Canadian Skaters En Route to ISU Junior Grand Prix Japan

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send five entries, for a total of seven skaters to the fourth stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit in Aichi, Japan, from September 10-14, 2014. Canada will have one entry in men’s, two entries in ladies, and two entries in ice dance. There will be no pair competition at the event.

World junior bronze medalists Madeline Edwards, 18, Port Moody, B.C., and ZhaoKai Pang, 19, Burnaby, B.C., will lead the way for Canada in ice dance. Edwards and Pang won silver at the first ISU Junior Grand Prix this season in Courchevel, France. Last season, they placed seventh at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the senior category. The representatives of Burnaby FSC are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe at the Champs International Skating Centre.

Lauren Collins, 18, Minesing, Ont., and Shane Firus, 20, North Vancouver, B.C., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. Both Collins and Firus have previously competed for Canada on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, but the representatives of Barrie SC and Vancouver SC will be making their international debut together, having teamed up in early 2014. They are coached by David Islam and Kelly Johnson at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.

Nicolas Nadeau, 16, Boisbriand, Que., will be the sole Canadian entry in the men’s division, making his ISU Junior Grand Prix debut. Last season, the representative of CPA Boisbriand placed fourth at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior category. He is coached by Yvan Desjardins at the École Excellence Rosemère.

Sarah Tamura, 13, Burnaby, B.C., is one of two Canadian entries in ladies. This will be her first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Representing Burnaby FSC, she is the 2014 Canadian novice women’s champion. Tamura is coached by Joanne McLeod, Jill-Marie Harvey, and Neil Wilson at the Champs International Skating Centre.

Grace Lin, 13, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Que., will also represent Canada in ladies, and will also be competing at her first international assignment. Last season, representing Dollard FSC, she placed 12th at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the novice category. She is coached by Yvan Desjardins and Violaine Emard in Rosmere, Que.

Cynthia Ullmark of Canmore, Alta., will be the Canadian team leader and physiotherapist Karen Seymour of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Glenn Fortin of Aurora, Ont., and Sylvain Guibord of Brossard, Que., are the Canadian officials at the event.

The ISU will be live streaming the competition via the ISU Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel. For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #4 – Aichi, Japan