Canadian skaters head to Latvia for second stop on ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send eight skaters, for a total of five entries to Riga, Latvia, for the second stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Canada will have one entry per category in men’s, ladies and pair, and two entries in ice dance. The competition takes place from August 26-30, 2015.

Canadian Junior Champion in 2015, Nicolas Nadeau, 17, Boisbriand, Que., is Canada’s sole entry in men’s. Last year, Nadeau placed fifth and 10th respectively at his ISU Junior Grand Prix assignments in Japan and Croatia. He also placed 25th at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Nadeau trains at École Excellence Rosemère and is coached by Yvan Desjardins.

Sarah Tamura, 14, Burnaby, B.C., is Canada’s lone entry in ladies. Last season, she placed 14th at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Japan and 13th in Croatia. The representative of Burnaby FSC also placed sixth in the junior category at the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Tamura is coached by Joanne McLeod, Jill-Marie Harvey, and Neil Wilson at the Champs International Skating Centre.

Justine Brasseur, 14, Brossard, Que., and Mathieu Ostiguy, 18, Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Que., are the Canadian pair entry at the event. Representing CPA Brossard and CPA Saint-Césaire, the 2015 Canadian novice champions will be competing at their first international assignment. Brasseur and Ostiguy train in Chambly, Que., with coaches Josée Picard and Marc-André Craig.

Melinda Meng, 16, Montreal, Que., and Andrew Meng, 18, Montreal, Que., are the first of two Canadian entries in ice dance. Representing CPA Laval, the Mengs won bronze at the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior category, and placed seventh at their ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment last season in France. The Mengs are coached by Shawn Winter in Pierrefonds, Que.

Hannah Whitley, 15, Creemore, Ont., and Elliott Graham, 17, Angus, Ont., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. Last season, they placed 10th at their international assignment in Croatia and placed fifth in the junior category at the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Whitley and Graham are coached by David Islam and Kelly Johnson at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.

Bev Viger of Abbotsford, B.C., will be the Canadian team leader at the event. Dr. Ed Pilat of Winnipeg, Man., and physiotherapist Mireille Landry of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Lynne Dey of Edmonton, Alta., and Pam Chislett of Grand Prairie, Alta., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

Live streaming will be available through the ISU’s YouTube channel.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #2 – Riga, Latvia

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Men’s Nicolas Nadeau 17 Boisbriand, Que. CPA Boisbriand Yvan Desjardins
Ladies Sarah Tamura 14 Burnaby, B.C. Burnaby FSC Joanne McLeod / Jill-Marie Harvey / Neil Wilson
Pair Justine Brasseur / Mathieu Ostiguy 14/18 Brossard, Que. / Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Que. CPA Brossard / CPA Saint-Césaire Josée Picard / Marc-André Craig
Ice Dance Melinda Meng / Andrew Meng 16/18 Montreal, Que. / Montreal, Que. CPA Laval / CPA Laval Shawn Winter
Ice Dance Hannah Whitley / Elliott Graham 15/17 Creemore, Ont. / Angus, Ont. Barrie SC / Barrie SC David Islam / Kelly Johnson
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