OTTAWA, ON (Sept. 9, 2026) – The 2026–2027 figure skating season continues this month, with Canadian skaters set to take on international competition at three ISU Challenger Series events across North America and Europe. 

The action gets underway at the John Nicks Pairs Challenge International in Norwood, USA, from September 11-12, where Canada will be represented by two pair teams. 

In their first season at the senior level, junior world silver medallists Jazmine Desrochers and Kieran Thrasher will lead Canada’s delegation as they prepare for their Grand Prix debut this fall. They will be joined by Miyu Yunoki and Tristan Taylor, who will compete internationally for the first time together. The pair captured gold at the 2025–2026 Skate Canada Challenge in their first season together before finishing sixth at the 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships. 

The competition then shifts to Europe, with the Nebelhorn Trophy taking place September 24-26 in Oberstdorf, Germany, featuring Canadian entries in all four disciplines. 

Canadian men’s bronze medallist Aleksa Rakic will open his international season in Oberstdorf, while Fée Ann Landry, the 2025 Trophy Metropole bronze medallist, will represent Canada in the women’s event. 

In pairs, world bronze medallists Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud will be joined by Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov, the reigning junior world champions. In ice dance, Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac will take the ice alongside junior national champions Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys, who are entering their first senior season. 

Taking place during the same week, the Nepela Memorial in Bratislava, Slovakia, will feature four Canadian entries from September 24-27. 

The event will mark senior international debuts for David Bondar, the 2025 Canadian junior men’s champion, and Reese Rose, the 2024 Trophy Metropole junior women’s silver medallist. Also competing in the women’s event will be two-time Canadian champion, Gabrielle Daleman.  

Rounding out Canada’s delegation is ice dance team Alicia Fabbri and Marko Jevgeni Gaidajenko, who will make their international debut together after joining forces this summer. 

The ISU Challenger Series provides senior skaters with valuable international competition experience and an opportunity to earn World Standing Points throughout the season.  

For full competition schedules, entries and results for the Challenger Series events, click here. 

TEAM CANADA   
Name | Age | Hometown | Coach 

JOHN NICKS INTERNATIONAL PAIRS COMPETITION 
Pairs 
Jazmine Desrochers | 20 | Mississauga, Ont. & Kieran Thrasher | Windsor, Ont. | 22 | Bruno Marcotte 
Miyu Yunoki | 20 | Osaka, Japan & Tristan Taylor | 24 | Regina, Sask. | Drew Meekins 

Team Leader – Mike Slipchuk 
Official – Andrew Bosco

NEBELHORN TROPHY
Women 
Fée Ann Landry | 21 | Gatineau, Que. | Guylaine Blouin 

Men 
Aleksa Rakic | 20 | Burnaby, B.C. | Joanne McLeod   

Pairs 
Ava Kemp | 18 | Winnipeg, Ont. & Yohnatan Elizarov | 22 | Winnipeg, Man. | Kevin Dawe 
Lia Pereira | 22 | Milton, Ont. & Trennt Michaud | 30 | Trenton, Ont. | Alison Purkiss 

Ice Dance 
Marie-Jade Lauriault | 29 | Ste-Anne-Des-Plaines, Que. & Romain Le Gac | 31 | Laval, Que. | Scott Moir 
Layla Veillon | 20 | London, Ont. & Alexander Brandys | 21 | London, Ont. | Scott Moir 

Team Leader – Mike Slipchuk 
Medical Team – Erik Torchia 
Officials – Lynne Dey & Leslie Keen 

NEPELA MEMORIAL 
Women 
Gabrielle Daleman | 28 | Toronto, Ont. | Tammy Gambill 
Reese Rose | 17 | Gananoque, Ont. | Darlene Joseph 

Men
David Bondar | 19 | Richmond Hill, Ont. | Lee Barkell  

Ice Dance 
Alicia Fabbri | 23 | Terrebonne, Que. & Marko Jevgeni Gaidajenko | 24 | Montreal, Que. | Romain Haguenauer 

Team Leader – Shae Zukiwsky 
Medical Team – Kirsten Lemmon 
Officials – Glen Fortin & Ron Conacher