Skate Canada names teams for 2017 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships

CALGARY, AB: Skate Canada has selected the teams that will represent Canada at the 2017 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships and 2017 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships.

Over the weekend, Nexxice, from the Burlington Skating Centre, and Les Suprêmes, from the CPA Saint-Léonard, earned their entries to the senior world championships, winning gold and silver respectively at 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships in Calgary, Alta.

The two senior teams will travel to Colorado Springs, USA, to compete at the 2017 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, from April 7-8, 2017. This will be the 18th edition of the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships with Canada having won medals at 11 of those previous events.

The entries for the 2017 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships were determined at Skate Canada Central Ontario’s annual Winterfest competition. Nexxice (junior), of the Burlington Skating Centre and Les Suprêmes (junior) from CPA Saint-Léonard earned the two entries for Canada.

Nexxice and Les Suprêmes will have home country advantage as Canada hosts the 2017 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships for the first time. The event will be hosted in Mississauga, Ont., from March 10-11, 2017.

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000 or in person at Hershey Centre Box Office.

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships was a biennial event but it was recently decided at the 2016 ISU Congress that the event will become annual beginning in 2017. The inaugural event was hosted in 2013 by Helsinki, Finland. In 2015, Team Canada (Les Suprêmes) won the nation’s first medal at the championships, a bronze.

Nexxice collects third crown, Les Suprêmes triumph twice at 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

CALGARY – Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., collected its third national title of the week on Sunday while Les Suprêmes from St-Léonard, Que., triumphed twice at the 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

In the senior competition, Nexxice tabulated 205.60 points with Les Suprêmes second at 190.64 and NOVA from Brossard, Que., third at 168.88.

“We went out there today, we had a job to do and we’re very proud of our performance,’’ said Nexxice team captain Kiersten Tietz.

Now Nexxice prepare for the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships April 7-8 in Colorado Springs.

“We just want to continue on the path we’re on and stay focused as a team,’’ said Tietz. “We want to use the vehicles that our coaches have given us and continue to improve.”

Les Suprêmes took the junior and novice titles.

In junior competition, Les Suprêmes won the gold medal with 170.60. Nexxice was second at 168.58 and les Pirouettes from Laval, Que., third at 146.38.

‘’We feel great,’’ said Alessia Arsenault of Les Suprêmes. ‘’We worked so hard. Our task was to do just the same things we do in practice, to skate clean and do like we always do. That’s what we did today.’’

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships are set for March 10-11 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

‘’We’re super excited for the world juniors,’’ said Arsenault. ‘’It’s going to be great to have the home crowd.’’

In the novice final standings, Les Suprêmes earned 109.41, les Pirouettes 108.72 and NOVA from Brossard, Que., 106.55.

On Saturday, Nexxice won the open and intermediate competitions.

Full results: 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

Nexxice notch gold in first two finals at 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

CALGARY – Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., won the open and intermediate competitions on Saturday at the 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships being held this week at the WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre

In the open event, Nexxice finished with 157.69 points. Les Supremes from St-Léonard, Que., were second at 132.61 edging les Pirouettes from Laval, Que., in third at 132.00. There were nine entries.

‘’This is just amazing we’ve worked so hard this season and we absolutely love our program,’’ said Nexxice skater Lauren Zbucki. ‘’It’s a dream come true for us.’’

In the open competition, each team performed their free program twice.

‘’We had a few little hiccups in the program yesterday,’’ added Zbucki. ‘’But we came back really strong today. We left it all on the ice. It was pure passion, pure strength, pure joy. We all had tears in our eyes, smiles on our faces and didn’t want to get off the ice.’’

In the intermediate competition, Nexxice took the crown with 120.53. The Ilderton (Ont.) Silver Jets from were second at 116.87 and NOVA from Brossard, Que., were third at 105.78. There were 15 entries.

‘’It was absolutely amazing,’’ said Grace Hefley of Nexxice. ‘’We stepped out there today knowing exactly what we needed to do. We just went out there with a lot of confidence and executed like we did in practice.’’

Competition ends Sunday with the free skates in novice, junior and senior competition. Action starts at 1 p.m. local time.

Full results: 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

A Song For Elizabeth: New Brunswick synchronized skating team honours teammate with emotional program in Calgary

If you aren’t watching closely, it’s easy to miss the poignant, split-second tribute to the girl who used to fill what is now an empty spot in their line.

As the Riverview intermediate team steps on to the ice at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships, each girl gently touches a pair of size 7 skates tucked safely under the arm of coach Janna MacLellan.

What follows is a song for Elizabeth.

It’s been eight heart-wrenching months since that July night when 15-year-old Elizabeth Landers lost her life in an ATV accident just steps from her home in Quispamsis, NB. The tragedy brought the synchro communities to its knees in New Brunswick and Edmonton, where Elizabeth skated until her family moved east two years ago.

In this season of heartache, the Riverview program, every movement from start to finish, is choreographed for the young shining light taken without warning. Wearing black costumes adorned with lime green accents – Elizabeth’s favourite colour – the team performs its moving tribute to Aerosmith’s Dream On.

“This is their way of grieving and coping,” says Suzanne Landers, Elizabeth’s mother, as tears well up in her eyes. She stops to compose herself before continuing.

“It’s everything – the colours, the words, the theme, what they are doing and how they are doing it. Every movement is for Elizabeth. It’s very touching.

“But it’s also hard. I’m here, I’m in the room with the girls and she’s not there. But I feel the love and support, and now I realize how much she meant to so many people.”

Mere seconds after qualifying for the national championships at the Atlantic regionals, the team called Landers on speakerphone and asked her to join them at nationals.

They didn’t have to ask twice and Landers, her heart still heavy in this most trying of years, is at the national championships, cheering on the team her daughter lived for.

““I had to be here,” adds Landers, a devoted supporter of synchronized skating. “This week, I feel closer to Elizabeth. It’s almost like she is here with us.”

In Calgary, Suzanne is sharing a hotel room with Hailey Cassidy, her daughter’s teammate and closest friend. This week, these moments, are for them to remember, and celebrate, Elizabeth’s life.

“It was comforting to know that so many people want to hear her story through the program,” says Cassidy. “This isn’t about us; it’s about her. This is Elizabeth’s story.”

This weekend, as they told that story at the national championships, the entire WinSport Arena was on their feet before Riverview stepped on to the ice for their two programs. They gave another standing ovation as the team was introduced, and rose as one yet again when the emotional, powerful program ended.

“My healing is through skating,” says Landers. “But now I know that I have to share Elizabeth with others, because they are hurting as well. Synchro is a family, and I feel all the love and support in New Brunswick, in Edmonton, across the country. I am extremely grateful, and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”

“She was such a wonderful girl, and the loss of Elizabeth devastated a lot of us,” says Lisa Bonderove of the Skate Canada Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section.

“She will be missed by a lot of people, but this is a week to remember Elizabeth and celebrate her life.”

At the regional championships in Newfoundland earlier this winter, the signs seemed to be everywhere. The team passed by Elizabeth Park. The arena was painted green. In their dressing room, they found a plastic green hand clapper, left behind by someone else. As the team was going on the ice, they noticed a green ribbon from a previous team had fallen to the ground. Following their program, there was another as the team stepped into the Kiss and Cry.

Elizabeth is not here, but she is everywhere.

Her name remains on the team roster. Following their win at the Atlantic Championships, in yet another emotional moment, the team accepted a medal for Elizabeth. The first thing they did was hand the medal to Suzanne.

This week, the entire Canadian synchro family is rallying around Suzanne Landers and the team from the small community in New Brunswick.

“Having Suzanne with us gives us strength and reminds us why we are doing this,” says MacLellan.

“It’s helping our girls, but it so much more than that. This was Elizabeth’s story, and we want to tell it, and tell her, ‘we love you, and we miss you.’”

This week, green has never been more golden.

Single Ticket Info: ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships ® 2017

MISSISSAUGA, ON: Single session tickets for the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships ® 2017 will go on sale on Saturday February 25, 2017 at 10 am (ET).  The championships will take place from March 10-11, 2017 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ont. Nineteen of the top junior synchronized skating teams from 14 countries will compete for the junior world title.

Short program prices are $50 ($30 for children). Free programs are $60 ($40 for children). All tickets will have applicable taxes and service charges. Children under 4 years of age are free.

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000 or in person at the Hershey Centre Box Office. Canada will have two entries at the championships. The teams qualified at Skate Canada Central Ontario’s annual Winterfest competition. Nexxice Junior, of the Burlington Skating Centre will represent as Team Canada 1 and Les Suprêmes Junior from CPA Saint-Léonard will be represent as Team Canada 2.

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships was a biennial event but it was recently decided at the 2016 ISU Congress that the event will become annual beginning in 2017. The inaugural event was hosted in 2013 by Helsinki, Finland. In 2015, Team Canada (Les Suprêmes) won the nation’s first medal at the championships, a bronze.

Oshawa to host 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

OTTAWA, ON: The 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships has been awarded to Oshawa, Ont. The championships will take place from February 23-25, 2018 at the Tribute Communities Centre.

“Synchronized skating is one of our sports most exciting disciplines. It is something special to see a team of skaters working together on the ice to create a unified and captivating program. Oshawa is going to get to experience that magic next year,’ said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “We are delighted to be heading back to Oshawa for the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships and look forward to the continued support from the community.”

The 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will bring approximately 40 teams and over 800 skaters from across the country to Oshawa. The city previously hosted the event in 2009.

“The City of Oshawa is proud and ready to host the 2018 championships that will bring skaters, coaches and officials from all across Canada to our great city and the Tribute Communities Centre. The prestigious event will put Oshawa in the international spotlight and will showcase our amazing city to Canada and the world,” says Oshawa Mayor John Henry. “The City is excited to continue to work with Spectra Venue Management at the Tribute Communities Centre, Durham Tourism / Sport Durham, Oshawa Skating Club and Skate Canada to make sure that the 2018 championships will be a huge success for all.”

Teams will compete for national titles in the senior, junior, open, intermediate and novice categories. The top two senior teams will represent Canada at the 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.

Skate Canada Amplifies Safe Sport Programming with Respect in Sport Training

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is pleased to announce that it will now be offering the Respect in Sport Activity Leader Program to all coaches, officials and team leaders. The training is part of Skate Canada’s Safe Sport programing and the Responsible Coaching Movement. The launch of the training comes in conjunction with Pink Shirt Day, a national anti-bullying awareness day.

“We are very proud to be offering this training and to be one of the first national sporting organizations to do so in Canada. It confirms our dedication to safe sport and creating an inclusive environment for all of our members,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “The Respect in Sport Activity Leader Program will give our skating community the opportunity to develop their skillsets and further build a culture of respect throughout our clubs and schools.”
Skate Canada has taken a leading role in the Safe Sport Movement. The organization will be one of the first in Canada to offer this training to all coaches, officials and team leaders and has been critical in the development of the Responsible Coaching Movement. Skate Canada will also be providing a 24/7 resource line that will provide advice on responding to inappropriate behavior. This confidential and anonymous call line is intended to assist in determining the most appropriate course of action to take.

“Respect Group is honoured to partner with Skate Canada on the implementation of our Respect in Sport programming. It’s all about prevention and a proactive approach to child protection. It may sound easy but that is not always the case. We applaud Skate Canada for their leadership,” said Sheldon Kennedy, Co-Founder, Respect Group and Lead Director at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre.

Respect Group has created critical abuse prevention education with the Respect in Sport Activity Leader Program. This easy-to-use online training enables sport and community organizations to create a safer, more ethical environment by providing essential information to each organization’s critical stakeholders. The program is for all stages of development, from the grassroots to the elite level.

“Already a Champion of the Responsible Coaching Movement, Skate Canada has demonstrated great leadership within the sport community to ensure athlete safety both on and off the field of play. This agreement with Respect in Sport is another example of what a sport organization can do to assure parents they are enrolling their children in clubs that have the best standards of care for athletes,” Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO, Coaching Association of Canada.

The Respect in Sport Activity Leader Program is now available online for all Skate Canada coaches, officials and team leaders. This initiative is a step forward in Skate Canada’s goal and commitment to be the leading Safe Sport organization in Canada and the world.

Canada’s top synchronized skating teams converging on Calgary for 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

OTTAWA, ON: The best synchronized skating teams from across Canada are headed to Calgary, Alta., for the 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships, taking place from February 24-26, 2017, at Winsport’s Markin McPhail Centre.

The event will host over 800 skaters and coaches on 40 teams competing for national titles in the senior, junior, open, intermediate and novice categories. The top two senior teams will earn the chance to represent Canada at the 2017 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships being held in Colorado Springs, CO, USA, from April 7-8, 2017.

“We look forward to enjoying a week of tremendous performances, feeding off the incredible energy of the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Winsport and the Calgary community are ready the welcome our country’s best and host yet another successful championship.”

Tickets for the 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships are available for purchase in advance on ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000. Tickets will also be available for purchase on competition days at the Winsport box office. All-event tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children ages 5-14, and individual day passes can be purchased for $22 for adults or $10 for children. All tickets are general admission and will have applicable taxes and service charges. Entry is free for children four years and younger.

The competition will be streamed live for fans to watch the events from home.

Media looking to attend the event are asked to contact Allan Gordon, Communications Coordinator, by phone at 613.747.1007 ext. 2564 or by email at [email protected].

Canadians win four more medals at Bavarian Open

OBERTSDORF, Germany – Canada finished 1-2 in junior pairs competition to cap a four-medal performance on Sunday at the Bavarian Open figure skating competition.

Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Strathroy, Ont., took the junior pairs gold with 155.20 points. They edged Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Levis, Que., silver medallists with 151.85. Alexandria Yao and Austin Hale of the U.S. were third at 139.80.

In ice dancing, Ekaterina Kuznetsova and Dmitri Parkhomenko of Russia narrowly won gold with 141.22. Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of Greenfield Park, Que., were a mere 0.02 points back for silver at 141.20 while Ashlynne Stairs of Calgary and Lee Royer of St.Albert, Alta., third at 136.20.

Canada earned 11 medals at the event.

On Saturday, Nicolas Nadeau of Boisbriand, Que., Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., and Joseph Phan of Laval, Que., finished 1-2-3 in junior men’s competition while Sarah Tamura of Burnaby, B.C., won the women’s junior II event. Stephen Gogolev of Toronto took gold in men’s novice.

The competition featured Canada’s team for the world junior championships next month.

Full results: Bavarian Open 2017

Patrick Chan fourth as Canada ends ISU Four Continents with four medals

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Toronto took fourth spot in the men’s event on Sunday to conclude the ISU Four Continents figure skating competition.

Nathan Chen of the U.S. won the gold medal with 307.46 points, Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan was second at 303.71 and his compatriot Shoma Uno was third at 288.05. Chan, fifth after the short program, followed at 267.98.

‘’I need to work on my snap off the ice and being more efficient,’’ said Chan, who opened with successful quad toe-triple and triple Axel but struggled the rest of the way.  ‘’I’m looking forward to going back home and working on that. Those are also things that I can work on both on and off the ice.’’

Nam Nguyen of Toronto produced a strong free skate to jump from 13th after the short to eighth overall for a season’s best 237.08. His program included three quads. He fell on the first one but the rest of the skate was clean.

‘’My free program went really well,’’ said Nguyen. ‘’Especially since my practices leading up were not as successful. It’s great to go out there and show everyone I can put out my technical content and push my component elements.”

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., remained in 12th place. He produced a strong second half after a difficult first couple of minutes.

‘’It was a tough opening to recover from,’’ said Reynolds. ‘’With each mistake you lose your energy and focus. But I thought I did as well as I could in the second half considering it was a disappointing performance.’’

Canada, which featured its team for next month’s world championships in Helsinki, ends the competition with four medals.

Tessa Virtue of London, Ont., and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., took gold in ice dancing; Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., and Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto won silver and bronze in pairs and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., added a silver in women’s competition.

The competition was held at the venue for next year’s Olympic Winter Games.

Full results: ISU Four Continents Championships 2017

Canadian skaters sweep men’s medals at Bavarian Open

OBERTSDORF, Germany –Nicolas Nadeau of Boisbriand, Que., led a Canadian medal sweep in junior men’s competition Saturday at the Bavarian Open figure skating competition.

Nadeau was first in both the short and long programs for 213.58 points. Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., was second at 197.45 and Joseph Phan of Laval, Que., third at 197.28.

Next month, Nadeau is hoping to climb a step at the world junior championships after earning silver last season. The Canadian world junior team is using this event as a tune-up.

‘’It was an OK performance, not my best,’’ said Nadeau. ‘’There were a bit too many errors overall. Still it’s a preparation for the world juniors so I accomplished my goals for this point. I’m working on improving my quad toe in the long and I’ll probably not make changes to my short program.’’

Orzel landed a quad and two triple Axels.

‘’I kept focused at the beginning of my program and did all the hard elements,’’ he said. ‘’It was great to accomplish the big jumps in an international setting. I’m really comfortable now with my programs and I just want to boost some elements for the world juniors and get more points.’’

The 15-year-old Phan is the first sub for the world junior squad. He is keeping sharp with third men’s member Roman Sadovsky of Vaughan, Ont., currently injured.

‘’I was really happy about landing my quad toe in the long,’’ said Phan. ‘’It hadn’t been going well at all in practice so I was pretty stressed about it. To get it in the competition was a big moment. Right now I’m on standby for the world juniors but I’m preparing like I would be going.’’

Canadian 12-year-old lands quad and two triple Axels
In novice competition, 12-year-old Stephen Gogolev of Toronto landed two triple Axels and a quad toe Salchow to win the gold in the men’s event with 140.52 points. Corey Circelli of Vaughan, Ont., missed the podium by just over five points for fourth.

‘’I just wanted to do well in the programs,’’ said Gogolev at his second career international event. ‘’The first half of the long stood out for me. Both triple Axels were really good and it was the second time I ever landed a quad Salchow. It had been pretty consistent all week in practice so it felt great when I landed it.’’

Catherine Carle of Georgetown, Ont., was fourth in the women’s event as were ice dancers Natalie d’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell of Toronto.

Competition ends Sunday.

Full results: Bavarian Open 2017

Three medals for Canada at ISU Four Continents

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – World champions Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., and Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto won silver and bronze in pairs and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., added a silver in women’s singles on Saturday at the ISU Four Continents figure skating competition.

In pairs, Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China took the gold with 225.03 points. Duhamel and Radford followed at 212.23 and Ilyushechkina and Moscovitch were third at 205.31.

Duhamel and Radford started their free skate with an impressive triple twist but their side-by-side, throw quad Salchow and throw triple Lutz were not as smooth.

‘’It was one of those fighting skates for us which has been a theme for us this season,’’ said Radford. ‘’But considering how we were feeling coming into this long program we are both very proud of ourselves and did some pretty good things.

‘’It’s always an up and down through the season and we’ll take this as a step up towards the world championships in March.’’

Ilyushechkina and Moscovitch were on fire in their free skate landing a triple twist, side-by-side triple toe-double toe, side-by-side triple Salchow and throw triple flip. The only glaring mishap was Ilyushechkina falling on a throw triple loop near the end of the program.

‘’It got rough near the end and some spots were sticky but we got through it,’’ said Moscovitch. ‘’Each event this season we have been improving and we’ve worked very hard to keep moving in the right direction.’’

Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., were seventh.

In women’s competition, Mai Mihara of Japan moved from fourth after the short program to top spot with 200.85. Daleman followed in second – a career-best international result – at 196.91, Mirai Nagasu of the U.S. was third at 194.95 and Kaetlyn Osmond of Maystown, N.L. fourth at 184.17.

Daleman produced a strong start and ending with a little blip in the middle on which she stepped out of a jump and put her hand down after landing a double Axel.

‘’I’d never been at a big championship leading after the short so it was a whole new experience,’’ said Daleman. ‘’It’s wasn’t my best skate at all but I’m happy to be leaving here with an international medal.’’

Daleman and Osmond were 1-2 after Thursday’s short program. In her free skate, Osmond struggled after opening with a powerful triple flip-triple toe and double Axel-triple toe combos.

‘’The beginning went super well,’’ she said. ‘’I’ve been getting a lot better and being able to refocus after I miss an element and today that just didn’t happen.’’

Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., climbed from 14th to 11th after producing the eighth best free skate.

Competition ends Sunday morning with the men’s free program (9 p.m. Saturday evening EST on cbc.ca)

Full results: ISU Four Continents Championships 2017