World Cup short track speed skating: 9 Canadians qualify on 1st day in Toronto

Olympic medallists Valerie Maltais, Marianne St-Gelais, Charles Hamelin and Charle Cournoyer led a group of nine Canadian skaters who had a perfect day in qualifying on Friday, the first day of the first ISU World Cup short track speed skating event ever to be held in Toronto.

Maltais, from La Baie, Que., earned her spot in elimination rounds for the women's 1500-metre that will take place Saturday, as well as for Sunday's 1000m.

"It's part of short track to take chances, to be aggressive and to try and overtake, and I had the right intensity level last week. I felt extremely good, I felt able to go out and end up on the podium. So yes, it was a little bit frustrating to see my road to the final cut short. At the same time, I need to learn from that," said Maltais, who won a silver medal in relay at the Sochi Olympic Games.

St-Gelais, from Saint-Felicien, Que., did the same in the 1500m and in the second 500m event of the weekend, slated for Sunday.

"The ice is different here than it was in Montreal, so I had to be a little careful out there, but the day went OK, I qualified, and now the show goes on," said St-Gelais.

"I hope there will be great crowds this weekend, we want to show local sports fans how good Canada is at short track speed skating. In my case, I'll be going for another gold in the 500m."

Hamelin, from Sainte-Julie, Que., qualified for both 500m events scheduled over the weekend — one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Counoyer, from Boucherville, Que., did the same in the 1000m and 1500m.

"I really like racing with my teammates, it means we have greater chances to go deeper into rounds," said Hamelin. "And it's also a good feeling to have teammates around you on the ice."

All four skaters will therefore have an opportunity to win two medals each, as will five others Canadian skaters: Samuel Girard of Ferland-et-Boilleau, Qc (qualified in both 500m events) and Calgary's Sasha Fathoullin — the first 500m and the 1000m — on the men's side, as well as Kim Boutin of Sherbrooke, Que., (1500m and Sunday's 500m), Kasandra Bradette from Saint-Felicien, Que., (Saturday's 500m and the 1000m) and Jamie MacDonald of Fort St. James, B.C. (Saturday's 500m and Sunday's 1000m).

Patrick Duffy of Oakville, Ont., who is skating at a World Cup in his home province for the very first time, qualified for Saturday's 1500m semifinals. Fourth in his heat in the 500m on Friday, he will need to go through the repechage heats in that distance, Sunday morning.

Audrey Phaneuf of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., qualified for the semifinals of Sunday's 500m race, but was disqualified from Saturday's 500 due to a penalty. Francois Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., was penalized and eliminated from Sunday's 1000m, and will have to go through repechage heats in Saturday's 1500m.

In the relay, the Canadian women's team — comprised of Maltais, St-Gelais, Bradette and Phaneuf — finished first in its heat and earned a spot in Saturday's semifinals.