Canadian Skaters Are Heading to Zagreb, Croatia for the 53rd Golden Spin of Zagreb

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have six entries for a total of nine skaters competing at the 53rd Golden Spin of Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia. Canada will have three entries in men and three entries in pairs. This is the ninth and final event of the 2021 ISU Challenger Series and takes place from December 8 to 11, 2021.  

Keegan Messing, 29, Girdwood, Alaska, USA, is the first Canadian entry in men. Messing finished fifth at the 2021 Skate Canada International and recently placed sixth at the at the 2021 Internationaux de France. He is coached by Ralph Burghart in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. 

Conrad Orzel, 21, Woodbridge, Ont., is the second entry in men. Orzel placed first at the 2021 Autumn Classic International and placed ninth at the 2021 Skate Canada International. Orzel is coached by Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson in Toronto, Ont.  

Joseph Phan, 20, Laval, Que., will be the third and final Canadian entry in men. Phan placed second at the 2020 Bavarian Open in Oberstdorf, Germany. He is coached by Brian Orser, and Ghislain Briand in Toronto, Ont. 

National pairs team, Vanessa James, 34, Scarborough, Ont., and Eric Radford, 36, Balmertown, Ont., are the first Canadian entry in pairs. They garnered a silver medal at the 2021 Autumn Classic International and placed fourth at the 2021 Internationaux de France. This is their first season competing together internationally. They are coached by Julie Marcotte in Montreal, Que. 

Kirsten Moore-Towers, 29, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 29, Sarnia, Ont., are Canada’s second entry in pairs. Their last competition was the 2021 Rostelecom Cup in Russia, where they finished in fifth place. They are coached by Bruno Marcotte, Alison Purkiss and Brian Shales in Oakville, Ont., and Brantford, Ont. 

Evelyn Walsh, 20, London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, 25, Trenton, Ont., are the third entry  in pairs. Walsh and Michaud placed eighth at Skate America 2021 and sixth at the 2021 NHK Trophy, in Japan.  They are coached by Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans and Paul Macintosh in Brantford, Ont. 

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director and Marie Bowness of Halifax, N.S., are the Canadian team leaders at this event. Physiotherapist, Paige Larson of North Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian medical staff on–site. Sabrina Wong of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian official attending the event. 

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT THE 53rd GOLDEN SPIN OF ZAGREB – ZAGREB, CROATIA 

MEN 

Keegan Messing (29) / Girdwood, Alaska, USA / Ice Palace FSC / Coached by Ralph Burghart 

Conrad Orzel (21) / Woodbridge, Ont. / Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club / Coached by Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson 

Joseph Phan (20) / Laval, Que. / CPA Laval / Coached by Brian Orser and Ghislain Briand 

PAIRS 

Vanessa James (34) and Eric Radford (36) / Scarborough, Ont., and Balmertown, Ont. / EPJM and C.P.A. Saint-Léonard / Coached by Julie Marcotte 

Kirsten Moore-Towers (29) and Michael Marinaro (29) / St. Catharines, Ont., and Sarnia, Ont. / Skate Oakville / Coached by Bruno Marcotte, Alison Purkiss and Brian Shales 

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