Thunderwolves Host OUA Nordic Skiing Championships

BURLINGTON, Ont. – After claiming the women’s championship in 2016, the Carleton Ravens flexed their muscle on both the men’s and women’s side last year, claiming double gold in Nordic skiing. But as perennial powerhouse Lakehead plays host to the 2018 edition, the Thunderwolves and the rest of the OUA crop of skiers will be looking to etch their name into the history books and halt the Ravens in their tracks.

Details surrounding the upcoming championship can be found in the 2018 Nordic Skiing Championship Fan Guide.

Certainly, there is no shortage of star power for the reigning champion Ravens, but there will be plenty of others looking to dethrone Carleton and keep them from soaring high once again.

One such competitor is Lakehead, who is no stranger to success at the provincial finale. The Thunderwolves will be turning to a collection of decorated returnees to once again take them to the top of the podium. One such returnee is Gavin Shields, who enters as the reigning gold medalist from the Men’s 10km Freestyle Interval Start. Fellow gold medalist Noah Thompson (Men’s 15km Classic Mass Start) will also be returning for the Thunderwolves, but the team goes well beyond just the individual successes.

Both the men’s and women’s squads managed to top the podium in 2017 in their respective 3x3km Relay, with the trio of Shields, Thompson, and Geoffrey Way-Nee all coming back for the 2018 edition and after taking home the title for the men, and Camille Ham and Erika Mihell looking to help Lakehead repeat on the women’s side. Ultimately, behind an All-Star laden squad from top to bottom, the Thunderwolves should once again be a threat to add to their storied past of winning ways.

The event will kick off with the first races – Men’s 10km and Women’s 5km Interval Start Classic – starting at 10:00am on Friday, February 23, followed by the Men’s and Women’s 3x3km Relay Classic on February 24. Competition wraps up on Sunday, February 25 with the Men’s 15km Mass Start Free Technique (9:30am) and Women’s 10km Mass Start Free Technique (10:30am).