CALGARY - Canadian speedskater Ivanie Blondin's victory in a World Cup mass start Sunday felt sweeter because it was her last win on home ice.

The 35-year-old, who plans to retire after this season, drew a roar at Calgary's Olympic Oval as she surged into the lead for a mad-dash home stretch of long-track's most chaotic race.

"The crowd was insane. It's most likely my last World Cup here at home, so a little bit emotional, hasn't really hit yet," Blondin said. "Once maybe I have a beer, I'll probably get a little more emotional."

The Olympic mass start silver medallist in 2022 has trained at the Oval for almost half of her life and raced multiple times there in World Cups and world championships.

"My family was here. I had my sponsors out, a bunch of friends," Blondin said. "I really,

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