MEDIA RELEASES
February 12, 2007
Imrie to Carry Manitoba Flag at Canada Winter Games Opening
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Botterill Named Honourary Team Manitoba Captain
Winnipeg – Junior National Biathlon Team member Megan Imrie of Falcon Lake will lead Team Manitoba’s parade of athletes as the province’s Opening Ceremonies flag-bearer when the 2007 Canada Winter Games get underway in Whitehorse, Yukon on Friday, February 23 rd.
Team Manitoba also announced forward Jennifer Botterill of the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team is the Honourary Team Captain for these Games.
“I am extremely proud to be chosen to bear the flag for Manitoba in Whitehorse. It is a huge honour,” said Imrie from Nove Mesto, Czech Republic where she is competing on the European Cup circuit. “I understand the commitment, sacrifice and dedication that goes into competing as a Manitoba athlete. I hope I can lead a successful team into the 2007 Canada Games.”
Imrie, who turns 21 on Valentine’s Day, has been a member of the Junior National Team since 2001. She is considered one of the top young female biathletes in the country and has been selected to represent Canada at the World Youth/Junior Championships four times. She achieved her best ever-international result at this year’s World Junior Championships in Martell, Italy when she surpassed her goal of a top-16 result, placing 10 th in the Individual event. Imrie won a bronze medal as a member of the women’s relay team at the 2003 Canada Winter Games in Bathurst/Campbellton, New Brunswick and will be a gold medal favourite in Whitehorse. She will lead a team of 325 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff that makes up Team Manitoba into the two-week event.
“I congratulate all the participants who will represent Manitoba at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse,” said Culture Heritage and Tourism and Minister responsible for Sport Eric Robinson. “They have worked hard to earn a place on Team Manitoba and no doubt will make us proud at the games.”
Botterill meanwhile competed at the 1995 Canada Winter Games in Grand Prairie, Alberta. At the time athletes could only participate in one sport at the Games. While she was selected for both the Women’s Hockey team and the Ringette team, Botterill chose the latter and led Team Manitoba to a silver medal.
“The Canada Games that I attended was an amazing event. I look back and strongly value my time with Team Manitoba at the Games,” said Botterill. “I know that it was an important step in my athletic career and my development as a person. It certainly helped me reach the next level to train with the national team and eventually make it to the Olympics.”
A two-time Olympic gold medalist and four time World Champion, Botterill will again lead Team Canada at the IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship in Winnipeg and Selkirk from April 3rd to 10th.
Botterill joins former Team Manitoba alumnus Cindy Klassen, Susan Auch, Sami Jo Small, Cam Barker, Angela Chalmers, Rhiannon Leier and Sara Alroubaie to be selected an Honourary Captain for Canada Games.
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For more information, contact:
Barry Moroz
Sport Manitoba Communications
925-5903
Email
