OTTAWA – CanoeKayak Canada is pleased to name a core roster of athletes to its NextGen Atlantic Training Group. CanoeKayak Canada launched the NextGen program in Atlantic Canada last fall in partnership with the Canadian Sports Centre Atlantic and the clubs of the Atlantic Division CanoeKayak Canada.
The program is geared towards identifying athletes with long-range potential to perform internationally. With a time frame focused on the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, the program is designed to help athletes successfully make the step to the senior-level with an emphasis on expert coaching, integrated sport science and providing other resources typically only available to the senior national team in the athletes’ daily training environment.
“We’re very pleased to name our first NextGen training group in Atlantic Canada” said Scott Logan, CanoeKayak Canada’s High Performance Director. “With this program we’re creating a highly focused training environment. This is going to accelerate the development of the athletes in the group and also those who strive to join the group in the future as athletes graduate to the senior ranks. NextGen is going to be a key element in growing our medal potential for years to come.”
NextGen is closely intertwined with the club system. Athletes in the core group alternate between the club environment and the NextGen training group depending on the time of year. Jan Kruk and Chad Brooks are the coaching leads for NextGen Atlantic and work closely with club coaches to manage training programs for NextGen identified athletes.
In addition to the core group of athletes, other Atlantic-based athletes may be identified and invited to join the group in the future based on their demonstrated potential. The NextGen Atlantic training group identifies athletes who are primarily situated in Atlantic Canada but the composition of the group may change periodically where athletes from other parts of Canada relocate to the area or attend training camps.
NextGen Atlantic Core Training Group
Men’s Kayak
Athlete | Club | Club Head Coach |
Alex Scott | Maskwa | Jon Pike |
Marshall Hughes | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Adam Tenwolde | Banook | Jan Kruk* |
Liam O’Brien | Banook | Jan Kruk* |
Andrew Jessop | Maskwa | Jon Pike |
Zane Clarke | Banook | Jan Kruk* |
Hunter Morrissey | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Women’s Kayak
Athlete | Club | Club Head Coach |
Michelle Russell | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Alexa Irvin | Maskwa | Jon Pike |
Ailish McNulty | Mic Mac | Chris Chaisson |
Olivia Denman | Banook | Jan Kruk* |
Hayley Nelson | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Sam Hall | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Men’s Canoe
Athlete | Club | Club Head Coach |
Jason McCoombs | Banook | Jan Kruk* |
Roland Varga | Richmond Hill | Helen Savin |
Marc Tarling | Pointe-Claire | Marc Creamer |
Craig Spence | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Thomas Hall | Cheema | Mike Kerrivan |
Women’s Canoe
Athlete | Club | Club Head Coach |
Hannah MacIntosh | Senobe | Rob Baert |
*past club head coach
CanoeKayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. The organization’s vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions. From supporting clubs to developing a competitive National Team, CanoeKayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada’s heritage.
-30-
For more information:
Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca