Skate Canada names teams for 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships

OSHAWA, ON: Skate Canada has selected the teams that will represent Canada at the 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships and 2018 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships.

Over the weekend, Nexxice, from the Burlington Skating Centre, and Les Suprêmes, from CPA Saint-Léonard, earned their entries to the senior world championships, winning gold and silver respectively at 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships in Oshawa, Ont.

The two senior teams will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, to compete at the 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, from April 6-7, 2018. This will be the 19th edition of the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships with Canada having won medals at 12 of those previous events.

The entries for the 2018 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships were determined at Skate Canada Ontario’s annual Winterfest competition. Les Suprêmes (junior) from CPA Saint-Léonard and Nexxice (junior) of the Burlington Skating Centre earned the two entries for Canada.

Les Suprêmes (junior) and Nexxice (junior) will travel to Zagreb, Croatia, to compete at the championships which takes place from March 16-17, 2018. In 2015 when the event was last hosted in Zagreb, Croatia, Team Canada (Les Suprêmes) won the nation’s first medal at the championships, a bronze.

Nexxice and Nova win open and novice titles at 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

OSHAWA, Ont. – Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., collected its second title this weekend placing first in the open competition while Nova from Brossard, Que., took the novice crown to conclude the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

In the open event, Nexxice posted a decisive win with 156.14 points. Les Suprêmes from St-Léonard, Que., followed at 139.66 and Gold Ice from Brampton, Ont., surged from fifth after the short program to claim the bronze with 132.34.

“It was absolutely amazing,” said Julia Mills of Nexxice. “We took it element by element and when we got to the end it was just a magical moment. We focused on what we wanted to do and came together as a team.”

Les Suprêmes were also satisfied with their showing.

“It was a good skate for us,” said Catherine Alarie. “We were proud of ourselves even though it wasn’t perfect.”

In novice competition, Nova held on to top spot with 111.21. Nexxice followed at 110.69 and Les Suprêmes were third at 104.85.

“We did the best we could and gave everything we had,” said Mélodie Nadeau of Nova.”We had a lot of energy and really lived the performance.”

More than 800 skaters from 40 teams were at the event held at the Tribute Communities Centre.

Full results: Skate Canada – 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

Nexxice and Les Suprêmes crowned national champions

OSHAWA, Ont. – Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., and Les Suprêmes from St-Léonard, Que., waged epic battles in both senior and junior competition on Saturday and each gained a title at the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

In senior competition, Nexxice totalled 202.72 points for its two programs followed closely by Les Suprêmes at 200.20. Nova from Brossard, Que., was third at 188.34.

“It felt really good,” said Kelly Britten of Nexxice. “We did a lot of things to stay focused on ourselves and it really helped us make the performance come alive.”

The top two senior teams will represent Canada at the 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships taking place in Stockholm from April 6-7.

“We just wanted to do the same thing as in practice,” said Laurie Desilets of Les Suprêmes. “The plan was the same just to skate for us and have a lot of fun.”

Les Suprêmes hung on to top spot to win the junior title with 166.84 points, just ahead of Nexxice at 162.60. Gold Ice from Brampton, Ont., was third at 130.46.

“There’s no words, it felt just like we did in practice,” said Jessica Iacono of Les Suprêmes. “We were very in the moment and present and very together in what we were doing.”

The Nexxice group produced their best-ever score.

“We are really proud,” said Amanda Kauffman of Nexxice. “We had some adverse conditions today with the delay and we were able to regroup and refocus ourselves.”

In Intermediate competition, Meraki from Toronto won the gold medal with 111.32, Nexxice was second at 105.01 and Les Rythmiks from Repentigny, Que., third at 104.33.

“These girls have worked so hard this whole season and in particular these last two weeks,” said Meaghan Churchill of Meraki. “We put in every blood, sweat and tear we had in us today.”

More than 800 skaters from 40 teams are at the event being held at the Tribute Communities Centre.

Competition concludes Sunday with the novice and open free skates.

Full results: Skate Canada – 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

Nexxice, Les Suprêmes are early leaders at 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

OSHAWA, Ont. – Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., and Les Suprêmes from St-Léonard, Que., are the leaders in senior and junior competition after Friday’s short programs at the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

In the senior event, Nexxice, the defending champions, tabulated 75.86 points with les Suprêmes second at 70.04 and Nova from Brossard, Que., third at 69.12.

“I felt like were giving it everything we had,” said Kelly Britten of Nexxice. “We improved the performance and the speed. Our moves were tight and strong and there was a lot of flow going through them.”

Les Suprêmes also achieved their goals.

“We set out to do what we did in practice and we were successful,” said Suprêmes co-captain Laurie Desilets. “We were happy with all the elements in our program.”

The top two senior teams will earn the chance to represent Canada at the 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships taking place in Stockholm from April 6-7, 2018.

In junior competition, defending champs Les Suprêmes are first after the short program with 62.02, Nexxice is second at 58.12 and Nova third at 44.82.

“We were very calm when we did everything,” said Gracie Letouzel of Les Suprêmes. “We trusted our training in what we had to do.”

Letouzel and her teammate Jessica Iacono agreed on the best element.

“It was our wheel,” said Iacono. “It felt together and clean. We hope to go back and do the best performance we can in the long.”

Nexxice were also pleased with their performance.

“We gave it our all,” said Scarlett Stinson of Nexxice. “We put a lot of hard work into it so it really means a lot to us.”

In Intermediate competition, Meraki from Toronto is first after the first of two free programs with 35.41 followed by Ilderton (Ont.) Intermediate at 34.42 and Les Pirouettes from Laval, Que., at 34.30.

More than 800 skaters from 40 teams are at the event being held at the Tribute Communities Centre.

Competition continues Saturday with the final programs in all three events plus the start of the novice and open categories.

Full results: 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

Osmond wins bronze in PyeongChang as Canada breaks Olympic medal record

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – Kaetlyn Osmond put an exclamation point on a memorable run for Canadian figure skaters with a stunning bronze medal performance Friday at the Olympic Winter Games.

She also helped make a little history at the same time.

The three-time Canadian champion and reigning world silver medallist claimed her first individual Olympic medal, scoring 152.15   in an exquisite free skate for a 231.02 combined total. Alina Zagitova, representing the Olympic Athlete from Russia team, took gold with 239.57 points, while teammate Evgenia Medvedeva claimed silver.

It was Osmond’s second medal of these Games after helping Canada to gold in the team event.  The medal was also Canada’s 27th at these Winter Olympics to set a new Canadian record, eclipsing the 26 won in Vancouver eight years ago.

“These Olympics have been incredible, starting with the team event,” said Osmond. “When I hit my ending position, I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to enjoy every minute of it.

Osmond now has three medals – one of each colour – in two Olympic Winter Games (2014, 2018).  She is the sixth Canadian women’s skater to win an individual medal in figure skating, and the first since Joannie Rochette’s memorable bronze in Vancouver in 2010.

“To make it to the podium is something I never thought I would do,” said Osmond. “I remember watching Joannie Rochette back in 2010 when she made the podium, and I said that was incredible, that’s something I am never going to be able to do. It’s exciting.”

Just seven months after the 2014 Sochi Games, Osmond broke the fibula in her right leg in two places and underwent two surgeries.  Osmond almost called it a career but slowly, with the support of coach Ravi Walia, she began the slow, often painful, journey back.

On Friday, that journey culminated on the women’s Olympic podium.

“To think I almost hung up my skates then and called it quits, it’s amazing,” said Osmond. “But I don’t think I would have been able to perform the way I did today without the injury. I regrouped and almost became a new person afterwards.”

PHOTO: Greg Kolz

It was an remarkable showing for Canadian figure skaters in PyeongChang, with four medals. In addition to Osmond’s bronze and the gold in the team event, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir took gold in ice dance while Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford won bronze in pairs.

Two-time Canadian women’s champion Gabrielle Daleman struggled in her free program and finished 15th. Like Osmond, the reigning world bronze medallist was also part of the gold medal-winning Canadian team.

A tearful Daleman tried to keep things in perspective after a difficult skate.

“On warmup I felt fine, and it was about two minutes before my program started that I started to feel the nerves,” said Daleman. “I tried to get in my zone, tried to get in my bubble. Unfortunately, it’s sport; we all have good days, we have bad days. Today wasn’t my day.”

After her free program, Daleman received a consoling text, followed by a phone call, from her idol Rochette.

“She just said ‘You’re strong,’” said Daleman, choking up. “She can’t even explain what happened and that it’s happened to her, but she said that I was really strong at nationals and the team event. That’s what I’m going to remember about these Olympics.”

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

Top synchronized skating teams in Canada headed to Oshawa for 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

OTTAWA, ON: Oshawa, Ont., is set to welcome the best synchronized skating teams from across Canada for the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships, taking place from February 23-25, 2018, at the Tribute Communities 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 2018 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, from April 6-7, 2018.

“Canadians can’t wait to see our preeminent synchronized skating teams take the ice at the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships and create an electric atmosphere in the Tribute Communities Centre,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “The City of Oshawa and the Durham Region are ready to welcome the skating family and host another memorable championships.”

Tickets for the 2018 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships are available for purchase in advance online, or by phone at 1-877-436-8811. Tickets will also be available for purchase on competition days at the Tribute Communities Centre box office. All-event tickets (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) are $60, and individual day passes can be purchased for $25 for adults or $20 for children ages two to 12. All tickets are general admission and will have applicable taxes and service charges added. Entry is free for children under two years of age.

The competition will be streamed live in English and in French for fans to watch the events from home.

Virtue, Moir golden once again in unforgettable Olympic swan song

Three Canadian teams finish inside top eight

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – For four minutes Monday night, back home in Canada, a nation was holding its breath.

And then, just like that, it was over. But not before Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir likely bid farewell to competitive skating in an emotional swan song that seemed to have its script ripped from the pages of a storybook.

Twenty-four hours after a stirring world record short dance – and just minutes after rivals and training partners Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France broke their own free dance world record – Canada’s ice dance sweethearts laid down one of the defining performances of their illustrious career to claim gold in PyeongChang.

Heading into the free dance leading Papadakis and Cizeron by 1.74 points, Virtue and Moir performed a mesmerizing program, scoring 122.40 for a world record combined score of 206.07. Papadakis and Cizeron took silver with 205.28, while siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani of the U.S. earned bronze with 192.59.

All three Canadian teams finished in the top eight. Two-time world medallists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje were seventh, one spot in front of reigning Canadian silver medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

The gold brings Virtue and Moir’s Olympic medal haul to five – three gold and two silver – making them the most decorated Olympic figure skaters ever.

“That was a fantastic performance, we gave it all we had out there,” said Moir. “We skated with our hearts.   We knew we were happy with our performance. We didn’t know if we won, that’s for sure.”

Taking to the ice as the final competitors of the day, Virtue and Moir admitted they had no idea of the world record number the French team, skating two teams in front of them, had put up.

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” admitted Virtue. “We needed to have our moment with the program we love so much.”

Following Olympic gold in 2010 and silver four years later in Sochi, Virtue and Moir – who have skated together, at every level, for two decades – took two years off before deciding to make one more run at the Olympics.  They returned in the fall of 2016, taking off on an undefeated season that ended with their third world title a year ago.  The only event they did not win over the past two seasons was a second-place finish to Papadakis and Cizeron at the Grand Prix Final in December.

After helping Canada win gold in the team event a week ago, Virtue and Moir stepped on competitive ice for what was likely the final time.

“It was an overwhelming feeling,” admitted Virtue of the emotion of the moment.  “That moment has replayed in my mind over and over again. You just never know what will go through your head. I couldn’t help but think about the 20 years we’ve spent working for this moment, and the incredible team of people behind us.”

The other Canadian teams were also pleased with their Olympic results.

“We created a moment for ourselves,” said Gilles. “I think both of us were really nervous going into the free knowing we did a really nice short dance yesterday. We took our time and embraced this Olympic energy, because it’s infectious.”

“Our goal was to bring our hearts and souls to this event, and we did that,” said Weaver. “We’re leaving here happy and look on to our next challenge.”

As their media scrum ended, Virtue and Moir were asked if they had any idea of the groundswell of support forming for them back home in Canada in recent days.

“In Ilderton, everybody knows my name, for sure,” laughed Moir.

“We really are in this insular little bubble, and it’s a very safe and protected place, so I’m not sure we have the scope of that,” added Virtue, referring to their surroundings at these Games.

“But at the same I really do feel that sense of support, and it lifted us here. Here I felt that unconditional love, and that helped us immensely. We do feel like this is for Canada, and we’re so excited to share this with everyone.”

The women’s event will wrap up figure skating competition in PyeongChang, with the short program slated to get underway Tuesday night at 8:00 pm ET. Gabrielle Daleman, Kaetlyn Osmond and Larkyn Austman will represent Canada in the event.

Photo Credit: David Jackson, COC

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

Patrick Chan finishes ninth in Olympic finale

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – It was the end of one era of Canadian skating and maybe, just maybe, the start of another.

Patrick Chan’s storybook career, punctuated with three consecutive world championships and a record ten Canadian titles, likely saw the final chapter written Saturday in PyeongChang with a ninth- place showing at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

When the dust had cleared on the quad-filled air show that was the men’s free program, Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, who held off Chan for gold four years ago in Sochi, successfully defended his Olympic crown with 317.85 points. Hanyu’s countryman Shoma Uno finished 11 points back to win silver while Spain’s Javier Fernandez earned bronze.

Keegan Messing, making his Olympic debut just weeks after finishing second to Chan at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, was 12th.

American quad king Nathan Chen, who was lodged in 17th spot after a disastrous short program, nearly stole the show in the free, scoring 215.08 to vault into fifth with a 297.35 total.

After dominating the sport for most of his career, Chan, who went into the free skate 21 points behind Hanyu and 14 points off the podium, seemed at peace with himself heading into this season, and these Olympics. He has maintained all season that this final year was about enjoying this swan song, this moment, and not the medals and results.

“We’re seeing the transition now, the scale has tipped,” said Chan of the passing of the torch in men’s figure skating. “I’m so proud I was able to stick in it this long.

“I’m happy that I can leave these Games with a gold medal in the team event. Now I’m looking for gold medals in other things in my life.”

Last weekend, Chan earned his first Olympic gold as a member of Canada’s winning squad in the team event, bringing his career Olympic medal haul to a gold and two silvers.

There’s not much left for him to prove.

“Everything was very positive,” he said of the feeling going into the free program.

“I felt light. I had a little skip in my step. I wanted to be here, I wanted to step on that ice and do my long program. There was just a sense of excitement. Maybe that was knowing this is it.”

For Messing, who realized a lifelong dream of his own by making it to the Olympics, these Games were more of a learning experience.

“I am very pleased with my performance,” said Messing. “I was so excited to go out there and do what I’ve been training to do. I put down a solid performance, and I can leave the Olympics happy.”

Messing described his Olympic experience in a word.

“Wow,” he said.

As he was getting set to leave the interview area for the last time, Chan was asked what he thinks his legacy on the sport will be.

“I hope one day people will look back at my skating and what I’ve brought to the table and be like ‘Remember when Patrick skated like this or remember when skating was like this,” he said.

“That would be a cool legacy to leave behind.”

The ice dance competition now takes centre stage, with the short dance Sunday night at 8:00 pm ET. Canada will have three entries in the event, led by 2010 Olympic gold medallists and reigning world champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

Duhamel, Radford win Olympic pairs bronze in dramatic fashion

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – In what may have been the swan song to a illustrious career, waiting turned out to be the hardest part for Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford.

Just a few days after helping Canada win gold in the figure skating team event, the two-time world and seven-time Canadian champions claimed pairs bronze Thursday in a drama-filled final hour of the pairs free program. Duhamel and Radford scored 153.33 in their free program, which included the first clean throw quad Salchow in Olympic history. The Canadians ended with a 230.15 total to win Canada’s first Olympic pairs medal since Jamie Salé and David Pelletier won gold in 2002.

Duhamel and Radford entered the free program in bronze medal position, just in front of Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot. The German pair laid down the performance of their lives, setting a world record free program score of 159.31 to finish at 235.90, edging out reigning world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China (235.47) for gold.

It was the first Olympic gold medal for the legendary Savchenko, a five-time world champion.

The final flight was not for the faint of heart. Savchenko and Massot were flawless in their free program, throwing down the gauntlet to the three teams left to skate. Duhamel and Radford laid down a strong program of their own to stay in medal contention before Weijing and Cong scored 153.08 to slip into second spot, just behind the Germans.

All the three podium hopefuls could do was hurry up and wait as the final pair of the evening, Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov from the Olympic Athlete from Russia team, took to the ice.  Tarasova and Morozov had their struggles and fell to fourth.

“I think that was more intense that being backstage getting ready to skate,” said Radford of having to wait and see if they would stay on the podium. “I think we’re both really proud and a little surprised at how good we felt as the Germans were receiving their marks. It didn’t excite us or make us any more nervous. We were just like ‘all right, happy for them, they had a great skate, they got a great score, and now we’re going to do the same.’”

“While we were waiting and watching the Russian team skate, after they finished skating I was holding Eric’s hand and I said, ‘I think we did enough,’” said Duhamel.

“And Eric’s like, ‘No, I’m not going to believe it until the marks come up.’ And I was like ‘Eric, I need hope, I need to feel hopeful,’” she added with a laugh.

“We came to the Olympics and we just delivered four amazing performances – four out of four.”

The other two Canadian entries also had strong showings in their first Olympics together.

Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau scored 136.50 in their free program to finish ninth while Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro managed 132.43 to wind up 11th.

“Today was a little bit more of what we are capable of,” said Moore-Towers. “We had nothing to lose. There’s not an Olympic medal on the line for us. It was about bettering yesterday and bettering our performances this season.”

“Today was strictly about Kirsten and I, a learning experience and leaving it all out there on the ice,” added Marinaro.

“It was a great feeling,” said Séguin of their free program. “We were able to take the energy from the crowd, get in the zone and create a moment.”

With the pairs event now completed, the men take the ice for their short program Thursday night at 8:00 PM ET. Three-time world and ten-time Canadian champion Patrick Chan and first-time Olympian Keegan Messing represent Canada.

Medal Photo Credit: David Jackson/COC

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

GOOD AS GOLD: Team Canada finishes atop the podium at Olympic figure skating team event

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea  –   From the moment they first came together last summer at their high performance camp, this Canadian figure skating team has been on a mission.

Consider it mission accomplished.

Four years after placing second to Russia in the inaugural Olympic figure skating team event in Sochi, the Canadians finished what they set out to do early Monday, clinching the first gold medal for Canada at the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.

Canada finished the event with a staggering 73 points, seven more than the Olympic Athlete from Russia team. The U.S. took bronze with 62 points.

The Canadian squad arrived in PyeongChang with a quiet confidence and a collective focus on doing what needed to be done to take that one step higher on the podium.

Somehow, it only seemed fitting that Patrick Chan, the three-time world and ten-time Canadian champion, would play an integral part on the final day as he finally laid claim to that elusive gold medal, about the only piece of hardware missing from his crowded trophy case.

“In a big way, we want to do this for Chiddy,” said Scott Moir before the final day of competition, referring to Chan by his nickname.

“I think that’s what makes it so special.”

Thanks in part to Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford’s sterling performance in the pairs free program a day earlier, where they finished first and collected a vital 10 points for Canada, the Canadians held a comfortable six-point lead on the OAR squad heading into the final day.  Canada marched out Chan, Gabrielle Daleman, and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir – the reigning Canadian champions in their respective disciplines – to try to close the deal and win Canada’s first gold medal of these Games.

Any hopes the OAR had of a final-day comeback were essentially put out of reach when Chan led off by scoring 179.75 to win the men’s free program. Daleman, who recently captured her second national title in Vancouver, followed up with a third-place showing in the women’s free.

By then, it was just a formality, and Virtue and Moir laid down a mesmerizing free dance to put an exclamation mark on a dominating performance by the Canadian team.

“It was nerve-wracking heading into this long program,” said Chan. “I haven’t been that nervous in a while.

“At the end of the day, a medal’s a medal,” added Chan.  “I’m going to hold this medal tight to me, and it’s going to be as good as the individual event. That’s how I’m going to see it, that’s how I’m going to enjoy it and that’s for me to decide.”

“We are a tight-knit group here in Canada. We can now embrace each other and know that collectively we did something amazing.”

“That was a great skate,” added Daleman. “I just skated with all my heart. We have such an incredibly strong team. I’m so glad we were able to make Canada proud this week.”

The Canadians will now turn their attention to the figure skating individual events, which get underway with the pairs short program Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET.

But before then, there will be a little time for this team to realize what they’ve just accomplished.  Not only is the gold the first for this country at these Games, it is the first Olympic figure skating gold since Virtue and Moir stood atop the podium eight years ago.

Virtue and Moir will now add a second Olympic gold medal to their resume. For Chan, Duhamel and Radford, Daleman and Kaetlyn Osmond, it is their first.

Although the rest of the 17-athlete Canadian team won’t step up the podium with their teammates, they stood as one, waving the Maple Leaf and cheering their teammates through the entire competition.

“We’ve all known each other for so long that it’s just this incredible story that we’ve all been through and it’s coming to its conclusion,” said Radford.

“We want to make it the best possible.”

That’s why this gold is so special.

It’s for their themselves. For their teammates. For Canada.

And, yes,  for Chiddy.

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

Canada’s Nexxice wins gold at Trophy d’Ecosse

DUMFRIES, Scotland – Canada’s Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., successfully defended its title on Saturday at the Trophy d’Ecosse synchronized skating competition.

The Canadians won both the short program on Friday and today’s free program for a total of 200.73 points. Adrian College from Michigan took the silver at 173.60 and Team Viola from Cardiff, Wales was third at 110.40.

The Nexxice team members were Nadine Banholzer, Payton Beckett, Marlyne Bernier, Kelly Britten, Abigail Chase, Laura Emery, Ariana Gould-Tasoojy, Celina Hevesi, Taylor Johnston, Emma Kim, Kaitlin Lees, Megan MacLellan, Caroline Marr, Emiko Marr, Courtney McNaughton, Morgan Stang, Alessandra Toso, Brooklyn Williamson, Emily Wright and Aurora Ylppo.

The world championship bronze medallists are coached by Shelley Simonton Barnett and Anne Schelter.

Full results: Trophy D’ECOSSE 2018.

Canada’s Nexxice leads after short program at Trophy d’Ecosse

DUMFRIES, Scotland – Canada’s Nexxice is on track to successfully defend its title, standing in first place after Friday’s short program at the Trophy d’Ecosse synchronized skating competition.

The Burlington, Ont., team, fifth last week at the French Cup in France, tabulated 69.63 points. Adrian College from the U.S. is second at 58.34 and Team Viola from Wales is in third at 33.70.

The Nexxice team members are Nadine Banholzer, Payton Beckett, Marlyne Bernier, Kelly Britten, Abigail Chase, Laura Emery, Ariana Gould-Tasoojy, Celina Hevesi, Taylor Johnston, Emma Kim, Kaitlin Lees, Megan MacLellan, Caroline Marr, Emiko Marr, Courtney McNaughton, Morgan Stang, Alessandra Toso, Brooklyn Williamson, Emily Wright and Aurora Ylppo.

The world championship bronze medallists are coached by Shelley Simonton Barnett and Anne Schelter.

Competition ends Saturday with the free program.

Full results: Trophy D’ECOSSE 2018.