Skate Canada Qualifies Five Entries for the ISU Grand Prix Final

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada has qualified five entries for a total of eight skaters for the ISU Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, Spain from December 10-13, 2015. The ISU Senior Grand Prix Final will be held jointly with the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.

The Canadian team will consist of:

SENIOR MEN’S

Patrick Chan

SENIOR PAIR

Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford

Julianne Séguin / Charlie Bilodeau

SENIOR ICE DANCE

Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje

JUNIOR MEN’S

Roman Sadovsky

The ISU Senior Grand Prix Final is the concluding event of the ISU Senior Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit. The series hosts six stops: United States (Skate America), Canada (Skate Canada International), China (Cup of China), France (Trophée Eric Bompard), Russia (Rostelecom Cup), and Japan (NHK Trophy). Skaters are awarded points based on their placements at their assigned two events and the top six in each of the four disciplines advance to the Final.

Due to the tragic events in France that caused the cancellation of the free program and free dance segments of the Grand Prix event in Bordeaux, there has been an adjustment to the qualifying process. Any first substitute skater/team that placed 7th in the 2015/16 Grand Prix ranking has been invited to the Final, provided that they skated the short program or short dance at the event in Bordeaux.

Similar to the senior qualification, juniors are assigned two events on the seven-event series. Only the top six in each category advance to the Final.

For results and full entries please click here.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT THE 2015 ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Senior Mens Patrick Chan 24 Toronto, Ont. Granite Club Kathy Johnson
Senior Pair Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford 29/30 Lively, Ont. / Balmertown, Ont. CPA Saint-Léonard / CPA Saint-Léonard Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte / Sylvie Fullum
Senior Pair Julianne Séguin / Charlie Bilodeau 19/22 Longueuil, Que. / Trois-Pistoles, Que. CPA Longueuil / CPA Chambly Josée Picard
Senior Ice Dance Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje 26/28 Toronto, Ont. / Waterloo, Ont. Sault FSC / Kitchener-Waterloo SC Angelika Krylova / Pasquale Camerlengo / Shae-Lynn Bourne
Junior Mens Roman Sadovsky 16 Vaughan, Ont. YRSA Winter Club Tracey Wainman / Gregor Filipowski

Gold medal for Duhamel and Radford

NAGANO, Japan – Skating to Adele’s My Hometown Meaghan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., won the gold medal in pairs on Saturday at the NHK Trophy, the sixth stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

Duhamel and Radford earned 202.72 points for their fifth straight victory on the circuit. They will easily qualify for the Grand Prix Final in two weeks in Barcelona. Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin of China were second at 191.02 and Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of the U.S. third at 190.66.

The Canadians had two noticeable mistakes in their free skate but their loaded program remained superior to the rest of the competition.

“As was the case in the short program, we missed a few things we know we can do a lot better,” said Radford. “On the plus side, we got great execution on our pairs elements such as lifts, twists and spins.  So we have a lot of good things we can bring with us to the Grand Prix Final. We may change a couple of things so we can go for a cleaner skate which we will need to do to remain competitive with the other top teams.”

Duhamel agrees the program needs to show more polish.

“We need to go to Barcelona and do a clean short and clean long,” she said. “When we skate clean programs we are in control of our own destiny. That was the situation last year and we’ll do what it takes to achieve that again.”

Second-year partners Lubov Iliushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto were fifth with a personal best 180.63.

In men’s competition, Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., was 11th while Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L. moved from eighth to sixth overall after her free skate in women’s singles.

Osmond was pleased to improve on her 11th place finish at Skate Canada last month.

“It was a long gap between here and Skate Canada,” she said. “For me I just really wanted to go out and compete after all the training.”

Canada had no entries in ice dancing.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpjpn2015/index.htm

 

Duhamel and Radford top pairs after short program

NAGANO, Japan – World champions Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., are in first place after the pairs short program on Friday at the NHK Trophy, the sixth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Duhamel and Radford earned 71.04 points in their short program skated to Elton John’s Your Song. They are looking for a fifth straight victory on the circuit. Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of the U.S. are second at 68.43 and Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin of China third at 67.00.

“We had to fight through this,” said Duhamel. “Our strength and training really showed today. We know we can do this program a lot smoother and we know if we want to be first against all the top teams we have to be better.”

“There were a couple of little miscues that never happened before,” said Radford. “But some quick thinking and we still pulled off a decent program.”

Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto are fifth at 63.80.

In men’s competition, Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., is 11th after the short program while Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L. is eighth after the women’s short program.

The short dance and the free skates for men, women and pairs are on Saturday. The free dance is on Sunday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpjpn2015/index.htm

Canadian skaters prepared for final stop on ISU Grand Prix circuit

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have four entries, for a total of six skaters competing at the 2015 NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan. Canada will have one entry in men’s and ladies, and two entries in pair at the event which takes place from November 26-29, 2015 at the Nagano Wakasato Tamokuteki Sports Arena.

Elladj Baldé, 25, Pierrefonds, Que., will be the Canadian entry in the men’s category. Last season, he placed sixth at this event. This season, the representative of CPA Anjou Kinsmen won gold at the Nebelhorn Trophy and placed 11th at the Cup of China. Baldé trains in Montreal, Que., with coaches Bruno Marcotte and Manon Perron.

Two-time Canadian champion and Olympic silver medallist (team) Kaetlyn Osmond, 19, Marystown, Nfld., will represent Canada in ladies. This will be her first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, she won gold at the Nebelhorn Trophy and placed 11th at Skate Canada International. She is coached by Ravi Walia and represents the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club.

World champions and Olympic silver medallists (team) Meagan Duhamel, 29, Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford, 30, Balmertown, Ont., are the first of two Canadian pair entries. The representatives of CPA Saint-Léonard are the defending champions at this event. This season, they won gold at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International and Skate Canada International. The four-time Canadian champions are coached by Richard Gauthier, Bruno Marcotte, and Sylvie Fullum at CPA Saint-Léonard.

Lubov Ilyushechkina, 24, Moscow, Russia, and Dylan Moscovitch, 31, Toronto, Ont., are the second Canadian pair entry. This will be their first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, the representatives of the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club placed fourth at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy and seventh at the Cup of China. The Canadian silver medallists are coached by Lee Barkell, Bryce Davison and Tracy Wilson.

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, and Manon Perron of Boucherville, Que., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. John Philpott of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Meghan Buttle, also of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Jeff Lukasik of Calgary, Alta., and André-Marc Allain of Gatineau, Que., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2015 NHK TROPHY

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Elladj Baldé 25 Pierrefonds, Que. CPA Anjou Kinsmen Bruno Marcotte / Manon Perron
Ladies Kaetlyn Osmond 19 Marystown, Nfld. & Sherwood Park, Alberta Ice Palace FSC Ravi Walia
Pair Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford 29/30 Lively, Ont. / Balmertown, Ont. CPA Saint-Léonard / CPA Saint-Léonard Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte / Sylvie Fullum
Pair Lubov Ilyushechkina / Dylan Moscovitch 24/31 Moscow, Russia / Toronto, Ont. Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club / Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Lee Barkell / Bryce Davison / Tracy Wilson

Mississauga Awarded 2016 Skate Canada International

MISSISSAUGA, ON: The Mississauga Celebration Square Ice Rink hosted some of Canada’s top skaters today as Skate Canada, in partnership with the City of Mississauga and Toronto Tourism, announced that Mississauga has been awarded the hosting of the 2016 Skate Canada International competition. The event will take place from October 27-30, 2016 at the Hershey Centre. Ticket packages for the event will go on sale to the public this Thursday, November 26 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Mississauga has been one of the leading host cities for Skate Canada competitions. Skate Canada International has visited the city in 2011, 2003 and 2000, Skate Canada Challenge was held in 2008 through 2011, and in 2013 the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships were also held at the Hershey Centre.

“We are thrilled to be returning to Mississauga for the 43rd instalment of Skate Canada International. Over the years the City of Mississauga, Toronto Tourism and the Hershey Centre have proven to be valuable partners and have contributed to the success of several Skate Canada events,” said Dan Thompson, Skate Canada CEO. “Over the event weekend, fans will see some spectacular skating from Canadian stars and high-level international athletes. It is an event you won’t want to miss out on. We hope to see the community come out and support all the competitors.”

Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Other Grand Prix events include the United States (Skate America), China (Cup of China), France (Trophée Eric Bompard), Russia (Rostelecom Cup), and Japan (NHK Trophy). Competing skaters are awarded points based on their placements in the series’ events. The top-six men and ladies and the top-six pair and ice dance teams qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final to be held in December 2016.

“Mississauga is truly excited to play host to the 2016 Skate Canada International competition at our celebrated Hershey Centre,” Mayor Crombie said. “We look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches, and fans from communities throughout Canada.”

Mayor Crombie added that “Mississauga is a proud sports’ community, home to first-rate facilities with a history of hosting national and international competitions. City Council has a vision for Mississauga to be a community where active and healthy lifestyles – through sports and recreation opportunities – are encouraged by City Hall.”

All-event ticket packages will go on sale this Thursday, November 26 at 10 a.m. (ET). Packages prices range from $157.50-$195, plus applicable surcharges. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1.855.985.5000 or in person at the Hershey Centre box office.

These prices offer a discount of 25% from the single event ticket prices. Single event tickets will go on sale in later in 2016.

Grand Prix gold medal for Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje

MOSCOW – Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., won the gold medal in ice dancing on Saturday at the Rostelecom Cup, the fifth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Weaver and Poje earned 173.58 points for their fifth straight victory on the circuit. It was just 0.21 points lower than the score they received three weeks ago in their victory at Skate Canada. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy were second at 171.61 and Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia third at 167.40.

“We can feel very strong here about our competition in Moscow,” said Weaver. “We had two clean performances.  Both can be better of course. The free was a little bit conservative but it is still early in the season and we are growing so much with this program.”

Weaver said the program can look even more effortless.

“We could have been a little bit more free,” she said. “Especially with the emotions and also with the speed.  But we got the job done, we did the important things, we build each time we are out.”

In women’s competition, Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., struggled with her jumps and dropped from second after the short program to sixth.  She finished with a season’s best 173.42 points.

Elena Radionova led a Russian medal sweep.

In men’s competition, 17-year-old Nam Nguyen of Toronto finished seventh. He landed two quad jumps and a triple Axel in his demanding program.  His most noticeable mistake was touching his hand on the ice after his triple Lutz.

“It was a good fight from yesterday,” said Nguyen, seventh in Friday’s short program. “But I felt my energy level was really low so my performance suffered on that front.”

Javier Fernandez of Spain won the gold medal.

In pairs, Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov led Russia to a 1-2 finish. Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., were seventh and Hayleigh Bell and Rudi Swiegers of Regina were eighth.

The sixth and last stop before the Grand Prix Final is Friday and Saturday at the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan.

Full results : ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2015

Season’s best for Weaver/Poje and Chartrand second after short

MOSCOW – Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., lead in ice dancing and Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., stands second in women’s singles after Friday’s short programs at the Rostelecom Cup, the fifth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Weaver and Poje produced a season best 69.49 points in their program skated to Johann Strauss waltzes. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy are second at 67.82 and Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia third at 63.63.

“I think that we skated fairly well,’’ said Weaver. ‘’We’ve doubled the amount of training time for this program since Skate Canada. So that feels great to have a little bit more mileage. We definitely can perform it better and we’re looking forward to growing on this program and make it the best it can be.’’

In women’s competititon, Elena Radionova of Russia is first at 71.79. Chartrand earned 67.38 and Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia is third at 67.03.  Chartrand opened with a perfect triple Lutz-triple toe combo and never looked back roaring to a personal best score.

“I’m excited to be back in Russia,’’ said Chartrand, 19, a bronze medallist here last season. ‘I’ve been training really well and I’m glad I showed that today”,

On the men’s side 17-year-old Nam Nguyen of Toronto landed a quad jump and triple Axel but fell in the second part of his triple Lutz combo to stand seventh.

Adian Pitkeev of Russia (87.54 points) Spain’s Javier Fernandez (86.99), and  Ross Miner of the U.S. (85.36.) are holding down the top three spots, respectively.

In pairs Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., are seventh and Hayleigh Bell of Rudi Swiegers of Regina are eighth.

The four free skates are on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gprus2015/index.htm

Single Event Tickets for the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships On Sale Friday

OTTAWA, ON: Single event tickets for the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships will go on sale this Friday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m. (AT). The championships will take place from January 18-24, 2016 in Halifax, N.S., at the Scotiabank Centre.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketatlantic.com, by phone at 902-451-1221 or toll free 1-877-451-1221 or in person at the Ticket Atlantic box office located on the Scotiabank Centre Promenade.

Senior competition prices range from $30-$55 per session, plus surcharges. Promotional four-packs are available for $100-$175, for senior events only.

Tickets for the junior and novice competition are $15-$20 per day. Seating for the junior and novice competition days is general admission. Children 12 and under are free for the junior and novice events only.

In addition, all-event ticket packages are still available for purchase.

EVENT INFO

The event will feature approximately 250 skaters in the men’s, women’s, pair and ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior and novice.

Leading the senior events are 2015 World Pair Champions Meagan Duhamel, 29, Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford, 30, Balmertown, Ont. The four-time Canadian champions will look to win their fifth title, taking on Canada’s best. Current Canadian champion Nam Nguyen, 17, Toronto, Ont., will go head-to-head with three-time world champion Patrick Chan, 24, Toronto, Ont., as he returns to competition after a year off. In ice dance, two-time world medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 26, Waterloo, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 28, Waterloo, Ont., plan to capture their second Canadian title. In women’s Gabrielle Daleman, 17, Newmarket, Ont., will defend her 2015 Canadian title against two-time Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond, 19, Marystown, Nfld. & Sherwood Park, Alta., who will return to competition after missing last season due to injury.

Athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2016 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 2016 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Rostelecom Cup marks fifth stop for Canadian team on ISU Grand Prix circuit

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send five entries, for a total of eight skaters, to Moscow, Russia, for the 2015 Rostelecom Cup. Canada will have one entry per discipline in men’s, ladies and ice dance, and two entries in pair at the event which takes place from November 20-22, 2015.

Canadian champion Nam Nguyen, 17, Toronto, Ont., will represent Canada in men’s. This will be his first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, Nguyen won silver at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International and placed fifth at Skate Canada International. He is coached by Brian Orser and Ernest Pryhitka at the Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club.

Canadian silver medallist Alaine Chartrand, 19, Prescott, Ont., will be Canada’s entry in the ladies category. Last season, she won the bronze medal at this event. Earlier this season, she placed fourth at the Nebelhorn Trophy and 12th at Skate America. The representative of the Nepean Skating Club is coached by Michelle Leigh and Brian Orser.

Kirsten Moore-Towers, 23, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 23, Sarnia, Ont., are the second Canadian entry in pair. This will be their first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, Moore-Towers and Marinaro won bronze at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and also won bronze at Skate Canada International. The representatives of Kitchener-Waterloo SC and Point Edward SC are coached by Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier, Sylvie Fullum, Julie Marcotte and Cynthia Lemaire at CPA Saint-Léonard.

Hayleigh Bell, 19, Acton, Ont., and Rudi Swiegers, 28, Kipling, Sask., will be Canada’s second entry in the pair category. This will be their second international assignment since teaming up this summer. Earlier this season, they placed fifth at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. Representing Skate Regina, the pair train in Calgary, Alta., with coaches Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay.

Canadian champions and two time world medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 26, Toronto, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 28, Waterloo, Ont., will be the Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their third time competing at this event, having won silver in 2011 and 2013. Earlier this season, they won gold at the Finlandia Trophy and gold at Skate Canada International. The representatives of Sault FSC and Kitchener-Waterloo SC are coached by Angelika Krylova, Pasquale Camerlengo and Shae-Lynn Bourne in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Bev Viger of Abbotsford, B.C., will be the Canadian team leader at the event. Dr. Lee Schofield of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Scott Fraser of Kingston, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Leanna Caron of Timmins, Ont., and Reaghan Fawcett of Aurora, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2015 ROSTELECOM CUP

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Nam Nguyen 17 Toronto, Ont. Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club Brian Orser / Ernest Pryhitka
Ladies Alaine Chartrand 19 Prescott, Ont. Nepean Skating Club Michelle Leigh / Brian Orser
Pair Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro 23/23 St. Catharines, Ont. / Sarnia, Ont. Kitchener-Waterloo SC / Point Edward SC Inc. Bruno Marcotte / Richard Gauthier / Sylvie Fullum / Julie Marcotte / Cynthia Lemaire
Pair Hayleigh Bell / Rudi Swiegers 19/28 Acton, Ont. / Kipling, Sask. Skate Regina / Skate Regina Anabelle Langlois / Cody Hay
Ice Dance Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje 26/28 Toronto, Ont. / Waterloo, Ont. Sault FSC / Kitchener-Waterloo SC Angelika Krylova / Pasquale Camerlengo / Shae-Lynn Bourne

Gilles and Poirier second after short dance at ISU Grand Prix

BORDEAUX, France – Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto are in second place after Friday’s short dance at the Trophee Eric Bompard, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the U.S. are first at 64.45, Gilles and Poirier followed with a season’s best 63.94 and Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia are third at 60.64.

“We couldn’t be happier, we are in striking distance of first place,” said Poirier, third with his partner three weeks ago at Skate America. “We increased our scores in several areas and there are still a few levels we can improve.”

The couple feel they are ahead of last year’s pace.

“We took the last couple of weeks to really iron out a lot of small details. That’s a part of the process we were not yet doing at this point last season,” added Gilles.

Patrick Chan fifth

In men’s competition, Shoma Uno of Japan is first after the short program at 89.56, Maxim Kovtun of Russia second at 86.82 and Daisuke Murakami of Japan third at 80.24.

Patrick Chan of Toronto, in his second competition in his comeback season, is fifth at 76.10. Chan didn’t complete his quad jump and put his hand down on a triple which cost him points.

“It was a shaky opening popping the quad,” said Chan, the gold medallist at Skate Canada two weeks ago. “I had a little bit of hesitation. All practices here had been really good but in the moment of pressure and expectations I kind of rushed through it and didn’t commit to every part of it.”

Chan says he is pleased with his progress so far after sitting out all of last season.

“All the mistakes I made at Skate Canada were successful here so you win some and lose some. That’s what the Grand Prix season is about and mistakes are usually to be expected.”

In pairs, first-year seniors Julianne Séguin of Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau of Trois-Pistoles, Que., produced a personal best 64.95 to stand third after the short program. Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia lead with 74.50 and Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres of France are second at 65.75.

“It was really satisfying for us to increase the level of the entire program,” said Séguin, third with her partner at Skate America. ‘’There were a lot of technical elements in particular we needed to improve such as the spiral for which we increased to a level three.’’

In women’s competition after the short, Gracie Gold of the U.S., Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia second and Roberta Rodeghiero of Italy are 1-2-3.

Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., earned 55.35 for sixth but is just over three points from third place.

All four free skates are on Saturday.

Full results: 2015 Trophee Eric Bompard.

ISU Grand Prix circuit continues as Canadians head to France

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have four entries, for a total of six skaters, competing at the Trophée Éric Bompard from November 12-15, 2015 at the Mériadeck ice rink in Bordeaux, France. Canada will have one entry per discipline at the event which is the fourth stop on the 2015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

Three-time World Champion and double Olympic silver medallist (men’s and team) Patrick Chan, 24, Toronto, Ont., leads the Canadian team in men’s. This will be his second international assignment since returning to competition after taking the 2014-2015 season off, having won gold at the 2015 Skate Canada International. The representative of the Granite Club has previously competed at this event five times, winning gold on four occasions (2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013). He is coached by Kathy Johnson and trains at the Detroit Skating Club.

Canadian champion Gabrielle Daleman, 17, Newmarket, Ont., will be the Canadian entry in ladies. This will be her first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, she placed fourth at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy and fifth at Skate Canada International. Daleman is coached by Lee Barkell and Brian Orser at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club.

Canadian bronze medallists Julianne Séguin, 19, Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau, 22, Trois-Pistoles, Que., will be the Canadian pair entry at the event. This will also be their first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, they placed fifth at the Nebelhorn Trophy on and won bronze at their first ISU Senior Grand Prix assignment, Skate America. The representatives of CPA Longueuil and CPA Chambly are coached by Josée Picard in Chambly, Que.

Canadian silver medallists Piper Gilles, 23, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 24, Unionville, Ont., will represent Canada in ice dance. This will be their third time competing at this event, having won silver last year and placing sixth in 2012. Earlier this season, they won gold at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy and bronze at Skate America. The representatives of Scarboro FSC are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs at Ice Dance Elite in Scarborough, Ont.

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, will be the Canadian team leader at the event and physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Benoît Lavoie of Baie St-Paul, Que., and Jean Senft of West Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2015 TROPHÉE ÉRIC BOMPARD

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Patrick Chan 24 Toronto, Ont. Granite Club Kathy Johnson
Ladies Gabrielle Daleman 17 Newmarket, Ont. Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Lee Barkell / Brian Orser
Pair Julianne Séguin / Charlie Bilodeau 19/22 Longueuil, Que. / Trois-Pistoles, Que. CPA Longueuil / CPA Chambly Josée Picard
Ice Dance Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier 23/24 Toronto, Ont. / Unionville, Ont. Scarboro FSC / Scarboro FSC Carol Lane / Juris Razgulajevs

Canadians show improvement in free skates at Cup of China

BEIJING – Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto took seventh spot in pairs on Saturday to conclude the Cup of China, the third stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia finished ahead of three Chinese pairs for the gold medal. Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China were second and their compatriots Xiaoyu and Yang Jin third.

Ilyushechkina and Moscovitch were competing at their first Grand Prix together since joining forces in 2014.

‘’It wasn’t the skates we were hoping for,’’ said Moscovitch. ‘’But it is just the beginning of the season and there is still a lot of work to be done. Today we upped our speed and our twist in the short was definitely a step up. We just need to get more mileage in.’’

Vanessa Grenier of Johnville, Que., and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., posted a personal best score in the short program, free program and overall score at 159.34 for eighth place.

‘’It was a very good competition for us,’’ said Deschamps. ‘’We really improved our artistic score which has been something we’ve really worked on this season. It was nice to comeback after Skate Canada last week because we didn’t perform at our best there.’’

In men’s competition, Javier Fernandez of Spain took the gold while Chinese skaters Boyang Jin and Han Yan were second and third.  Elladj Baldé of Pierrefonds, Que., took 11th spot.  A flu bug has affected Baldé’s training since he won the gold medal in September at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany.

‘’It was a difficult evening but better than the short,’’ said Baldé. ‘’But I couldn’t get any rhythm in my training since my victory. I was happy to come back here but you could see today in the second half of my free skate, the fatigue starting to set it.’’

The fourth stop on the circuit is this Friday and Saturday in Bordeaux, France.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpchn2015/index.htm.