The week-long Special Olympics national competition will get underway Feb. 29 in Corner Brook, and coach Marty Arsenault says the Kings County team has been having a great season. They've been working hard at twice weekly practices to get ready for the competition.
“They’re extremely excited. They just cannot wait,” said Arsenault.
While the team consists of some veteran Special Olympians, this is the first that any of the players has made it to the national level.
“The team has really been gelling together this year,” says Arsenault.
They travelled to Halifax in November to participate in a tournament with teams from Halifax and Newfoundland, which means they have a good idea of what the competition in Newfoundland will be like, said Arsenault.
“This is what they strive for,” she said.
At nationals, the floor hockey teams will play a round-robin style tournament of three games each to determine rankings, and play will continue from there. The Kings County team leaves Feb. 29 and will be participating in the opening ceremonies March 1. The week-long winter games competition will see 607 athletes compete in figure skating, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, speed skating, curling, cross-country skiing and floor hockey. Competitors must qualify at both the local and provincial levels before being invited to nationals.
“They’re really looking forward to being a part of the big opening ceremonies on Tuesday, and wearing their Team Nova Scotia jerseys. And to the big victory dance at the end,” says Arsenault.
The team has been working hard on and off the court to get ready for their trip. They spent the summer eagerly putting on barbecues and selling Tim Hortons smile cookies to help pay for their travel, hotel and new uniforms. Thanks to the generous support of Kings County fans, the team was able to fundraise $8,500 towards the expenses.
Arsenault is looking forward to travelling with the team, as well as two local competitors who will be participating in the snowshoeing and speed skating competitions. Win or lose, she says, the team is all heart.
The week-long Special Olympics national competition will get underway Feb. 29 in Corner Brook, and coach Marty Arsenault says the Kings County team has been having a great season. They've been working hard at twice weekly practices to get ready for the competition.
“They’re extremely excited. They just cannot wait,” said Arsenault.
While the team consists of some veteran Special Olympians, this is the first that any of the players has made it to the national level.
“The team has really been gelling together this year,” says Arsenault.
They travelled to Halifax in November to participate in a tournament with teams from Halifax and Newfoundland, which means they have a good idea of what the competition in Newfoundland will be like, said Arsenault.
“This is what they strive for,” she said.
At nationals, the floor hockey teams will play a round-robin style tournament of three games each to determine rankings, and play will continue from there. The Kings County team leaves Feb. 29 and will be participating in the opening ceremonies March 1. The week-long winter games competition will see 607 athletes compete in figure skating, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, speed skating, curling, cross-country skiing and floor hockey. Competitors must qualify at both the local and provincial levels before being invited to nationals.
“They’re really looking forward to being a part of the big opening ceremonies on Tuesday, and wearing their Team Nova Scotia jerseys. And to the big victory dance at the end,” says Arsenault.
The team has been working hard on and off the court to get ready for their trip. They spent the summer eagerly putting on barbecues and selling Tim Hortons smile cookies to help pay for their travel, hotel and new uniforms. Thanks to the generous support of Kings County fans, the team was able to fundraise $8,500 towards the expenses.
Arsenault is looking forward to travelling with the team, as well as two local competitors who will be participating in the snowshoeing and speed skating competitions. Win or lose, she says, the team is all heart.
