Trio of Dinos named to 2023 Pan Am Games roster

OTTAWA – Stephen Calkins, head coach Mike Blondal and assistant coach Rick Pelletier have all been nominated to represent Team Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games.

The Games are scheduled to be held in Santiago, Chile, with the swimming portion of the competition set for October 21-25 at the Centro Acuático del Estadio Nacional.

Calkins – the reigning Canada West Swimmer of the Meet at this past year's championships – is one of 18 men selected based on performances at the 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials that took place from March 28-April 2 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. 

The Calgary native just completed his second season in the pool with the Dinos, helping the Scarlet & Gold to their 21st Canada West Championship in program history – tying the conference record for most titles by a single school. In addition to being named the conference's top swimmer after his six-medal performance at the CW Championships, Calkins was also named the Dinos Male Athlete of the Year after a truly outstanding season in the pool that also saw him bring home three gold medals and one silver at the U SPORTS Championships.

For Blondal, this will be the latest in a long list of international coaching appearances by the head coach of the Dinos. He is one of five named as a team coach underneath head coach Scott Talbot. The eight-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year has led the Dinos to nine national championships and 14 Canada West titles.

Meanwhile, Pelletier will also represent the Dinos at the Santiago 2023, being named a massage therapist at the upcoming Games.