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Team Alberta checks out ‘home field advantage’ for Canada Winter Games

Jan 20, 2019 | 8:10 AM

The “home team” is in Red Deer this weekend getting a look at what life will be like next month during the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Team Alberta is hosting a staging event that started with a rally Saturday morning at the RDC Arts Centre, marking the only time the entire team will be in the same room at the same time. 

“The Games are 27 days away and this staging event actually shows the athletes, and the parents, coaches and managers, that this is more than a single sport event. This is a multi-sport event,” explained Pat Lechelt, Chef de Mission for Team Alberta.

Alberta will have 334 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff representing 21 teams in 19 sports at next month’s Games.

A number of those athletes, in addition to getting a full tour of Red Deer and the facilities and services they’ll be using, are taking part in training and competitions this weekend. Speed skaters are hitting the ice at the new long track at Setters Place, while both the Male U16 and Female U18 hockey teams are in exhibition action at the Collicutt Centre.

Team Alberta also announced its Flag Bearer for the Opening Ceremonies Feb. 15 at the Centrium.

Elijah Thompson from Calgary is an artistic gymnist who has been competing nationally for the last eight years. He is also strong activist with the Right to Play charity that he began raising money for at the age of nine. In 2013 he was recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award for Community Service for his efforts. When he was 13, Elijah spent a year recovering from ground breaking surgery to his wrist and came back stronger than ever competing at nationals every year since.  

“I think he’ll represent Team Alberta very well,” Lechelt said. “He is not only a great athlete and has overcome many injuries, but is also a very well-respected person.”

Boxer Janick Lacroix from Medicine Hat and speed skater Hee Won Son from Calgary will carry the Team Alberta banner into the Opening Ceremonies.

In all, more than 3,800 athletes, coaches, and team staff from 800 communities across the country will be coming to Red Deer for the 2019 Canada Winter Games from Feb. 15 to March 3.