Lakers Nordic team is off to Italy

Three student-athletes and one coach will be representing the Nipissing Lakers, as well as their country, on an international stage as the 2013 Winter Universiade begins in Italy. Nordic Skiers Jordan Cascaganette, Thomsen D’Hont and Kajsa Heyes will join head coach, Toivo Koivukoski, as part of Team Canada, along with student-athletes from across the country who will participate in nine events during the two-week event.

“This is a chance for Nipissing student-athletes to shine on a global stage and for Nipissing Nordic to show itself as a powerhouse team on the Canada ski scene,” said Koivukoski, Lakers head coach, and assistant coach of Team Canada for the event.

The student-athletes are beyond excited to make the trip overseas and participate in this event. For some, it will be the first time taking part in a competition of this magnitude and for others, it’s another step on the road to becoming a successful athlete.

“I am incredibly excited for these upcoming races. I set my goals for the event last May when I heard I made the team, so this whole training season has been focused on being as fit as possible when I arrive in Italy,” explained Cascagnette.

“I’m right in the middle of my final exams right now, which I’m completing before I leave, so currently I feel a bit stressed, but after my last exam I think relief will settle and then I will be able to fully grasp my excitement,” said Heyes. “These races will be the very first races of the season for us, so it’s hard to know what to expect. We’ve been training since May and you really don’t know how you’re going to do until you get out there and race, so at this point, I really want to take in the whole experience of racing at an international level and enjoy the Universiade to the fullest. I’m hoping the classic distance race will be a particularly good race for me.”

“My goal for these Games is to crack the top 15,” said Cascagnette. “Having never competed at an international university event like this, I don’t really know what the competition will be like, but I’m confident in the training I have done this year and I would really like to see myself competing with the top guys.”

One of the nice things the Lakers will have going for them is the fact that there are four members of the team attending the event.
Being able to travel with teammates and their coach can only help in the long run.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the team a little better during this trip,” said Cascagnette. “I’ve been racing with or against most of my teammates for the past several years, so it’ll be nice to be on the same team sharing this experience with them.”
Heyes echoed Cascagnette’s comments, adding it’s an amazing to experience something like this with friends and teammates and it will make it that much more special.

Koivukoski said this can and should go a long way to building the Lakers program and building on the success they’ve had in the past.
It’s a big stepping stone for the Nordic Skiing team at Nipissing.

“This is the beginning to a significant season for Nipissing Nordic, hosting the OUA Championships for the next two years. We will build on the momentum from this event and carry that through to the OUAs and Nationals in March,” he said, adding the fact that there are four Lakers, including himself, attending is very special. “The team is tight, and any one skier’s success is a victory for all, as we have all pushed each other to get to this point.”