ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit resumes as Team Canada heads to Belarus

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OTTAWA, ON: Canada will have four entries, for a total of eight skaters at the fourth ISU Junior Grand Prix of the season, taking place in Minsk, Belarus. Canada will have two entries per discipline in pairs and ice dance at the event which takes place from September 20-23, 2017.

Canadian junior silver medallists Lori-Anne Matte, 17, Lévis, Que., and Thierry Ferland, 19, Lévis, Que., are the first Canadian pairs entry at the event. Last season, they placed sixth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the Czech Republic and fourth in Russia. Matte and Ferland also won the silver medal in the junior competition at the Bavarian Open, and placed ninth at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. They are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte in St.-Leonard, Que.

Canadian novice champions Chloé Panetta, 14, Laval, Que., and Steven Lapointe, 20, Acton Vale, Que., are the second Canadian pairs entry at the event. This will be their first international assignment. Panetta and Lapointe are also coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte in St.-Leonard, Que.

Canadian junior silver medallists Ashlynne Stairs, 17, Calgary, Alta. and Lee Royer, 19, St. Albert, Alta., are the first of two Canadian ice dance entries at the event. Last season, they finished seventh and fifth respectively at their ISU Junior Grand Prix assignments in France and Slovenia, won the bronze medal in junior at the 2017 Bavarian Open and placed 14th at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. This season, they placed fifth at their first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment in Austria. Stairs and Royer are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe in Burnaby, B.C.

Nina Mizuki, 16, Burnaby, B.C., and Veniamins Volskis, 16, Burnaby, B.C., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their first international assignment. Last season, they placed fifth in the novice category at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Mizuki and Volskis are also coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe in Burnaby, B.C.

Scott Rachuk of Strathroy, Ont., and Bev Viger of Abbotsford, B.C., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. Ed Pilat of Winnipeg, Man., and physiotherapist Meghan Buttle of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Andrew Bosco of Thorold, Ont., and Patty Klein of Mt. Royal, Que., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

The ISU will be live streaming the competition via the ISU Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #4 – MINSK, BELARUS

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Pairs Lori-Anne Matte / Thierry Ferland 17/19 Lévis, Que. / Lévis, Que., CPA St. Romuald – St. Jean / CPA St. Romuald – St. Jean Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte
Pairs Chloé Panetta / Steven Lapointe 14/20 Laval, Que. / Acton Vale, Que., CPA Les Lames D’Argent De Laval Inc. / CPA Les Étincelles D’Acton Vale Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte
Ice Dance Ashlynne Stairs / Lee Royer 17/19 Calgary, Alta. / Ft. St. Albert, Alta. Champs International SC / Champs International SC Megan Wing / Aaron Lowe
Ice Dance Nina Mizuki / Veniamins Volskis 16/16 Burnaby, B.C. / Burnaby, B.C. Champs International SC / Champs International SC Megan Wing / Aaron Lowe

Soucisse and Firus place fifth in ice dancing at 2017 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic

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SALT LAKE CITY – Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver, B.C., were fifth in ice dancing on Saturday to conclude the 2017 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic.

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue led the U.S. to a 1-2 finish with 178.80 points with Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker second at 153.55. Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed of Japan were third at 151.45.

Soucisse and Firus earned 137.43.

In women’s competition, Marin Honda of Japan took the gold with Mirai Nagasu of the U.S. second and her compatriot Karen Chen third.

Alicia Pineault of Varennes, Que., was sixth and Michelle Long of Newmarket, Ont., eighth.

Canada ended the competition with two medals. On Friday, Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., won the gold medal in pairs and Liam Firus of North Vancouver was third in men’s singles.

Full results: icenetwork.com

Two medals for Canada at U.S. International Figure Skating Classic

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SALT LAKE CITY – Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., won the gold medal Friday in pairs at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic.

Liam Firus of North Vancouver, B.C. added a bronze in men’s competition.

The Canadians won the short program Thursday and held on to first with the second best free skate to finish with 188.76 points. Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim of the U.S. were second at 186.08 and their compatriots Chelsea Liu and Brian Johnson third at 181.40.

‘’We’re feeling pretty good about our free skate today but we definitely have room for improvement,’’ said Moore-Towers. ‘’We’re taking steps forward little by little and trying to get our season off to a good start.’’

The couple missed the first half of last season due to injury.

‘’It’s definitely just start right now,’’ added Marinaro. ‘’We want to keep building towards our first Grand Prix assignment in six weeks.’’

Sydney Kolodziej of Montreal and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., were seventh.

Nathan Chen led the U.S. to a 1-2 finish in men’s competition with 275.04 followed by Max Aaron at 261.56. Firus earned 248.29. Bennet Toman of Brampton, Ont., was 11th.

‘’I wasn’t expecting too much coming into this event,’’ said Firus, who landed a quad jump and a triple Axel. “I just wanted to stay in the present and do the best I could do. There was no worry about a score of placement.’’

In women’s competition after the short program, Alicia Pineault of Varennes, Que., is sixth and Michelle Long of Newmarket, Ont., ninth.

After the short dance, Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver are seventh.

The free dance and women’s free skate are on Saturday.

Full results: 2017 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic

Skate Canada Releases Ticketing Information for 2017-2018 Season

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is pleased to share domestic ticketing information for the upcoming 2017-2018 season. Five competitions will be hosted by Skate Canada this season, beginning September 20th with the Autumn Classic International, in Montreal, Que.

Below is the complete list of event dates, locations and ticket information:

2017 AUTUMN CLASSIC INTERNATIONAL
September 20-23, 2017
Montreal, Quebec – Sportplexe Pierrefonds

Ticket Info: Tickets for this event are sold out.

2017 SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL
October 26-29, 2017
Regina, Saskatchewan – Brandt Centre

Ticket Info: Single session tickets begin at $25 (plus applicable taxes and surcharges) and ticket prices range by session. Tickets for Thursday’s practice are only $10. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000 or in person at Brandt Centre Box Office. Groups of nine or more can purchase by calling the box office directly 1-306-781-9300.

2018 SKATE CANADA CHALLENGE
November 29 – December 4, 2017
Montreal, Quebec – Sportplexe Pierrefonds

Ticket Info: Tickets will be available for purchase in person at the Sportplexe Pierrefonds Box Office (14700, boulevard Pierrefonds, Pierrefonds, Que) during the event. Ticket prices will be available in Fall 2017. Please check skatecanada.ca for updates.

2018 CANADIAN TIRE NATIONAL SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
January 8-14, 2018
Vancouver, British Columbia – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

Ticket Info: All-Event ticket packages include all competitions in novice, junior and senior and the exhibition gala, as well as all practices and are priced at $140, $175, $210, and $310, plus applicable surcharges. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca and by phone at 1-855-985-5000.

2018 SKATE CANADA SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
February 23-25, 2018
Oshawa, Ontario – Tribute Communities Centre

Ticket Info: Ticket prices and information will be available Fall 2017. Please check skatecanada.ca for updates.

Canadian skaters headed to Salt Lake City for U.S. International Figure Skating Classic

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send seven entries, for a total of 10 skaters to the 2017 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, the first event on the International Skating Union’s (ISU) 2017 Challenger Series. Canada will have two entries per discipline in men, ladies, and pairs and one entry in ice dance, at the event which runs from September 13-17, 2017, in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Liam Firus, 25, North Vancouver, B.C., is the first of two Canadian entries in men’s. He placed eighth at this event in 2013. Last season, Firus placed fifth at the Nebelhorn Trophy, ninth at Skate Canada International, and seventh at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Firus is coached by Bruno Marcotte in Sainte-Julie, Que.

Bennet Toman, 20, Brampton, Ont., is the second Canadian entry in men’s. This will be his first time competing at this event. Last season, Toman placed fifth at the 2016 Autumn Classic International and eighth at the 2017 Canadian Championships. He is coached by Michelle Leigh in Oakville, Ont.

Alicia Pineault, 17, Varennes, Que., is one of two Canadian entries in the ladies category. This will also be her first time competing at this event. Last season, she placed 10th at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the Czech Republic, fifth in junior at the 2016 Autumn Classic International, and seventh in senior at the 2017 Canadian Championships. Pineault is coached by Stéphane Yvars in Boucherville, Que.

Michelle Long, 25, Newmarket, Ont., is the second Canadian entry in the ladies discipline, and will also be competing at this event for the first time. Last season, she placed 11th at the 2016 Autumn Classic International, and ninth at the 2017 Canadian Championships. Long is coached by Robert Burk and Danielle Rose in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Canadian bronze medallists Kirsten Moore-Towers, 25, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 25, Sarnia, Ont., are the first Canadian entry in pairs. Moore-Towers and Marinaro are the 2015 bronze medallists at this event. Last season in international competition, they placed seventh at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Moore-Towers and Marinaro are coached by Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier and Sylvie Fullum in St. Leonard, Que.

Sydney Kolodziej, 24, Montreal, Que., and Maxime Deschamps, 25, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., will also represent Canada in pairs. This will be their first international assignment together. Last season, they placed sixth at the 2017 Canadian Championships. Kolodziej and Deschamps are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte in St. Leonard, Que.

Carolane Soucisse, 22, Châteauguay, Que., and Shane Firus, 23, North Vancouver, B.C., will represent Canada in ice dance. This will be their first time competing at this event. Last season, they placed seventh at both of their international assignments: Autumn Classic International and the Cup of Nice. Soucisse and Firus are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon in Montreal, Que.

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, and Marie Bowness of Bedford, N.S., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Physiotherapist Karen Seymour of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Susan Blatz of Burlington, Ont., and Debbie Islam of Barrie, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For more information and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2017 U.S. INTERNATIONAL FIGURE SKATING CLASSIC

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Men Liam Firus 25 North Vancouver, B.C. Vancouver SC Bruno Marcotte
Men Bennet Toman 20 Brampton, Ont. Skate Oakville Michelle Leigh
Ladies Alicia Pineault 17 Varennes, Que. CPA Varennes Stéphane Yvars
Ladies Michelle Long 25 Newmarket, Ont. Richmond Hill FSC Robert Burk / Danielle Rose
Pairs Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro 25/25 St. Catharines, Ont. / Sarnia, Ont. Kitchener-Waterloo SC / Point Edward SC Inc. Bruno Marcotte / Richard Gauthier / Sylvie Fullum
Pairs Sydney Kolodziej / Maxime Deschamps 24/25 Montreal, Que. / Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. CPA St. Léonard / CPAR Vaudreuil Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte
Ice Dance Carolane Soucisse / Shane Firus 22/23 Châteauguay, Que. / Barrie, Ont. CPA Repentigny / CPA Ahuntsic Marie-France Dubreuil / Patrice Lauzon

Canadian ice dancers crack top-five at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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RIGA, Latvia – Ice dancers Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio of Laval, Que., placed fifth Saturday at the third stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit.

Russians were 1-2. Sofia Schevchenko and Igor Eremenko took the gold with 140.91 points and Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov won silver with 139.83. Caroline Green and Gordon Green of the U.S. were third at 124.58.

Fabbri and Pietrantonio, in their third career Junior Grand Prix, were fourth after the short program. They produced the sixth best free skate performed to Moulin Rouge soundtrack selections to wind up fifth at 119.67.

Valerie Taillefer of Montreal and Jason Chan of St. Laurent, Que., climbed from ninth to eighth with the seventh best free dance.

In men’s competition, Corey Circelli of Vaughan, Ont., tumbled to 14th spot after placing seventh in the short. Mitsuki  Sumoto of Japan was the winner.

On Friday, Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Strathroy, Ont., won the bronze medal in pairs.

The fourth stop is in two weeks in Belarus.

Full results: ISU JGP Riga Cup 2017.

Canadians come back to win bronze in pairs at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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RIGA, Latvia – Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Strathroy, Ont., posted the best score in the free skate to win the bronze medal in pairs Friday at the third stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of figure skating circuit.

It was a 1-2 Russian finish with Apollinariia Panfilova and Dmitry Rylov first with 157.51 points and Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii second at 153.93.

Walsh and Michaud, the Canadian junior champions, followed with a personal best 153.73 climbing from fifth place after the short program on Thursday. They earned 103.58 points in their free skate.

“It’s our best-ever international result and we look forward to building on it,” said Michaud. “To win the long program is pretty cool.”

Chloe Choinard of Brossard, Que., and Mathieu Ostiguy of Granby, Que., moved from ninth to seventh.

In women’s competition, Russia’s Daria Panenkova took the gold medal with Rika Kihira of Japan second and Emmy Ma of the U.S. third.

Alison Schumacher of Toronto was ninth.

Canada is also in medal contention in ice dance. Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio of Laval, Que., are fourth after the short dance and just over two points from a podium spot.

Valerie Taillefer of Montreal, Que., and Jason Chan of St. Laurent, Que., are ninth.

In men’s competition, Corey Circelli of Vaughan, Ont., sits in seventh after the short program.

The men’s free skate and the free dance are on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1718/jgplat2017/index.htm.

ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit continues as Canadians head to Latvia

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have six entries, for a total of ten skaters at the third ISU Junior Grand Prix of the season, taking place in Riga, Latvia. Canada will have one entry per discipline in men and ladies, and two entries per discipline in pairs and ice dance. The event takes place from September 6-9, 2017.

Canadian novice champion Corey Circelli, 14, Vaughan, Ont., will be the Canadian men’s entry at the event. This will be his first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Last season, he placed fourth at the 2017 Bavarian Open. Circelli is coached by Lee Barkell in Toronto, Ont.

Canadian junior bronze medallist Alison Schumacher, 14, Toronto, Ont., is the sole Canadian entry in ladies. This will be her first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Schumacher is coached by Lee Barkell in Toronto, Ont.

Canadian junior champions Evelyn Walsh, 16, London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, 21, Strathroy, Ont., are one of two Canadian junior pairs competing at this event. Last season, they placed 11th at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Estonia and fifth in Germany. They also won the junior level at the 2017 Bavarian Open, and placed fifth at the 2017 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Walsh and Michaud are coached by Alison Purkiss and Margaret Purdy, and train in London, Ont.

Chloe Choinard, 15, Brossard, Que., and Mathieu Ostiguy, 20, Granby, Que., are the second Canadian pairs entry. This will be the first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment for the team who paired up earlier this year. Choinard and Ostiguy are coached by Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier, Sylvie Fullum and Cynthia Lemaire in Saint-Léonard, Que.

Alicia Fabbri, 14, Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio, 20, Laval, Que., are one of two Canadian entries in ice dance. Last season on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit they placed fourth in Russia and sixth in Germany. They also placed fifth in the junior category at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Fabbri and Pietrantonio are coached by Julien Lalonde, Mylène Girard and Lynn McKay and train in St. Hubert, Que.

Valerie Taillefer, 18, Montreal, Que., and Jason Chan, 21, Saint-Laurent, Que., will also represent Canada in ice dance. Last season, they placed fourth in the junior category at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Taillefer and Chan are coached by Élise Hamel and Shawn Winter in Montreal, Que.

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, and Cynthia Ullmark of Canmore, Alta., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. Erika Persson of Edmonton, Alta., and physiotherapist Pat Stanziano of Oakville, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Glenn Fortin of Aurora, Ont., and Sabrina Wong of Toronto, Ont., are the Canadian officials at the event.

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

The ISU will be live streaming the competition via the ISU Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #3 – RIGA, LATVIA

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Men Corey Circelli 14 Vaughan, Ont. Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Lee Barkell
Ladies Alison Schumacher 14 Toronto, Ont. Riverside SC Lee Barkell
Pairs Evelyn Walsh / Trennt Michaud 16/21 London, Ont. / Strathroy, Ont. London SC / Prince Edward SC Alison Purkiss / Margaret Purdy
Pairs Chloe Choinard / Mathieu Ostiguy 15/20 Frankford, Ont. / Granby, Que. CPA St. Léonard / CPA Saint-Césaire Bruno Marcotte / Richard Gauthier / Sylvie Fullum / Cynthia Lemaire
Ice Dance Alicia Fabbri / Claudio Pietrantonio 14/20 Terrebonne, Que. / Laval, Que. CPA Terrebonne / CPA Laval Julien Lalonde / Mylène Girard/ Lynn McKay
Ice Dance Valerie Taillefer / Jason Chan 18/21 Montreal, Que. / Saint-Laurent, Que. Club de Patinage des Deux-Rives / Saint Laurent FSC Élise Hamel / Shawn Winter

Canada’s Conrad Orzel seventh at ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit

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SALZBURG, Austria – Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., placed seventh in men’s competition on Saturday to conclude the second stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Camden Pulkinen of the U.S. won the gold with 203.80 points, Luc Economides of France took silver at 190.59 and Egor Murashov of Russia was third at 186.76.

Orzel, sixth after the short program, dropped one spot totalling 172.74.

On Friday, Ashlynne Stairs of Calgary and Lee Royer of St. Albert, Alta., and Irina Galiyanova of Ajax, Ont., and Tommy Tang of Toronto were fifth and ninth in ice dancing.

The third stop on the circuit is this Friday and Saturday in Riga, Latvia.

Full results: ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2017

Stairs and Royer take fifth spot on ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit

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SALZBURG, Austria – World junior team members Ashlynne Stairs of Calgary and Lee Royer of St. Albert, Alta., were fifth in ice dancing on Friday at the second stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Christina Carreirra and Anthony Ponomarenko of the U.S. won the gold medal with 145.39 points, Ksenia Konkina and Grigory Yakushev of Russia were second at 139.80 and Nathacha Lagouge and Corentin Rahier of France third at 129.90.

Stairs and Royer, also fifth after the short program, scored 121.71 to equal their best ever showing on the circuit in four career appearances.

‘’We know we could have done better,’’ said Stairs. ‘’Our technical showing wasn’t what we wanted in the short dance and our footwork was below par in the free dance.’’

The couple know they need to eliminate mistakes at the international level.

‘’When we get back home we are going to make sure we work really hard on the key points,’’ said Royer. ‘’Making sure we are hitting every single one.’’

Irina Galiyanova of Ajax, Ont., and Tommy Tang of Toronto were ninth.

‘’We need to review all our elements in the free dance,’’ said Galiyanova. ‘’Look at all the levels, exits and entries and all the little features we have and see what we’ve missed.’’

In men’s competition, Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., singled his triple Lutz at the end of an otherwise strong short program to stand sixth. The free skate is on Saturday.

Full results: ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2017