Tickets: 2022 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

/by

OTTAWA, ON:  Skate Canada is pleased to announce that the 2022 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will be held (in-person) at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, AB, from February 25 to 27, 2022.  

“We are very excited to be returning to Calgary to host the 2022 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships. Given the difficulties COVID has created in the delivery of live sporting events, our skaters, coaches, officials and fans are looking forward to this opportunity,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “We would like to thank Tourism Calgary and Skate Canada Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section for their continued support.”  

The 2022 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will bring dozens of teams and hundreds of skaters from across the country to Calgary. Teams will compete for national titles in the senior, junior, novice, intermediate and open categories. The top two senior teams will represent Canada at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships® 2022, which are being hosted in Hamilton, ON, April 7-9. The city of Calgary most recently hosted the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships in 2020. 

A limited number of tickets for the 2022 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will be available for sale on Monday, January 31, 2022, at 12:00 PM EST. Please note tickets will be general admission and will be priced at:  

All-Event Tickets:  

All-Event Adult – $75 plus applicable fees and taxes 

All-Event Child (12 years and under) – $45 plus applicable fees and taxes 

Single Day Tickets:  

Adult Day Ticket – $45 plus applicable fees and taxes 

Child Day Ticket – $20 plus applicable fees and taxes 

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca. A maximum of four tickets can be purchased per individual. Skate Canada thanks you for your continued support during the pandemic, and we cannot wait to see some of you in person. 

Note: The city of Calgary requires proof of double vaccination against COVID-19 at least two weeks in advance to enter public venues, including WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park.  

To get advance notice on ticketing information, subscribe to our fan mailing list.   

EVENT INFO 

Calgary has played host to several Skate Canada events, including the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in 2000, 1977, 1965, 1954 and 1948. They have also hosted Skate Canada International three times (1987, 1980, 1973). 

2022 marks the 38th annual Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships (first held in 1983). Synchronized skating is a discipline of figure skating performed in a team format, where unison and precision are critical (formerly called precision skating). Combined with music, costumes and innovative choreography, synchronized skating enjoys an immense popularity in Canada. Internationally, the ISU (International Skating Union) introduced the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships® in 2000. 

2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships – Novice Division, to take place in Calgary

/by

OTTAWA, ON: The 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships – Novice Division, will take place in Calgary, Alta., at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex from February 26 to 27, 2022. This event was previously postponed from the most recent Canadian Tire National Skating Championships due to Covid-19 restrictions.  

“It is unfortunate that the Novice skaters could not participate in Ottawa,” said Skate Canada Chief Executive Officer, Debra Armstrong, “but we are grateful to the Skate Canada Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section and Tourism Calgary for reacting quickly to make this competition a reality.”   

The 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships – Novice Division, will feature the best Canadian figure skaters in the men, women, pairs, and ice dance disciplines, competing at the novice level. This event will also determine the 2022 National Champions of Canada for Novice level athletes. 

For more information including schedule, entries, and start orders, please click here. The entire novice competition will be live streamed and can be accessed through the event page. Please note, the City of Calgary requires proof of double vaccination against COVID-19 at least two weeks in advance to enter public venues, including Seven Chiefs Sportsplex. 

A Community Story Series – “The Harder You Work, The More Results Will Come”

/by

Community Story Series – Andrew Evans – Episode 4 

“The Harder You Work, The More Results Will Come” 

Andrew Evans came to his coaching career the way many athletic coaches do; he was an athlete first. At the age of five his parents enrolled him in Skate Canada’s CanSkate program at Chinguacousy FSC in Brampton, Ontario.  

As life went on, Andrew became more involved in figure skating. Originally competing as a singles skater, Andrew eventually moved to pairs and began skating with partner Carolyn MacCuish. As a team, Evans and MacCuish enjoyed some success, culminating in 2007 when they were crowned National Junior Pair Champions at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  

In 2008 MacCuish and Andrew went their separate ways. For the next few years Andrew found himself working with a variety of different partners but never producing “super impressive results.” Working with new partners was bringing something out in Andrew at the time that would eventually bring him to the next step in his career, coaching. As a pairs skater working with new partners, he often found himself teaching, and sharing his experience. A skill that lends itself exceptionally well to being a coach.  

Fast forward to today, Andrew is part of the coaching team at the Canadian Ice Academy and the Mississauga Skating Academy. To Andrew being a coach means, “helping skaters achieve their goals and learning lessons along the way. High-level sports help teach athletes discipline, punctuality, respect and perseverance. All skills athletes can use further on in life.”  

Like all things, coaching requires motivation, planning, and discipline. All of this in conjunction with his ability to oversee his own success keeps him motivated. Every day he works with an athlete, “there is always a next step to take.” It is about teaching skaters that it is normal to start with a goal, such as qualifying for Sectionals, then a few years down the road to set your sights a little higher. Andrew is there to help skaters learn, the harder they work, the more the results will come. A motto he also carries with himself as he continues to develop his coaching career.  

Andrew is a reminder of how dreams develop over time. His first ambition to skate competitively has taken many forms since he started skating at five years old. The one thing that has never changed though is his love of the sport. “Figure skating is my life. It’s how I met my wife, it’s what bonds me with my best friends. It’s taught me work ethic and discipline. I could talk about it all day, every day – and often do.”  

______________ 

Skate Canada’s Skate for Life programs support and encourage skating for wellbeing, health and enjoyment. Information about our programs can be found at www.skatecanada.ca. 

You can find Andrew Evans on Instagram @coachandrewevans. 

The Skate Canada Community Story Series will cover exciting stories from our sections, community skaters and coaches. If you have a story from your club or section that you would like to share with us, we would love too here from you. Please contact Skate Canada at [email protected]. 

Brampton’s Gold Ice Fifth at Synchronized Skating International Competition

/by

TURKU, Finland – Gold Ice from Brampton, Ont., represented Canada at the 2022 Marie Lundmark Trophy synchronized skating competition and placed fifth in the junior event on Sunday.

Russian teams were 1-2 with Junost placing first with 203.78 points and Sunrise 1 second at 188.72. Fintastic, from Finland, was third at 182.23.

Gold Ice was forced to train on small-sized outdoor rinks due to pandemic restrictions in Ontario in the two weeks leading up to the event and took fifth spot with 139.72.

‘’I’m beyond proud of this team for all the obstacles we have faced,’’ said Gold Ice team captain Kaitlin Harnum. ‘’We are proud of our performance this weekend although we know we are capable of much more.’’

The Gold Ice team members are Lily Dawn Bauman, Mia Zelia Bek, Mia Victoria Blanchet, Zuri Athalia Conliffe-Layne, Lauren Ninette Gyorody, Asma Salimah Haniff, Kaitlin Jane Harnum, Alyssa Elizabeth Jamie Lopresti, Marie-Ève Ouellet, Raia Puni Myers Parekh, Jenna Leslie Anne Payne, Sloan Amelia Stark, Katherine Ann Trim, Melissa Isabel van Loenen, Sophie Joy Vanslyke, Aabha Vedi, Emma Wang, Breanna Qinchen Wang, Paige Noelle Westerman, Katarzyna Joan Duleba Zaski.

‘’The experience we had here after two years out of competition was amazing,’’ said Aabha Vedi. ‘’It felt good to be out there and show how far we’ve come and how much we’ve progressed. We are grateful for this opportunity to represent our country.’’

Full results: http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/2122/CSSYSMLT2022/index.htm

Strong Free Skate Lifts Joseph Phan in Standings at ISU Four Continents Championships

/by

TALLIN, Estonia – Joseph Phan of Laval, Que., produced the sixth best free skate on Sunday and climbed to ninth overall in the men’s event to conclude the ISU Four Continents Championships figure skating competition.

Junhwan Cha of South Korea won the gold medal with 273.22 points and was followed by three Japanese skaters in the standings including Kazuki Tomono in second at 268.99 and Kao Miura in third at 251.07.

Phan, 10th after Friday’s short program, delivered a clean free landing his seven jumps. He opened with a triple Axel-triple toe combination and landed two more combos as well as another triple Axel. Both his free skate score of 151.15 and total score of 220.85 were personal bests at the international level.

He scored slightly higher earlier this month in a fourth-place result at nationals.

‘’I was really nervous before my free skate, I think even more than at nationals’’ said Phan, 20. ‘’But I was still able to manage it properly. During my program I just stayed focused, taking one jump at a time and trusted my skates.’’

Corey Circelli of Toronto was 12th.

Canada ended the competition with one bronze medal won Saturday by Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Trenton, Ont., in pairs.

Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver were fourth in ice dancing Friday missing a spot on the podium by just over three points.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/fc2022/

Walsh and Michaud Win Bronze in Pairs at ISU Four Continents Championships

/by

TALLIN, Estonia – Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud won their first international medal on Saturday finishing third in pairs at the ISU Four Continents Championships figure skating competition.

Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov led the U.S. to a 1-2 finish with 189.10 points. Emily Chan and Spencer Arika Howe were second at 180.94 and Walsh and Michaud, in their sixth season together, followed with an international best 179.70.

The Canadians were second after the short program and were hoping to at least maintain that position.

‘’We are disappointed in our free skate,’’ said Walsh of London, Ont. ‘’We made some costly errors today that going forward we know we can’t make.’’

They were coming off a silver medal performance earlier this month at nationals.

‘’It was a very good week,’’ said Michaud of Trenton, Ont. ‘’We were feeling very confident after nationals and had a great short program here. We had a lot of good things in the free skate today we just made one or two errors we don’t usually make.’’

Deanna Stellato and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., were fourth at 172.71 and Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Lévis, Que., sixth at 163.60.

In women’s competition, Mai Mihara of Japan won the gold medal with South Koreans Haein Lee and Yelim Kim second and third.

Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., was 10th, Alison Schumacher of Tecumseh, Ont., 11th and Veronik Mallet of Sept-Iles, Que., 13th.

‘’I managed to do a decent long,’’ said Daleman. ‘’Again there were mistakes but I managed to bounce back and I fought through the program and recovered.’’

Competition ends Sunday with the men’s free skate.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/fc2022/

Soucisse and Firus Edged for Bronze at ISU Four Continents Championships

/by

TALLIN, Estonia – Canadians Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus missed a spot on the podium by just over three points Friday and placed fourth in ice dancing at the ISU Four Continents Championships figure skating competition.

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons of the U.S. took the gold with 200.59 points, Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan were second at 181.91 and Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko of the U.S. were third at 175.67.

Soucisse, from Chateauguay, Que., and Firus, of North Vancouver, tabulated 172.45, their best international score in five events this season. It was the same top-four order after the rhythm dance on Thursday.

‘’We were really happy with how we skated both programs,’’ said Soucisse. ‘’It was our best two this season which is saying a lot because we’ve really accomplished a lot this season and this competition was no exception.’’

The were two other Canadian entries in ice dancing. Marie-Jade Lauriault, and Romain Le Gac of Montreal were sixth at 166.89 and Haley Sales of Kelowna, B.C., and Nikolas Wamsteeker of Langley, B.C., were seventh at 160.99.

Earlier Friday in the men’s short program, Joseph Phan of Laval, Que., and Corey Circelli of Toronto ranked 10th and 11th.

On Thursday in the pairs short, Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Trenton, Ont., were second, Deanna Stellato and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., fifth and Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Lévis, Que., sixth.

Three more Canadians were in the women’s short. Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., was ninth, Alison Schumacher of Tecumseh, Ont., 11th and Veronik Mallet of Sept-Iles, Que., 13th.

Competition continues Saturday with the free skates in women’s and pairs. The men’s free skate is Sunday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/fc2022/

Canadians Win Gold and Silver in Junior Pairs at Bavarian Open

/by

OBERSTDORF, Germany – Recently crowned national junior champions Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar led Canada to a 1-2 finish in the junior pairs event on Friday at the Bavarian Open figure skating competition.

McIntosh, from Toronto, and Mimar, of Terrebonne, Que., took the gold with an international best of 155.07 points in their first overseas assignment as a pair. Summer Homick of Tillsonburg, Ont., and Marty Haubrich of Dubuc, Sask., were second with 137.79. Barbora Kucianova and Lukas Vochozka of the Czech Republic were third at 121.39.

‘’It was really good,’’ said Mimar, who joined forces with McIntosh last season. ‘’We had a lot of fun and we were happy with the result. The trip was a bit rough, but we had a good rest once we got here and that allowed us to be near our best.’’

Homick and Haubrich were also second to McIntosh and Mimar at junior national earlier this month in Ottawa.

‘’It was great to bounce back from a subpar short program,’’ said Homick, 14.

‘’We were really happy with the long program,’’ added Haubrich, 20. ‘’We put out a good performance and did what we set out to do.’’

It was the same 1-2-3 standings after Thursday’s short program.

Full results: http://www.deu-event.de/results/BO2022/index.htm

Gold Ice Junior Synchronized Skating Team Heads to Finland for 2022 Marie Lundmark Trophy

/by

OTTAWA, ON:  Canada will have one team competing at the 2022 Marie Lundmark Trophy in Turku, Finland. The international synchronized skating competition takes place from January 20-23, 2022, at the Gatorade Centre. 

Gold Ice Junior will be the sole Canadian team at the 2022 Marie Lundmark Trophy. They are the defending champions of this event. They are coached by Jessica Brown, Ashley Greenhalgh, and Andrea Nesbitt. In 2018, Gold Ice Junior won the bronze medal at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships. 

For more information on the competition, please visit www.isu.org or the event page. 

Two Junior Pair Teams head to Germany to Compete in the 2022 Bavarian Open

/by

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have two entries for a total of four skaters competing in the 2022 Bavarian Open. Canada will have two junior entries in the pairs discipline. This event will take place from January 18-23, 2022, in Oberstdorf, Germany. 

Brooke McIntosh, 17, Toronto, Ont., and Benjamin Mimar, 20, Terrebonne, Que., will be the first Canadian entry in junior pairs. The pair finished first at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Andrew Evans, Alexander Sheldrick-Male, and Pavol Porac in Mississauga, Ont.  

Summer Homick, 14, Tillsonburg, Ont., and Marty Haubrich, 20, Dubuc, Sask., will be the second entry for Canada in junior pairs. The pair finished second at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Alison Purkiss in Brantford, Ont.  

Paul MacIntosh of Kitchener, Ont., will be the team leader at the event. Physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian team medical staff on-site. Laura Carr of Kelowna, B.C., will be the Canadian official at the event. 

 

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT THE 2022 BAVARIAN OPEN – OBERSTDORF, GERMANY  

PAIRS 

Brooke McIntosh (17) and Benjamin Mimar (20) / Toronto, Ont., and Terrebonne, Que. / Canadian Ice Academy and CPA St-Michel / Coached by Andrew Evans, Alexander Sheldrick-Male, Pavol Porac 

Summer Homick (14) and Marty Haubrich (20) / Tillsonburg, Ont., and Dubuc, Sask. / Tillsonburg SC and Skate Esterhazy / Coached by Alison Purkiss  

 

Canadian Skaters Heading to Estonia to compete at ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships® 2022

/by

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have twelve entries for a total of 18 skaters competing at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championship® 2022. Canada will have three entries in men, three entries in women, three entries in pairs and three entries in ice dance. The event will take place from January 18 to 23, 2022, in Tallinn, Estonia.  

Wesley Chiu, 16, Richmond, B.C., will be the first of three Canadian entries in the men’s discipline. Chiu won a bronze medal at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy in Richmond, B.C.  

Corey Circelli, 19, Toronto, Ont., will be the second Canadian entry in men. Corey placed fifth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Brian Orser in Toronto, Ont.   

Joseph Phan, 20, Laval, Que., will be the third and final Canadian entry in men. Phan placed fourth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Brian Orser and Ghislain Briand in Toronto, Ont. 

Gabrielle Daleman, 23, Newmarket, Ont., will be the first of three entries in women. She finished third in the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and won a gold medal in the team event at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Daleman is coached by Lee Barkell in Toronto, Ont. 

Véronik Mallet, 27, Sept-Îles, Que., will be the second Canadian entry in women. Mallet finished second at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. She is coached by Bruno Marcotte in Sept-Îles, Que.     

Alison Schumacher, 18, Tecumseh, Ont., will be the third and final Canadian entry in women. Schumacher finished second at the 2021 Skate Canada Challenge and fifth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. She is coached by Joey Russell in Toronto, Ont.    

Lori-Ann Matte, 22, Lévis, Que., and Thierry Ferland, 24, Lévis, Que., will be the first of three Canadian entries in pairs. The pair team finished fourth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and seventh at the 2021 Skate Canada International. They are coached by Ian Connolly in Lévis, Que. 

Deanna Stellato, 38, Park Ridge, USA, and Maxime Deschamps, 29, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., are the second Canadian entry in pairs. The pair team came fourth at the 2021 Autum Classic International and followed that with a third-place finish at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Ian Connolly in Vaudreuil, Que. 

Evelyn Walsh, 20, London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, 25, Trenton, Ont., are the third entry in pairs. Walsh and Michaud finished second at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and placed sixth at the 2021 NHK Trophy. They are coached by Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans, and Paul Macintosh in Brantford, Ont. 

Marie-Jade Lauriault, 25, Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., and Romain Le Gac, 26, Nogent-sur-Marne, France, are the first entry in ice dance. Lauriault and Le Gac placed fifth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Patrice Lauzon in Montreal, Que. 

Haley Sales, 24, Kelowna, B.C., and Nikolas Wamsteeker, 25, Langley, B.C., will be the second entry in ice dance. Sales and Wamsteeker finished sixth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and placed second at the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge. They are coached by Scott Moir in London, Ont. 

Carolane Soucisse, 26, Châteauguay, Que., and Shane Firus, 27, North Vancouver, B.C., are the third entry in ice dance. This season, Soucisse and Firus finished fourth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and fifth at the 2021 Autum Classic International. They are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs in Toronto, Ont. 

 

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU FOUR CONTINENTS FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS® 2022 – TALLINN, ESTONIA 

 

MEN 

Wesley Chiu (16) / Richmond, B.C. / Connaught Skating Club / Coached by Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy 

Corey Circelli (19) / Toronto, Ont. / Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club / Coached by Brian Orser  

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

 

WOMEN 

Gabrielle Daleman (23) / Newmarket, Ont. / Granite Club / Coached by Lee Barkell 

Véronik Mallet (27) / Sept-Îles, Que. / CPA Sept-Îles / Coached by Bruno Marcotte 

Alison Schumacher (18) / Tecumseh, Ont. / Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club / Coached by Joey Russell 

 

PAIRS 

Lori-Ann Matte (22) and Thierry Ferland (25) / Lévis, Que. and Lévis, Que. / CPA St-Romuald/St-Jean and CPA Lévis / Coached by Ian Connolly  

Deanna Stellato (38) and Maxime Deschamps (29) / Park Ridge, USA and Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. / CPAR Vaudreuil / Coached by Ian Connolly.  

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 

Marie-Jade Lauriault (25) and Romain Le Gac (26) / Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que. and Nogent-sur-Marne, France / CPA Ste-Anne-des-Plaines and CPA Laval / Coached by Patrice Lauzon  

Haley Sales (24) and Nikolas Wamsteeker (25) / Kelowna, B.C. and Langley, B.C. / Kelowna SC and Champs International Skating Centre of BC / Coached by Scott Moir 

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

Skate Canada names teams for ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships® 2022

/by

OTTAWA, ON:  After the junior events at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, Skate Canada named the team for the upcoming ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships®. The week-long championships were held in Ottawa, Ontario, at The Arena at TD Place from January 6-13, 2022.

 ISU WORLD JUNIOR FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS® 2022

Sofia, Bulgaria – March 7-13, 2022

MEN

Wesley Chiu

Stephen Gogolev

WOMEN 

Justine Miclette

Lia Pereira

PAIRS 

Summer Homick / Marty Haubrich*

Brooke McIntosh / Benjamin Mimar*

* Pending achieving minimum technical score

ICE DANCE 

Nadiia Bashynska / Peter Beaumont

Natalie D’Alessandro / Bruce Waddell