New leadership guides speed-skating club into meet

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

The Chronicle

With a new executive committee in place, the Dollard des Ormeaux Speed Skating club (DSSC) hosted the Circuit Liliane Lambert Initiation meet Saturday at the Dollard Civic Centre.

Pierrefonds resident Pierre Filiatrault has taken over the reins as president of the club from Cecilia Pacanins, who recently stepped down. Feeling she had done her part and simply needed a rest, Pacanins, who held the position for the last seven years, was on hand Saturday, offering motivation and words of wisdom to the numerous volunteers. She also presented medals.

Over 100 short-track skaters from 17 western Quebec region clubs showed their wares at the event, designed for skaters at the lowest category on the competitive scale in provincial short-track speed skating. Grouped into separate age categories seven and over, each competed in five races, with skaters competing in A, B, C and D finals, according to their qualifying times. Only those in the A finals qualified for medals.

“We tip our hat to Cecilia and all the work she did for the club with just four people on her committee,� said Filiatrault. “She was a very hard worker, and took a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders. She will still be our main resource person.�

No DSSC athletes earned the chance to receive medals from Pacanins. However, two of its juvenile skaters, Matthew De Freitas and Peter Maniatakos, attained their level-two time qualifications for the 500-metre events, allowing them to compete at the provincial level.

“We’re proud of all our skaters, particularly these two,� said Filiatrault.

“We expect Matthew to jump right into a level-two provincial meet this weekend,� she added.

The next target date for the DSSC, named Club of the Year last spring by the Quebec Speed Skating Federation, is Dec. 17, when it will host the Quebec Winter Games regional selection meet at the Civic Centre.