Canada in top spot after opening day of PyeongChang 2018 team event

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PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – With the dust now settled on an eventful opening day of the figure skating team event at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, Team Canada is right where they want to be.

With two of the four short programs kicking off the team event on the first day, Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford finished second in pairs and Patrick Chan placed third in men’s, vaulting Canada into top spot in the ten-team showdown.

Canada gained 17 of a possible 20 points on the opening day, putting them three points ahead of the United States. The Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) have 13 points and share third spot with Japan.

Coming off their seventh straight Canadian title, two-time world champions Duhamel and Radford scored 76.57 in an almost-flawless short program to earn nine points for Canada. Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov (OAR) finished in top spot with 80.92 points.

“That was the plan,” laughed Duhamel when told their performance had put the Canadians atop the standings.

“It was a good skate. That’s one of our higher scores, so we’re happy with that.”

A boisterous Team Canada sat in the kiss and cry at rinkside, cheering their teammates on loudly throughout the two programs.

“We’re a very strongly connected team,” said Radford. “There’s a great energy that’s building around the entire team.”

Earlier in the day, three-time world and ten-time Canadian champion Chan had a shaky short program but scored 81.66 to finish third and secure eight points for the Canadian squad.  Shoma Uno of Japan won the men’s short program with 103.25, while Israel’s Alexei Bychenko finished second.

“I think it’s just the early jitters at being at the Olympics again,” admitted Chan, who fell on both his quad toe loop and triple Axel.  “I’m glad I got this out of the way. I’m looking forward to the rest of the performances.”

Chan, wasn’t the only skater in the final group to struggle. Mikhail Kolyada, competing for Olympics Athletes from Russia, was a surprising eighth while Nathan Chen of the United States finished fourth.

The team event is a unique competition at the Olympics, with the top ten skating nations skating short programs in all four disciplines.  Points are awarded in descending order, with the first-place finisher earning ten points and the competitor placing 10th receiving one point. Only the top five teams will advance to the free program.

Canada placed second to Russia in the inaugural team event at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

The team event continues Saturday at 8:00 pm ET (Sunday morning in PyeongChang) with the short dance, women’s short program and pairs free program.

Photo: Greg Kolz

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

Nexxice synchronized skating team continues to Scotland for 2018 Trophy D’Ecosse

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OTTAWA, ON:  Canada will have one team competing at the eighth annual Trophy D’Ecosse in Dumfries, Scotland. The international synchronized skating competition takes place from February 9-11, 2018, at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.

World bronze medallists Nexxice senior will be the sole Canadian team at the event. They are the defending champions at this event. Last week, the representatives of the Burlington Skating Centre placed fifth at the 2018 French Cup. The 2017 Canadian champions are coached by Shelley Simonton Barnett and Anne Schelter.

Marion Dyke of Mississauga, Ont., will be the sole Canadian official at the event.

For more information on the competition please visit the event website.

Olympic Spotlight : Larkyn Austman

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Coming off her first season as a member of the national team, Larkyn Austman captured bronze at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships to earn a spot on the Canadian figure skating team for PyeongChang 2018.

The 2013 junior women’s champion has followed in the footsteps of her mother, a competitive skater and former national novice champion herself.

The 19-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C. finished fourth at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships to earn a spot on the national team and followed that up with a bronze at the Challenge Cup in the Netherlands, her first senior international competition.

Austman was also a flower retriever at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and had an up close and personal view of Joannie Rochette’s unforgettable bronze medal performance.  She names Rochette and three-time Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond as her role models.

Olympic Spotlight : Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro

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For the second consecutive year, Moore-Towers and Marinaro finished third at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, earning a spot on the Canadian team for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

After teaming up in 2014, Moore-Towers and Marinaro notched their first ISU Grand Prix medal by winning bronze at 2015 Skate Canada International. In the summer of 2016, Moore-Towers suffered a concussion in training, keeping them out of action until they returned for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, finishing on the podium for the first time.

This past season, Moore-Towers and Marinaro won the U.S. International Classic, a Challenger Series event, and placed third at the Cup of China for their second Grand Prix medal. The pair finished sixth at Skate America in their other Grand Prix assignment.

Moore-Towers and former partner Dylan Moscovitch competed at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, where a photo of Moore-Towers and NHLer Zdeno Chara went viral.  They were also part of Canada’s silver medal-winning team in the inaugural team event at those Games.

Olympic Spotlight : Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje

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Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje head to PyeongChang for their second Olympic appearance after winning bronze at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

The duo started skating together in 2006 and have been consistent medallists on the domestic and international stage. The two-time Canadian champions (2015, 2016) are also two-time world championship medallists, taking silver in 2014 and following up with bronze the next season. They also claimed back-to-back Grand Prix Final gold in 2014 and 2015.

Leading up to the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in London, Ont., Weaver and Poje had an eye on the podium before Weaver broke her fibula just before the Canadian championships and needed surgery. Despite the setback, Weaver and Poje competed at those 2013 world championships and finished an impressive fifth.

Canada’s Nexxice places fifth at synchro skating French Cup

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ROUEN, France – Canada’s Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., showed improvement in its free program  Saturday but it wasn’t enough to climb the overall standings for a fifth place finish at the French Cup synchronized skating competition.

Paradise from Russia won the gold medal with 211.18 points followed by three teams from Finland. Team Unique took the silver at 203.44 and the Helsinki Rockettes were third at 201.50 Nexxice, world championship bronze medallists last season, was fifth after the short program Friday. They produced the fourth best free skate but remained fifth at 193.70.

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.

Full results: 2018 French Cup

Canada wins two medals at Egna Dance Trophy figure skating competition

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EGNA, Italy – There was a change in the standings but Canada maintained its two medal positions to win silver and bronze Saturday at the Egna Dance Trophy figure skating competition.

Sofia Lukinskaya and Valriy Angelopol of Russia took the gold in the novice ice dancing with 94.29 points.

Nadiia Bashynska of Markham, Ont., and Peter Beaumont of Unionville, Ont., moved from third to second with 84.92 for the silver and Miku Makita of Anmore, B.C., and Tyler Gunara of Burnaby, B.C., were third at 83.74.

‘’We really worked hard for this,’’ said Bashynska, 14. ‘’We are really pleased with the marks we received today especially for an international event.’’

‘’We are really thankful for the opportunity to skate abroad,’’ added Beaumont, 16. ‘’To get the silver medal means a lot to both of us. With the training and effort we put into it we are really happy with the result.’’

Bashynska and Beaumont won the national novice title last month just ahead of Mikita and Gunara who were second after the two pattern dances on Friday.

‘’We are happy with the medal but disappointed in our skating,’’ said Mikita, 14. ‘’Our free dance didn’t go as planned and I think we learned some valuable lessons.’’

‘’It wasn’t one of our greatest performances,’’ agreed Gunara, 15. ‘’But we still learned a lot about ourselves for next season. Still to win a medal at our first international event felt pretty good.’’

Full results: Egna Dance Trophy

Canada’s Nexxice in fifth spot at synchro skating French Cup

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ROUEN, France – Canada’s Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., is in fifth place after the short program at the French Cup synchronized skating competition.

Paradise, from Russia, stand first with 76.42 points ahead of three teams from Finland: the Helsinki Rockets in second at 75.42, Team Unique in third at 73.44 and Marigold IceUnity in fourth at 73.06.

Nexxice, world championship bronze medallists last season, follow at 70.12 out of 10 entries. 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.

“We are feeling good about our first international event this season,’’ said Shelley Simoton Barnett who coaches Nexxice with Anne Schelter.

‘’We are pleased with our performance and placement for this time of year. We are learning a lot from the experience; the very top teams are here. Looking forward to tomorrow’s free.”

Competition ends Saturday with the free skate.

Full results: 2018 French Cup

Canadian couples in medal position at Egna Dance Trophy figure skating competition

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EGNA, Italy – Canadian ice dancers stand second and third after Friday’s two pattern dances in novice competition at the Egna Dance Trophy figure skating event.

Miku Makita of Anmore, B.C., and Tyler Gunara of Burnaby, B.C. are second with 29.31 points and Nadiia Bashynska of Markham, Ont., and Peter Beaumont of Unionville, Ont., are third at 28.35 out of 15 entries.

‘’We are really happy with our result,’’ said Makita, 14. ‘’It’s our first international experience and we are learning a lot.’’

‘’Everything felt pretty good,’’ said Gunara, 15. ‘’We’re looking forward to a strong free dance as well.’’

Bashynska and Beaumont won the novice national ice dance title last month just ahead of Makita and Gunara.

‘’We’ve only skated for six months together and we have achieved so much,’’ said Bashynska, 14. ‘’Actually being here is something unbelievable for us.’’

‘’It’s great to have this opportunity to skate abroad,’’ added Beaumont, 16. ‘’We want to keep heading in the right direction.’’

Sofia Lukinskaya and Valriy Angelopol of Russia lead with 35.59.

The free dance is on Saturday.

Full results: Egna Dance Trophy

Olympic Spotlight : Keegan Messing

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The charismatic Keegan Messing will make his Olympic debut in PyeongChang after placing second at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Vancouver.

Messing has competed at the Canadian national championships four times, finishing inside the top five on three occasions.

On the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season, Messing placed fifth at NHK Trophy and eighth at Skate Canada International. In short time, he has evolved into a crowd favourite with his infectious energy and high-flying skating style.

Growing up, Messing looked to Elvis Stojko and Kurt Browning as his skating role models.

Nexxice synchronized skating team in France for 2018 French Cup

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Canadian synchronized skating teams take home medals from 2018 international events

OTTAWA, ON:  Canada will have one team competing at the 24th annual French Cup in Rouen, France. The international synchronized skating competition takes place from February 2-4, 2018, at the Centre sportif Guy Boissière.

World bronze medallists Nexxice senior will be the sole Canadian team at the event. Last year, they placed fourth at this event. The representatives of the Burlington Skating Centre also won the gold medal at the 2017 Trophy d’Ecosse last season. The 2017 Canadian champions are coached by Shelley Simonton Barnett and Anne Schelter.

Diane Kamagianis of Mission, Ont., will be the sole Canadian official at the event.

For more information on the competition please visit the event website.

Canadian synchronized skating teams take home medals from 2018 international events

Last week, Les Suprêmes senior and Les Suprêmes junior competed at the 2018 Mozart Cup in Salzburg, Austria. Les Suprêmes senior took home the gold medal, producing the top short program and free program, scoring 66.70 and 118.42 respectively, for a total of 185.12.

Les Suprêmes junior won the bronze medal with a short program score of 57.84 and free program score of 100.88, for a total score of 158.72.

Nexxice junior also claimed a bronze medal in international competition in Gothenburg, Sweden, last weekend. The team scored 57.98 in their short program and 94.82 in their free program at the 2018 Leon Lurje Trophy, for a total of 152.80 en route to the bronze.

In other international synchronized skating, Nova placed fourth at the 2018 Neuchâtel Trophy in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The team placed fourth in the short program with 63.33 and third in the free program, scoring 118.99, for a total of 182.32.

Olympic Spotlight : Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier

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Known for their exquisite artistry and crowd-pleasing choreography, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier finished second at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships to punch their ticket to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Their silver medal at the national championship was the sixth time they have reached the Canadians podium since coming together in 2011. On the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season, Gilles and Poirier placed fourth at both the Rostelecom Cup and Skate America.

Their Olympic berth comes four years after a heartbreaking setback on the road to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.  In the spring of 2013, Poirier suffered a fracture dislocation in his right ankle and underwent surgery. Gilles and Poirier were able to compete at the 2014 Canadian championships, but missed an Olympic berth by just one spot.

In 2014-15, Gilles and Poirier would win two silver medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit before managing a career-best sixth place showing at the World Championships.

Gilles and Poirier have finished inside the top eight at the world championships for four consecutive years.