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

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send seven entries, for a total of 11 skaters to Ostrava, Czech Republic, for the second stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Canada will have two entries per category in men’s, pair and ice dance, and one entry in ladies. The competition takes place from August 31-September 4, 2016.

Joseph Phan, 15, Laval, Que., is the first of two Canadian men’s entries. This will be the first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment for the 2016 Canadian junior champion. Last season, he won silver in the junior category at the 2015 Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. He is coached by Yvan Desjardins and represents CPA Laval.

Samuel Turcotte, 16, Varennes, Que., will also represent Canada in men’s and will be competing at his first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Last season, he won the silver medal at the 2016 Skate Canada Challenge in the novice category. He is coached by Andree Beauchemin and represents CPA Varennes.

Alicia Pineault, 17, Varennes, Que., will be the Canadian entry in the ladies discipline. Last season, she won silver in the junior category at the 2015 Skate Canada Autumn Classic International and also won silver in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. She is coached by Stéphane Yvars and represents CPA Varennes.

Justine Brasseur, 15, Brossard, Que., and Mathieu Ostiguy, 19, Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Que., one of two Canadian pair entries at the event. Representing CPA Brossard and CPA Saint-Césaire, they placed sixth in Latvia and fourth in Austria at their ISU Junior Grand Prix assignments last season. They also placed fourth at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, fourth in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, and seventh at the 2016 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Brasseur and Ostiguy train in Saint-Léonard, Que., with coaches Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte.

Lori-Ann Matte, 17, Lévis, Que., and Thierry Ferland, 19, Lévis, Que., are the second Canadian pair entry at the event. This will be their first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Last season, they placed sixth at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior category. Matte and Ferland are coached by Martine Simard and represent CPA St. Romuald – St. Jean.

Hannah Whitley, 16, Barrie, Ont., and Elliott Graham, 18, Angus, Ont., are one of two entries in ice dance. Last season, they placed seventh at their international assignment in Latvia. Whitley and Graham are coached by David Islam and Kelly Johnson at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.

Danielle Wu, 18, Burnaby, B.C., and Nik Mirzakhani, 20, Burnaby, B.C., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. Last season, they placed ninth in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe at the Champs International Skating Centre.
André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director, and Scott Rachuk of Strathroy, Ont., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Physiotherapist Josiane Roberge of Sillery, Que., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Veronique Gosselin of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Jacqueline Wickett Warren of Ottawa, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #2 – Ostrava, Czech Republic