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Winter Universiade: Alberta’s Schmiemann leads Canada into Opening Ceremony

U SPORTS Staff

At the Opening Ceremonies, it was pomp and pageantry as for the first time ever, the Winter Universiade was hosted by Russia. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, was in attendance to watch and celebrate the opening of the second biggest winter sporting event in the world. The Ceremonies was broadcasted to over 60 countries worldwide.

Schedule & Results

FISU.TV

The three hour spectacle, held in front of a sold out Platinum Arena Krasnoyarsk, highlighted the history of Siberia and its cultural traditions and was in the planning for over two years. Team Canada was led into the Arena by flag bearer and women’s curler Danielle Schmiemann (Alberta). The 121-person delegation (87 student-athletes plus Mission and Support Staff) was warmly received as Canada marched into the Arena prior to start of the official opening of this Universiade.

 “This is a special day and quite the honour to carry the Canadian flag," said Schmiemann. "I am so excited to be here and be part of the Ceremonies and compete for Canada again at a Winter Universiade.”

More than 1,700 of the world’s best university student-athletes from 58 countries will compete through 12 days in 11 different sports in the heart of Sibieria - Krasnoyarsk.

Team Canada opened the Universiade a day earlier when women’s hockey won 10-0 over China in their first action. Sunday will be the first full day of action in Krasnoyarsk with Canadians participating and going for medals in snowboard cross, alpine and cross country skiing plus team competition begins for curling (women’s & men’s) while hockey (women’s) continues. Biathlon will start on Monday.

Men's Hockey

Prior to the Opening Ceremony of the 29th Winter Universiade, the Canadian men’s hockey had their first action of the Games and beat Great Britain by a score of 12-0 on Saturday morning.

“It was a really good experience today. First game ever to wear the maple leaf and obviously it was an honour,“ commented a humble Mike Morgan (Waterloo) after registering a hat-trick in the convincing win. “To be able to perform at my best – it was something special and something that I will never forget.”

Right off the opening minute, Great Britain had a glorious chance to open the scoring but instead goalie Dawson MacAuley (Regina) stoned a two-on-none breakaway, which propelled the red and white to launch an offensive attack and notch the first goal of the game. Fellow Regina Cougars teammate Tristan Frei potted the first goal after a big rebound. Alexander Yuill (UOIT) had the lone assist at only 1:43 into the contest.

After a lengthy video review, Canada scored again in the first when another Ridgeback, Jack Patterson, potted a rebound after a shot by Adam Henry (Manitoba) at 9:16. Canada kept scoring as Morgan converted a nice pass from Frei for a 3-0 lead at the 15-minute mark. After one period, it was 3-0 Canada.

In the middle frame, the floodgates opened for Canada with seven goals. It started early and often. They continued the momentum from the first with a quick tally only 26 seconds in as a sprawling Garrett McFadden (Acadia) redirected team captain and Axemen teammate Liam Maaskant's shot. After 4:35, Canada struck again when Nick Chyzowski (Waterloo) scored from Henry and Loïk Léveillé (UQTR). Great Britain changed their goalie after another Canadian marker by Morgan (his second of the game) with the assist to Chyzowski. The new GB netminder saw the puck early as Danny Hanlon (Laurier) sniped from the slot with assists from Léveillé and UQTR teammate Mathieu Lemay for a 7-0 lead.

Three more goals rounded out the second period scoring. Carl Neill (Concordia) from Lemay and Morgan then Morgan finished off the hat-trick with a close in goal, followed by Daniel Del Paggio (Lakehead) adding his first for a 10-0 commanding lead and a 48-8 shots margin in favour of Canada.

In the third, Canada kept it going as Hanlon potted his second with no assists on the play. Then, Del Paggio was left alone in front and made a nifty deke for a 12-0 lead and final score. Great Britain was outshot 66-11 and MacAuley earned the shutout for Canada.

Boxscore

 

Snowboard

In other Universiade action for Team Canada, two women snowboard cross competitors earned their way into the round robin as Audrey McManiman (Laval) finished third after the two qualification heats while Fanny Girardin (Laval) was 10th. On the men’s side, Will Malisch (Western) was the lone Canadian to advance to the robin robin after a 12th-place finish. Austin White (UBC Okanagan) just missed qualifying and was 17th followed Stuart Gunn (Calgary) ended up 20th and Alexandre Cadieux (Ottawa) in 22nd spot.

TEAM CANADA RESULTS: MARCH 2

MEN’S HOCKEY

Canada (1-0) wins 12-0 vs. Great Britain (0-1), will face Latvia (1-1) on Monday, March 4 at 4 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local time) in second game of Group B

SNOWBOARD

Women’s Snowboard Cross

Qualifications (two runs)

  1. Audrey McManiman, Laval Rouge et Or, 1:04.71, advances to round robin on Sunday, March 3.
  2. Fanny Girardin, Laval Rouge et Or, 1:10.38, advances to round robin on Sunday, March 3.

Men’s Snowboard Cross

Qualifications (two runs)

  1. Will Malisch, Western Mustangs, 1:02.64, advances to round robin on Sunday, March 3.
  2. Austin White, UBC Okanagan Heat, 1:05.55, did not advance to round robin on Sunday, March 3.
  3. Stuart Gunn, Calgary Dinos, 1:06.23, did not advance to round robin on Sunday, March 3.
  4. Alexandre Cadieux, Ottawa Gee-Gees, 1:06.74, did not advance to round robin on Sunday, March 3.

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