ST JOHN, N.B. – Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha won their third straight national junior ice dance title on Tuesday at the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships being held this week at Harbour Station.

Lajoie, from Boucherville, Que., and Lagha, from Greenfield Park, Que. continued a solid season earning 179.71 points. Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Paul Ayer of Calgary were second at 158.57 and Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell of Toronto were third at 155.79.

Lajoie and Lagha won gold and silver in their two ISU Junior Grand Prix appearances this season then placed fourth at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Vancouver.

“This year we wanted to skate like we belonged in the senior level,” said Lagha. “There was some pressure to win again so this is a good feeling.”

Their coach Marie-France Dubreuil says the couple can contend for a medal at the world junior championships later this season.

“There was no urgency to switch them to senior,” she said. “We would like to see them stay at this level right through to the world juniors.”

There were three finals in novice competition Tuesday.

In women’s novice, Kaiya Ruiter of Calgary set a national category record with 139.57. That was almost six points better than the previous best of 133.73 set by Catherine Carle in 2017. Mélaurie Boivin of Alma, Que., followed at 131.34 and Emily Millard of Vancouver was third at 125.67.

“I always go out every time to try and get a personal best,” said Ruiter.

In ice dancing, Sophia Kagolovskaya and Kieran MacDonald of Waterloo, Ont., won the gold medal with 110.55. Kiera Kam and Mathew Carter of Vancouver were second at 105.39 and Isabel McQuilkin and Jacob Portz of Calgary were third at 103.76.

“After yesterday’s skate we really wanted to do our best in the free dance,” said Kagolovskaya.

On the men’s side, Wesley Chiu of Richmond, B.C., was the winner with 146.83, Shuma Mugii of Burnaby, B.C., second at 118.39 and Matthew Newnham of Edmonton third at 116.49.

“This is a big relief for me,” said Chiu. “I’ve been thinking about this competition all season. I really wanted to win.”

Competition continues through to Saturday.

Full information: 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

SAINT JOHN, NB: The nation’s best figure skaters are headed to Saint John, N.B. for the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. The week-long championships held at Harbour Station from January 14-20, 2019 will feature approximately 250 skaters in the men, women, pairs, ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior, and novice.

“Every year, this event continues to showcase Canada’s brightest skaters and this year will be no different,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “We are excited to be in Saint John for this important event and look forward to having the support of the community as skaters strive for gold at Harbour Station.”

The all-Canadian competition will begin with the novice and junior events taking place from Monday, January 14 to Thursday, January 17, followed by the senior events beginning on Friday, January 18 to Saturday, January 19, and finishing with an Exhibition Gala on Sunday, January 20. Athletes will aim for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2019 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 2019 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

The senior events will be the highlight of the week as Canada’s top skaters will look to add to their resume’s. Keegan Messing, 26, Sherwood Park, Alta./Brantford, Ont., earned a silver medal at last year’s Nationals and will be aiming for a gold medal finish this year. Nam Nguyen, 20, Ajax, Ont., will also be looking to make the podium after winning the bronze medal in 2018 and previously winning the national title in 2015. Stephen Gogolev, 13, Toronto, Ont., is coming off a gold medal finish at ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Vancouver and will be looking to continue that momentum into Nationals.

Gabrielle Daleman, 20, Newmarket, Ont., 2018 National Champion, will be looking to keep her spot on top of the podium. Larkyn Austman, 20, Coquitlam, B.C., will also be looking to medal after finishing third last year.

Senior ice dancers Piper Gilles, 26, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 27, Unionville, Ont., finished second in 2018 and will be aiming for the top spot this year. They will be challenged by three-time World medalists Kaitlyn Weaver, 29, Toronto, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 31,Waterloo, Ont.

Bronze medalists at last year’s event, senior pair Kirsten Moore-Towers, 26, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 27, Sarnia, Ont., will also have their eyes set on the gold medal spot.

The junior and novice categories will display Canada’s emerging talent as they look to make their statement at the national level. All novice and junior competition, and select senior events, will be live streamed on the Skate Canada Dailymotion page. For full entries and the event start orders, please click here.

Off the ice, three-time World champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist and seven-time Canadian champion, Elvis Stojko, will be this year’s Athlete Ambassador. During the event, Stojko will handle speaking engagements, media interviews, make appearances on behalf of the competing athletes and interact with his fans.

Tickets are available and single event ticket prices for the senior events are priced $25-$65. Novice and junior as well as senior practice tickets are $10 per day. Fans will be able to choose from four levels of all-event ticket packages that are only available by phone, they are priced at $125, $165, $195 and $295, plus applicable surcharges and taxes. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes and venue/Ticketmaster surcharges.

Tickets can be purchased online at harbourstation.ca, by phone at 1-800-267-2800 and in person at the Harbour Station Box Office.

This will be Saint John’s first time hosting this event. The city has previously hosted Skate Canada International three times (2013, 1999 and 1995). They have also hosted the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in December of 1997.