN IN DEPTH:
CURLING - female
-
The opening draw at the Canada Games will feature Saskatchewan and Newfoundland starting at 10 a.m. AST (8 a.m. SK time).
-
Skip Hannah Rugg of Regina and her rink have high expectations heading into play.
-
Their second draw of the day will be at 2 p.m. AST vs Northwest Territories.
TABLE TENNIS
-
Table tennis opens Sunday with mixed doubles play. Saskatchewan begins at 10 a.m. AST.
SQUASH
-
Saskatchewan’s first squash match is scheduled for 2:40 p.m. AST inside the East Link Centre in Charlottetown. Team Sask’s Will Shevkenek will face Ajit Bala of PEI.
FREESTYLE SKIING
-
Freestyle skiing begins with the aerials competition. Qualifications start at 3 p.m. AST with the finals scheduled for 5 p.m. AST and 6 p.m. AST. Medal presentations are expected to begin around 8 p.m. AST.
RINGETTE - FEMALE
-
The girls open play Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. AST (1 p.m. SK time) vs Ontario. During pre-games competition, Saskatchewan and Ontario played each other twice, each winning one time.
HOCKEY - MALE
-
Saskatchewan hits the ice this afternoon as play opens. They’ll face-off with New Brunswick at 4 p.m. AST (2 p.m. SK time).
-
The team is looking to improve upon their fourth place finish at the Red Deer 2019 Canada Winter Games. New Brunswick was an eighth place finisher in 2019, losing to Alberta in the quarter finals
