Canada’s NEXXICE fourth after short program at French Cup

ROUEN, France – NEXXICE from Burlington, Ont., is in fourth place after Friday’s short program at the French Cup synchronized skating competition.

Team Paradise  from Russia is in first place with 72.68 points, followed by a pair of teams from Finland – Team Unique (69.04) and the Rockettes (67.70). NEXXICE sits fourth at 62.96.

The skaters for NEXXICE are Cassandra Black, Madina Asrorova, Nadine Banholzer, Kelly Britten, Sarah Burns, Laura Emery, Ariana Gould-Tasoojy, Celina Hevesi, Emma Kim, Jamie Kosonic, Jenna Mackenzie, Megan MacLellan, Caroline Marr, Courtney McNaughton, Morgan Dykstra Stang, Kiersten Tietz, Alessandra Toso, Victoria Smith, Taylor Walker and Brooklyn Williamson.

NEXXICE senior, the 2016 Canadian silver medallists, is the sole Canadian entry. They last competed at the French Cup in 2013 and placed sixth. Last season, they placed fourth at the ISU Shanghai Trophy, and seventh at the 2016 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships. Nine-time consecutive Canadian champions (from 2007-2015), they are coached by Shelley Simonton Barnett and Anne Schelter.

The free skate is on Saturday.

Full results: 2017 French Cup