First three novice champions crowned at 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The first three finals were held in novice competition on Tuesday at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

It was a very close battle in novice ice dancing as Sandrine Gauthier and Quentin Thierien of St-Bruno, Que., took the gold with 100.97 points. Emma Goodstadt and Michel Barsoum of Scarborough, Ont., were a close second at 100.87. Mia Saunders and William Oddson of Calgary were third at 97.83.

“Our goal was to have a top-five and attain our levels,” said Gauthier. “We never thought we would win the event. It’s really surprising since this is our first year at the novice level.”

Ontario’s John Kim won the men’s novice crown with 138.79 edging Quebec’s Maksim Chelmaev in second at 136.11. Brendan Wong of Burnaby, B.C., was third at 129.79.

“I was feeling really nervous but I tried my best,” said Kim, who skated a clean program. “After my triple-loop double-toe I knew I was going to skate clean and it felt really good.”

In women’s novice, Amy Shao Ning Yang of Vancouver was the winner with 144.71 followed by Audréanne Foster of Baie-Comeau, Que., in second at 131.85 and Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., third at 127.69.

The first junior final was held with Emmy Bronsard and Aissa Bouaraguia of Montreal earning the gold in ice dancing with 166.69. Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont of Scarborough were second at 165.57 and Olivia McIsaac of Burlington, Ont., and Corey Circelli of Toronto third at 146.73.

“We’ve set a plan for the last month and we are super happy that it paid off,” said Bouaraguia. “We were going for the win but we weren’t really thinking about it because we know we have the potential to win nationals.”

Competition continues through to Saturday at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.

Full info: 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships