OTTAWA – CanoeKayak Canada is proud to announce the canoe slalom athletes who will represent Canada in international competition this year. The selections come following two days of Canadian National Team Trials at the Minden Wild Water Preserve.

Toronto 2015 Pan American Games

The Canadian Olympic Committee and CanoeKayak Canada have announced four athletes nominated to represent Team Canada at canoe the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. The four athletes selected to compete in the canoe slalom competition include Ben Hayward of Edmonton, AB; Cameron Smedley of Dunrobin, ON; Jazmyne Denhollander of Chilliwack, BC; and Haley Daniels of Calgary, AB. These athletes will make history in the first-ever appearance of canoe slalom at the Pan American Games. The canoe slalom events will take place the weekend of July 18 and 19 at the same venue the athletes qualified at in Minden.

Quotes

“What a phenomenal team we have to represent Canada in this historic Pan Am debut for canoe slalom. This is a big opportunity for our athletes to compete at a high profile competition on home water. With Olympic qualification on the line this is truly a now or never moment and I know the team is absolutely stoked to show what we’re made of.”  – James Cartwright, CanoeKayak Canada’s Slalom High Performance Manager

“I’ve never raced in front of a home crowd before of this size so I’m really excited for that. It’s going to be so cool to get a crowd of five hundred cheering for me and Team Canada. Pan Ams will be our continental qualifier for Rio so it is a good confidence builder to be able to race well here on home water.” – Ben Hayward, Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games athlete

“I’m really excited I get to carry on the legacy from my grandpa who competed in the Pan American Games when it was in Canada so that’s a big deal for me. I’m looking forward to being a part of a multi-sport games when all of the sports come together and we get to feel the excitement of being part of Team Canada.” Haley Daniels, Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games athlete

World Cups, World Championships and Pan American Continental Championships

The senior National Team has been selected to represent Canada at five World Cups taking place in Europe in June and August, and the World Championships in September. Up to three athletes and one alternate per discipline have been selected to senior teams depending on the achievement of performance standards.

The Pan American Continental Championships will take place at the same time as the Pan American Games. Athletes competing in the Pan American Games along with up to two additional athletes competing in the Pan American Continental Championships will have the opportunity to earn quota spots for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Senior Team for World Cups, World Championships and Pan American Continental Championships

Men’s K1

1) Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB)

2) John Hastings (Aurora, ON)

3) Michael Tayler (Ottawa, ON)

Alternate: David Ford (Edmonton, AB)

Women’s K1

1) Jazmyne Denhollander (Chilliwack, BC)

2) Jessica Groeneveld (Innisfail, AB)

3) Thea Froehlich (Ottawa, ON)

Alternate: Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC)

Men’s C1

1) Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)

2) Liam Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)

3) Spencer Pomeroy (Ottawa, ON) *nominated to Pan American Continental Championships only.

Women’s C1

1) Haley Daniels (Calgary, AB)

2) Alexandra McGee (Ottawa, ON) *World Cups and World Championships only

Men’s C2

1) Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB) & Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)

Full Trials Results and Rankings

International Race Schedule

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Media Contact:

Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca