CALGARY - Ivanie Blondin was built for speedskatings mass start race that could make its Winter Olympic debut in 2018. Stephen Curry Jersey .The 24-year-old from Ottawa has won four World Cup medals in as many races this season, including two gold. Blondin leads the overall standings for the womens World Cup mass start.Her short-track speedskating background gives her the tools to jostle for position among the 23 other skaters all leaving the start line at the same time.Blondin also has the endurance to race the 16 laps — over six kilometres — and finish strong. She won a World Cup bronze in the 5,000 metres Nov. 23 in Seoul, South Korea. Blondin finished fourth in a 3,000 on Dec. 13 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.Mens and womens mass start races will be on the menu at the world single distance championships Feb. 12-15 in Heerenveen.The International Skating Union has asked the International Olympic Committee to include a mens and womens mass start in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOCs executive board will meet in April to approve the 2018 program.If mass start races get the green light for 2018, thats good news for Blondin.Its for sure my main event, she said Tuesday at the Olympic Oval.Its great. Its a little nerve-wracking too because its like oh my god, its real and I actually have a shot, a real good shot at getting an Olympic medal for my country at the next Olympics. Its a little scary and a little frightening, but Im excited more than anything too.Blondin started short-track speedskating at age 14, but switched to long-track at 20. Skaters race against each other in pairs in long-track, but they generally dont come in contact with each other. Theyre more concerned with the clock and their coaches barking out split times.The mass start in long-track incorporates some of the elbows-up contact of short-track races, as well as the cat-and-mouse strategy of passing competitors at the right time in the race.My comfort level skating in a group of girls or a pack is a lot higher than most of the girls who are out there, Blondin said.Coming from short-track, especially in Canada, it was such a competitive sport when I was younger that I know how to get around people, I know how to make room for myself, I know how to push people and stay on my feet and I know how to get pushed too.The inner warm-up lane is part of the race track for the mass start. According to the rules, if a crash occurs on the first lap involving six or more skaters, the race will be stopped and re-started immediately.Points are awarded for three intermediate sprints during the race and the final sprint to the finish, but the points are weighted so first, second and third over the finish line earn the medals.As a long-distance specialist, Blondin doesnt chase intermediate sprint points. She paces herself to be in good position and have enough in the tank for the final dash.Im always going for the podium, she said. Thats pretty much my tactic.Blondin has returned to Calgary and her training base at the Oval for the holidays and also for the Canadian single distance championships starting Friday. She intends to race the womens mass start Monday at the Oval.The next World Cup races are Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Hamar, Norway. Blondins strategy in World Cup mass start races are to draft behind the top skaters and make her move towards the end of the race.Its all about position, being smart and saving your energy for the last little bit, Blondin said.In an effort to become a stronger all-around skater and contend in the 1,000 and 1,500 metres, Blondin says shes worked on sprint speed this winter. That in turn has given her the power boost to pass other skaters during the mass start.I think training more for all-around and having the variety of being a little bit sprintier with the long distance is a great combination for that specific of an event, Blondin said.She has no shortage of challengers in the mass start. Irene Schouten of the Netherlands edged Blondin for gold Dec. 7 in Berlin, Germany.Many of the South Korean women also have a short-track background. Theyll pull out all the stops to win a medal on home ice in 2018. Charles Johnson Jersey . The ongoing funk on penalty kill and an unusually quiet night on home ice for the power play divided the Leafs from the Bruins at the ACC in a rare Sunday night affair. Graham Gano Jersey . The attacking midfielder arrives on a free transfer from Spains Malaga. The 28-year-old joins Scottish striker Kenny Miller and Argentine midfielder Matias Laba as designated players on the Whitecaps roster. http://www.nflpanthersgearofficial.com/ .com) - No Sidney Crosby, no problem.Legendary West Indian commentator Tony Cozier has died at the age of 75 following a long illness. The Barbadians career spanned 58 years with extensive work across TV, radio and the written media, which included commentating on Sky Sports on many of the England tours of the West Indies.A statement on the West Indies Cricket Boards Twitter feed read: Tony Cozier the legendary West Indies Cricket writer and commentary died this morning in Barbados. May he RIP.After being inspired by his journalist father, Cozier studied journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada and started commentating and writing on West Indian cricket in 1958.He was also an adept sportsman, playing hockey as a goalkeeper for Barbados and cricket as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper for two Barbados clubs, Wanderers and Carlton. Dwayne Smith pays tribute to West Indian commentator Tony Cozier, who sadly died at the age of 75 following a long illness Darren Sammy, commentating on the IPL on Sky Sports, said: From the time I started following West Indies cricket his voice was the one in my ear. Devin Funchess Jersey. He was one of the greatest and I dont think his voice will ever be forgotten.An MCC life member, Cozier also had the honour of having the media centre at Bridgetowns Kensington Oval - his home ground - named after him.Damien ODonohoe, chief executive of the Caribbean Premier League, said: It was with great sadness that we learned of Tonys sad passing.To many fans across the Caribbean and beyond he was quite simply the voice of West Indies cricket. His love of cricket was a positive influence in telling the story across a golden era for West Indies cricket and he was hugely respected and loved in equal measure by fans of the game.For more than 50 years Tonys voice has resonated through television, radio or the written word in homes across the cricketing world and he was admired internationally for his passion, insight and enthusiasm.On behalf of the CPL I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his wife Jillian, children Craig and Natalie and his family and friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.Tributes to Cozier, and condolences to his family, poured in from around the cricket world.Among them, West Indies ICC World Twenty20 winner Carlos Brathwaite posted simply: RIP Tony Cozier.The International Cricket Council added on Twitter: Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Cozier today.One of the truly great voices of cricket. A huge loss for the cricket community. 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