Lajoie and Lagha Produce Season Best Performance in Fifth Place Finish at NHK Trophy

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TOKYO –Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha completed a season’s best performance Saturday in their free dance to finish fifth in ice dancing for Canada’s top result at the NHK Trophy, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

World champions Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia won the gold medal with 215.44 points. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. were second at 210.78 and Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain third at 191.91.

Lajoie and Lagha were in a three-way battle for the bronze and produce the fourth best free dance on Saturday but remained fifth overall at 187.38. Their rhythm dance, free dance and total score were all season’s best amongst their four competitions so far.

‘’This is a great way to finish this section of the season,’’ said Lagha, from St-Hubert, Que. ‘’It was like we learned to stay calm while we skated and with the crowd and everything it was a great week overall.’’

The pairs event was won by Russia’s Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov with 227.28. Their compatriots Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov took second with 213.27.

Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Brantford, Ont., remained sixth with 167.98, which was more than 20 points better than their score in an eighth-place result at Skate America last month.

‘’Things that we worked on since Skate America definitely got better,’’ said Michaud. ‘’But there’s still a lot we want to keep working on. There were some different mistakes this time and we are still not where we need to be.’’

Shoma Uno of Japan took the men’s crown for his first top-level international figure skating title in nearly three years, distancing American Vincent Zhou in a battle of Olympic medal contenders.

Two-time Canadian champion Nam Nguyen of Ajax, Ont., remained in 10th spot.

‘’It was a tough week,’’ he admitted. ‘’I’d been working really hard since Skate America leading into this event but unfortunately it didn’t reflect too well this week. When I get back home there’s about 90 percent of the free program I need to deal with.’’

Kaori Sakamato successfully defended her women’s title on Saturday, with a season-best 223.34. Japanese compatriot Mana Kawabe, who started the day 2.68 points back in second, totalled 205.44 to take silver, with South Korea’s You Young rounding out the podium a further 1.84 points behind.

There were no Canadian entries in the women’s event.

The fifth stop on the circuit goes this upcoming Friday and Saturday in Grenoble, France.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/gpjpn2021/

Lajoie and Lagha Within Striking Distance of Podium ay NHK Trophy

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TOKYO – Ice dancers Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha are less than two points from third place after Friday’s rhythm dance to highlight Canadian performances Friday at the NHK Trophy, the fourth stop on the ISU figure skating circuit.

World champions Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia are first at 86.33, Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. second at 86.02 and Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain third at 76.43.

Three teams are in a heated battle for that third spot. Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin of Spain scored 76.40 for fourth and Lajoie and Lagha are fifth at 74.45.

It was a season best score for the Canadians competing for the fourth time this season. They were fourth at the Autumn Classic International, seventh at Finlandia Trophy and sixth at Skate Canada International two weeks ago.

In men’s competition, Japan’s Shoma Uno capitalised on injured Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu’s absence to lead after the short program with 102.58 points. Vincent Zhou of the U.S. who has won his three previous events this season, is second at 99.51 and Junhwa Cha of South Korea third at 95.92.

Two-time Canadian champion Nam Nguyen of Ajax, Ont., stands 10th. His first jump, a quad Salchow – triple toe loop combination did not go as planned as he doubled the Salchow.

In pairs, Russian world champions Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov lead after the short program with 78.40, ahead of compatriots Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov at 75.78.

Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Brantford, Ont., are sixth at 56.97, over two points better than their score at Skate America in October.

In women’s competition, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto leads after the short program ahead of compatriot Mana Kawabe and South Korea’s You Young. There are no Canadian entries.

Competition ends Saturday with all four free skates.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/gpjpn2021/

Canada Sends Sixteen Skaters to Graz, Austria for the 2021 Cup of Austria

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have 11 entries for a total of 16 skaters taking part in the 2021 Cup of Austria in Graz, Austria this week.  For seniors, Canada will have two entries in men, two entries in women, and three entries in ice dance. As for juniors, Canada will have one entry in men and women, and two entries ice dance. This is the eighth event in the 2021-2022 Figure Skating Challenger Series, and it takes place November 11 to 14, 2021.   

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2021 CUP OF AUSTRIA – GRAZ, AUSTRIA 

DISCIPLINE  NAME  AGE  HOMETOWN  CLUB  COACH 
Men (SR)  Beres Clements  20  Gibson, B.C  Champs International Skating Centre of British Columbia  Joanne McLeod and Neil Wilson 
Men (SR)  Corey Circelli  18  Toronto, Ont  Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club  Brian Orser and Tracey Wilson 
Men (JR)  Aleksa Rakic  N/A  Burnaby, B.C   Champs International Skating Centre of British Columbia  Joanne McLeod  
Women (SR)  Emily Bausback  19  Vancouver, B.C 

 

 Champs International Skating Centre of BC 

 

 Joanne McLeod and Neil Wilson 
Women (SR)  Alison Schumacher  18  Tecumseh, Ont.  Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club  Joey Russell, Tracy Wilson and Ghislain Briand 
Women (JR)  Rose Théroux  14  Ste-Victoire-de-Sorel, QC  Académie Performance Isatis 

 

 Marc-Andre Craig 
Ice Dance (SR)  Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Nikolaj Sorenson  29 / 32  Montreal, Que.  Town of Mount Royal FSC  Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain and Haguenauer 
Ice Dance (SR)  Alicia Fabbri / Paul Ayer  18 / 23  Terrebonne, Que. / Calgary, Alta.  CPA Terrebonne Inc  Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer 
Ice Dance (SR)  Dmitre Razgulajevs / Molly Lanaghan  22 / 24  Ajax, Ont.   Scarboro FSC  Carol Lane, Jon Lane and Juris Razgulajevs 
Ice Dance (JR)  Natalie D’Alessandro / Bruce Waddell  17/ 

19 

 Toronto, Ont.   Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club  Andrew Hallam, Joey Russel and Tracey Wilson 
Ice Dance (JR)  Sandrine Gauthier / Quentin Thieren  17 / 18  Saint-Constant, QC / Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC  CPA Du Roussillon / CPA St-Bruno FSC Inc.  

 

 Pascal Denis  

   

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director and Marie Bowness, Skate Canada High Performance Advisor are the Canadian team leaders at this event. Physiotherapist Paige Larson of North Vancouver, B.C., and Dr. Sari Kraft of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Andre-Marc Allain of Ottawa, Ont., will be the Canadian official attending the event. 

Five Canadians are Heading to Japan for the 2021 NHK Trophy

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have three entries for a total of five skaters competing at the 2021 NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan. Canada will have one entry in men, one entry in pairs and one entry in ice dance. This is the fourth event in the 2021/2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and the event takes place from November 12 to 14, 2021.  

Nam Nguyen, 23, Ajax, Ont., will be the lone Canadian entry in men. Nguyen finished second at the 2021 Skate Canada Challenge and finished eighth at Skate America 2021. He is coached by Robert Burk, Danielle Rose and Ken Rose in Richmond Hill, Ont. 

Evelyn Walsh, 20, London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, 25, Trenton, Ont., will be the only Canadian entry in pairs. Walsh and Michaud placed eighth at Skate America 2021.  They are coached by Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans and Paul Macintosh in Brantford, Ont. 

Marjorie Lajoie, 20, Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha, 22, Saint-Hubert, Que., will be the lone ice dance entry representing Canada. Lajoie and Lagha finished sixth at the 2021 Skate Canada International and placed fourth at the 2021 Autumn Classic International., They are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer, Pascal Denis and Josée Piche in Montreal, Que. 

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director will be the team leader. Dr Daphne Anderson of Calgary, Alta., and physiotherapist Meghan Buttle of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Debbie Islam of Barrie, Ont., and Janice Hunter, Vancouver, B.C., will be the team officials attending the event.  

 

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT THE 2021 NHK TROPHY – TOKYO, JAPAN 

MEN 

Nam Nguyen (23) / Ajax, Ont. / Richmond Hill Training Centre / Coached by Robert Burk, Danielle Rose, and Ken Rose 

PAIRS 

Evelyn Walsh (20) and Trennt Michaud (25) / London, Ont., and Trenton, Ont. / Brantford Skating Club and Trenton Skating Club / Coached by Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans and Paul Macintosh 

ICE DANCE
Marjorie Lajoie (20) and Zachary Lagha (22) / Boucherville, Que. and Saint-Hubert, Que. / CPA Boucherville and CPA Saint Lambert / Coached by: Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer, Pascal Denis and Josée Piche 

Soucisse and Firus Climb Standings at ISU Grand Prix

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TORINO, Italy- Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver cracked the 100-point mark for the third time this season for their free dance to finish seventh in ice dancing Saturday at the Gran Premio d’Italia, the third stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

The top-three remained unchanged after Friday’s rhythm dance. Four-time world champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France won the gold medal with 220.06 points, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the U.S. were second at 207.90 and Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia were third at 202.12.

Soucisse and Firus, competing for the fourth time this fall, were eighth after Friday’s short program. They earned 100.46 points for their free skate to finish at 163.86 which was almost two points better than their score two weeks ago when they were also seventh at Skate America.

They were the only Canadian entry at this week’s stop which was originally scheduled for China but relocated due to pandemic-related travel issues.

The big story of the day was a fantastic comeback by Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama to win the gold medal in men’s competition. He was seventh after the short program but topped the field by more than 18 points in his free skate to take the gold with 278.02. Mikhail Kolyada of Russia was second at 273.55.

Earlier in the women’s free skate, reigning world champion Anna Shcherbakova of Russia climbed from third after the short to win the gold with 236.78. Her compatriot Maiia Khromyk was second at 226.35 and Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, the surprise leader after the short, took the bronze with 219.05.

There were no surprises in pairs as Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China won the gold with 224.55 and their compatriots Cheng Peng and Yang Jin were second at 211.86.

The fourth stop on the circuit is the NHK Trophy this upcoming Friday and Saturday in Tokyo.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/gpita2021/

Canadian Ice Dancers Eighth After Rhythm Dance at ISU Grand Prix

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TORINO, Italy – Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver are in eighth place after Friday’s rhythm dance at the Gran Premio d’Italia, the third stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

Four-time world champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France are in first place in ice dancing with 87.45 points, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the U.S., second at 84.79 and Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia third at 81.47.

Soucisse and Firus, competing for the fourth time this season, earned 63.40 which was a slight improvement on their score at Skate America two weeks ago in Las Vegas. They are the only Canadian entry at this week’s stop which was originally scheduled for China but relocated due to pandemic issues.

Prior to the ice dancing, a Russian showdown in women’s singles between Maiia Khromyk and reigning world champion Anna Shcherbakova for gold was infiltrated with Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx in first place after the short program with 73.52

The Russians though are in hot pursuit. Khromyk posted a 72.04 score for second spot and Shcherbakova is third at 71.73.

China is 1-2 in pairs with last week’s Skate Canada International champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han first at 80.07 and compatriots Cheng Peng and Yang Jin second at 76.71.

Another Chinese skater is first after the men’s short. Boyang Jin totalled 97.89 with Daniel Grassl of Italy second at 95.67 and Junhwan Cha of South Korea third at 95.56.

All four free skates are on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/gpita2021/

One Canadian Ice Dance team heads to Torino for the 2021 Gran Primo D’Italia

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have only one entry for a total of two skaters competing at the Gran Primo D’Italia 2021. Canada’s lone entry will be in Ice Dance. This will be the third event in the 2021/2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series and the event takes place from November 5 to 7, 2021 in Torino, Italy. 

Carolane Soucisse, 26, Châteauguay, Que., and Shane Firus, 27, North Vancouver, BC., are the lone entry in ice dance. This season they finished seventh at Skate America 2021 and fifth at the 2021 Autum Classic International. They are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs in Toronto, Ont. 

Marie Bowness of Halifax, N.S., will be the Canadian team leader at the event. Physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Ron Conacher of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian official at the event.  

CANADINA ENTRIES AT GRAN PRIMO D’ITALIA 2021 – TORINO, ITALY 

ICE DANCE  

Carolane Soucisse (26) and Shane Firus (27) / Châteauguay, Que. and North Vancouver, BC. / CPA Repentigny / Coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs