Skater Koen Verweij (Team Reggeborgh) made a great impression at the 1500 meters in the World Cup in Calgary. After the main program, he triumphed in the Dutch night in the B-division with a time of 1.43.10. With that, the 29-year-old Noord-Hollander in the A-group also won. The Russian Denis Joeskov took gold with a time of 1.43.23.

Verweij appeared agitated at the start in Calgary. By order of the selection committee long track of the skating association KNSB, he had to hand over his starting ticket for the World Championship distances, coming week in Salt Lake City, to Kjeld Nuis. The reigning Olympic champion was given a spot for the 1000 and 1500 meters at the World Cup. The KNSB highly values his title chances in Utah.

Due to illness, Nuis was unable to qualify for the Dutch Championship distances. Verweij finished third in the 1500 meters at that tournament, but lost his earned World Cup ticket to Nuis, as did teammate Dai Dai Ntab (1000 meters). An appeal case with the disputes committee did nothing.