A parent-run club for Hamilton and the Golden Horseshoe.
Hamilton Speedskating is a volunteer-run, parent-led community club. We run two sister clubs together — HSSC for youth in Hamilton and Golden Horseshoe SSC for older skaters and those in the Golden Horseshoe area — on the ice from mid-September through late March.
Our story
From a new Hamilton club to two sister clubs.
The club has been volunteer-run from the start. Four milestones cover the arc.
- October 2004
Club founded
The club was founded as the Dofasco Hamilton Speed Skating Club — a non-profit, volunteer-run organization serving the Greater Hamilton area.
- October 2006
Incorporated
The club was formally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization.
- July 2008
Renamed to HSSC
The club was renamed to the Hamilton Speed Skating Club (HSSC).
- 2012
Sister club formed
The club split into two — HSSC for youth under 18 in Hamilton, and the Golden Horseshoe Speed Skating Club for older skaters and those in the Golden Horseshoe area.
Two clubs, one community
Hamilton SSC and Golden Horseshoe SSC.
The two clubs share webpages, registration, session times, and a single contact email — you’ll rarely need to think about the split.
Youth under 18 in Hamilton
Hamilton Speed Skating Club
The original club — for youth skaters under 18 living in Hamilton.
Older skaters + Golden Horseshoe area
Golden Horseshoe Speed Skating Club
Open to older skaters and to those living in the Golden Horseshoe area.
Coaching
Coach Mike Murray leads the club.
Head coach Mike Murray is a Speed Skating Canada Short Track Hall of Fame athlete and a CAC-certified National Level Coach. He has coached several Olympians across a long career on the ice.
Mike runs practices at Chedoke Arena and F.H. Sherman Arena alongside a team of volunteer coaches drawn from the club community.
Activity
The club is active from mid-September to late March each year and splits training across three groups — ages 5 – 10, ages 11 – 15, and advanced teens and adults — with a mix of well-rounded skating technique and racing training.
Volunteers
Board of Directors.
The club is run by a parent-led volunteer board. Roles below are taken verbatim from the club’s current organizational chart.
- President
- Will Mason
- Vice President
- Sylvia Harris
- GHSSC President
- Nicholas Kearney
- GHSSC Vice President
- Matthew Wongkee
- Club Registrar
- Amy Nielsen
- HSSC Regional Director
- Mike Nedescu
- GHSSC Regional Director
- Anna Talving
- Head Coach
- Mike Murray
- Treasurer / Registration
- Robin Penton
- Communications
- Matthew Wongkee
- Secretary
- Emily Smart
- Equipment Manager
- Rebecca
- Promotion / Fund Raising
- Vacant
- Uniforms
- Michelle Read
Support
Sponsors and supporters.
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The club has received generous support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Their funding has helped the club invest in equipment storage and safety mats at our home arenas.
Community contributors
Local community organizations contribute food and silent-auction items at club-hosted meets. Funds raised at gift-basket draws and silent auctions go directly into safety mats and training equipment.
Interested in sponsoring the club? Email us.
Questions about the club?
Email us — we reply personally.
The board answers email directly. Ask about volunteering, sponsorship, or anything else about the club.
New to speed skating? Start on Get Started.