Twelve Canadian Skaters Head to Europe to Compete in ISU Challenger Series

OTTAWA, ON (October 2, 2023) – A total of 12 Canadian skaters will make their way across the pond this month to compete at two ISU Challenger Series events. Eight skaters will be representing Canada at the Finlandia Trophy from October 4-8, 2023 in Espoo, Finland, while four additional skaters will be taking part in the Budapest Trophy from October 13-15, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.   

Canadian Champions and ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships silver medalists, Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen, will be headlining the ice dance competition, while 2022 NHK Trophy bronze medalists Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar will be serious contenders in the pair discipline.  

In the singles events, both 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships bronze medalist Fiona Bombardier and Gabriel Blumenthal will be showcasing their new programs for the first time this season. 

Two ice dance teams will be competing at the Budapest Trophy, including 2022 Skate America bronze medalists Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac. They will be joined by the young team of Emmy Bronsard and Jacob Richmond. 

The Challenger Series is an International Figure Skating Series designed to give skaters adequate opportunities to compete at the international senior level and to earn precious World Standing Points. For full competition schedules, entries and results for Challenger Series events, please click here. 

Team Canada 

Name | Age | Hometown | Coach | Training Location    

Finlandia Trophy  

Women 
Fiona Bombardier | 18 | Newmarket, Ont. | Bruno Marcotte, Raoul LeBlanc & Leesa Velenosi | Oakville, Ont. 

Men 
Gabriel Blumenthal | 22 | Burnaby, B.C. | Keegan Murphy & Eileen Murphy | Richmond, B.C. 

Pair
Brooke McIntosh | 18 | Toronto, Ont. & Benjamin Mimar | 22 | Terrebonne, Que. | Andrew Evans & Alexander Sheldrick | Toronto, Ont.  

Ice Dance 
Laurence Fournier Beaudry | 31 | Montreal, Que. & Nikolaj Soerensen | 34 | Montreal, Que. | Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon | Montreal, Que.   
Lily Hensen | 22 | London, Ont. & Nathan Lickers | 22 | Six Nation of the Grand River Territory, Ont. | Scott Moir | London, Ont.     

Team Leader – Mike Slipchuk
Medical Team – Susan Massitti
Officials – Susan Morriss & Erica Topolski   

Budapest Trophy 

Ice Dance  
Emmy Bronsard | 18 | Montreal, Que. & Jacob Richmond | 23 | Toronto, Ont. | Marie-France Dubreuil | Montreal, Que.
Marie-Jade Lauriault | 26 | Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que. & Romain Le Gac | 28 | Laval, Que. | Marie-France Dubreuil | Montreal, Que.   

Team Leader – Cynthia Ullmark
Official – Hilary Quick