The exciting times continue for the Nipissing Lakers Nordic Ski team.
Less than a month after finding out Lakers head coach Toivo Koivukoski will lead Team Canada into the World Universiade Games for 2017 in Almaty, Kazahkstan, the news broke that two Lakers student-athletes will be joining him.
One of the Lakers top skiers, team captain Jordan Cascagnette has been named to Team Canada on the men’s side and Shelby Dickey has earned a spot on the women’s side.
This is the third time that Cascagnette has made the cut to represent his country in international competition, having worn Canada’s colours at the 2011 World Junior Championships, and again at the 2013 World Universiade in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
This year Canada will be represented in cross-country skiing by six male and six female varsity student-athletes, representing the best varsity skiers in the country, and demonstrating that varsity athletics is a viable pathway to excellence in the sport.
The FISU World Universiade is a biennial multi-sport games for full-time student-athletes, with over 50 countries taking part in the Winter Games.
The FISU Games are endorsed and supported domestically by cross-country’s sports governing bodies, here Cross-Country Ontario and Cross-Country Canada.
This is the second time that Nipissing Nordic has qualified student-athletes to represent at the FISU Games, following strong representation at the 2013 Games, and demonstrating that Nipissing University is the place to ski and study in Canada.
Koivukoski is excited that two of his athletes will be joining him in Kazahkstan.
“It is a thrill to hear the news that two of Nipissing Nordic’s own skiers have qualified to represent Canada at these Games,” he said.
“Having seen the quality, focused work that these student-athletes put in year in, year out, I can say that this is an honor well-deserved, and I know that Shelby and Jordan will step up to the demands of international competition with the kind of pride that exemplifies our fine student-athletes," added Koivukoski.
“Having these two Lakers student-athlete honoured with being named to Team Canada is an inspiration to our young skiers in Northern Ontario to work hard at their training and to continue enjoying their sport for life. Seeing the real option of going to university while training at an elite level will help to retain more athletes in the sport of skiing while underlining the success of two of Nipissing University’s own hard working and talented student-athletes,” Koivukoski added.
Cascagnette, who has some international experience under his belt, said you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face after finding out the good news.
“When I heard that I was selected to Team Canada, I was so excited, way more than last time. Now that I've raced on the world stage twice in the past, I know what to expect from these games and its competitors, and I can put the awe struck feeling behind me this time and focus on representing my country at the best of my abilities,” he said.
For Dickey, the countdown has already begun and she’s thrilled with the opportunity ahead of her.
“I am truly honoured and humbled to take part in such an amazing opportunity. It is the goal of a student athlete to partake in these events and I could not be happier that I am part of such an outstanding team of people competing internationally. Bring it on Kazakhstan,” she stated.
The Games are scheduled to take place from Jan. 29 to Feb. 8, 2017.
