Canada wins silver at 2014 Junior World Challenge Cup

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NEUCHATEL, Switzerland – Les Suprêmes from St-Léonard, Que., gained one spot in the overall standings with a strong free program Saturday to win the silver medal at the 2014 Junior World Challenge Cup synchronized skating competition.

Finland took the gold medal with 173.77 points, Les Suprêmes, third after Friday’s short program, followed at 170.89 and a second Finnish team was third at 167.63.  Les Pirouettes from Laval, Que., remained fifth out of 19 entries with 155.37.

The Suprêmes, the Canadian junior champions, took the bronze at this event in 2012. They are coached by Marilyn Langlois and Amélie Brochu.

Les Pirouettes are the 2013 and 2014 Canadian junior bronze medallists and are coached by Nancy Alexander and Stéphanie Savoie.

A total of 19 teams from 14 countries were at the event which determined the top junior team in the world.

Full results: http://events.skating.ch/events1314/JWCC_2014/index.htm

Canadians prepared to compete at 2014 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships®

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send eight entries for a total of 12 skaters to the 2014 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships® in Sofia, Bulgaria from March 10-16, 2014. Canada will have two entries in each category: men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance.

Nam Nguyen, 15, Toronto, Ont., leads the Canadian entries in men’s. This will be his third time competing at this event, having placed 12th in 2013, and 13th in 2012. This season, Nguyen earned a fifth place finish at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships in the senior category. Most recently, he placed 10th at the 2014 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. He is coached by Brian Orser at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.

Roman Sadovsky, 14, Vaughan, Ont., will be the second Canadian entry in the men’s division. This season, Sadovsky placed 14th at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Riga, Latvia, and eighth in Minsk, Belarus. He also placed eighth at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships in the senior competition. He is coached by Tracey Wainman and Gregor Filipowski at the YSRA Winter Club.

Alaine Chartrand, 17, Prescott, Ont., is the first of two Canadian entries in the ladies category. Chartrand placed eighth at this event last season. This season, the 2013 Canadian bronze medallist placed fifth at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and most recently, seventh at the 2014 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Chartrand is coached by Michelle Leigh and Leonid Birinberg, and trains at the Nepean Skating Club.

Larkyn Austman, 15, Coquitlam, B.C., will also represent Canada in the ladies division. Austman finished eighth at her first international assignment on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit in Estonia earlier this season. The 2013 Canadian junior champion also earned a 10th place finish at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, competing in the senior category. She is coached by Heather Austman and Eileen Murphy at the Connaught Skating Club in B.C.

Tara Hancherow, 18, Tisdale, Sask., and Wesley Killing, 20, Woodstock, Ont., are one of two pairs representing Canada. This season, Hancherow and Killing earned a fifth place finish in Slovakia and a sixth place finish in Estonia at their ISU Junior Grand Prix assignments. Hancherow and Killing also placed eighth at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior category. They are coached by Annie Barabé and Maximin Coïa at CTC Contrecoeur in Quebec.

Mary Orr, 17, Brantford, Ont., and Phelan Simpson, 18, Lunenburg, N.S., also represent Canada in the pair category. In their first season competing together, they earned a seventh place finish at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Latvia, and were junior bronze medallists at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Kristy Wirtz and Kris Wirtz at the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club.

Madeline Edwards, 17, Port Moody, B.C. and ZhaoKai Pang, 19, Burnaby, B.C., are one of two teams representing Canada in ice dance. Last season, they placed 12th at this event. This season, Edwards and Kai Pang won silver at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Mexico, and bronze at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the Czech Republic. The 2013 Canadian junior champions also placed seventh at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the senior category. They are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe at the BC Centre of Excellence.

Canadian junior champions Mackenzie Bent, 16, Uxbridge, Ont., and Garrett MacKeen, 19, Oshawa, Ont., will be the second entry in ice dance. Last year, Bent and MacKeen placed fifth at this event. This season, they won gold at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Latvia, and placed sixth in Slovakia. Bent and MacKeen train at Scarboro Ice Dance Elite with coaches Juris Razgulajevs and Carol Lane.

Carolyn Allwright of Kitchener, Ont., and Cody Hay, of Edmonton, Alta. are the team leaders for this event. Dr. Erika Persson of Edmonton, Alta., and physiotherapist Paige Larson of North Vancouver, B.C., will be the medical staff onsite. The Canadian officials at the event are Janice Hunter of West Vancouver, B.C., Debbie Islam of Barrie, Ont., and Sally Rehorick of Vancouver, B.C.

Junior Synchronized Skating teams set to represent Canada at 2014 ISU Junior World Challenge Cup

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OTTAWA, ON: Canada will have two junior synchronized skating teams competing at the 2014 ISU Junior World Challenge Cup in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, from March 6-8. Les Suprêmes junior and Les Pirouettes junior, both from Quebec, will compete at the event. Neuchâtel will host 19 of the top junior synchronized skating teams from 14 countries, competing for the title of Junior World Champion. The event runs in conjunction with the Neuchâtel trophy senior synchronized skating competition.

Canadian junior champions, Les Suprêmes are the first Canadian entry. They have previously competed at this event in 2012, winning bronze. Les Suprêmes junior are coached by Marilyn Langlois and Amélie Brochu.

Also representing Canada are Les Pirouettes junior. The 2013 and 2014 Canadian junior bronze medallists are coached by Nancy Alexander and Stéphanie Savoie.

Julie Petrilli, of Montreal, Que., will be the Canadian team manager at the event. Dr. Lee Schofield of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian team doctor and Karen Seymour of Toronto, Ont., will be the team physiotherapist. Karen Robertson of Chelsea, Que., is the sole Canadian official at the event.

For more information on the event please visit the event website or www.isu.org.

Skate Canada announces ISU World Figure Skating Championship teams

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OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian roster for the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan from March 24-30, 2014 was released today. Canada will send 17 athletes for a total of 11 entries. Canada will have three entries in men’s, pair and ice dance and two entries in women’s.

Senior Men’s
Kevin Reynolds, 23, Coquitlam, B.C.
Elladj Baldé, 23, Pierrefonds, Que.
Nam Nguyen, 15, Toronto, Ont.

Senior Women’s
Kaetlyn Osmond, 18, Marystown, Nfld. & Sherwood Park, Alta.
Gabrielle Daleman, 16, Newmarket, Ont.

Senior Pair
Meagan Duhamel, 28, Lively, Ont. & Eric Radford, 29, Balmertown, Ont.
Kirsten Moore-Towers, 21, St. Catharines, Ont. & Dylan Moscovitch, 29, Toronto, Ont.
Paige Lawrence, 24, Kennedy, Sask. & Rudi Swiegers, 26, Kipling, Sask.

Senior Ice Dance
Kaitlyn Weaver, 24, Waterloo, Ont. & Andrew Poje, 27, Waterloo, Ont.
Alexandra Paul, 22, Midhurst, Ont. & Mitchell Islam, 24, Barrie, Ont.
Piper Gilles, 22, Toronto, Ont. & Paul Poirier, 22, Unionville, Ont.

The Canadian team for the 2014 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships was also announced. Canada will have 9 entries for a total of 14 skaters, two in men’s, two in women’s, three in pair and two in ice dance. The event will take place from March 10-16, 2014 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Junior Men’s
Nam Nguyen, 15, Toronto, Ont.
Roman Sadovsky, 14, Vaughan, Ont.

Junior Women’s
Alaine Chartrand, 17, Prescott, Ont.
Julianne Séguin, 17, Longueuil, Que.

Junior Pair
Julianne Séguin, 17, Longueuil, Que. &  Charlie Bilodeau, 20, Trois-Pistoles, Que.
Tara Hancherow, 18, Tisdale, Sask. & Wesley Killing, 21, Woodstock, Ont.
Mary Orr, 17, Brantford, Ont. & Phelan Simpson, 18, Lunenburg, N.S.

Junior Ice Dance
Madeline Edwards, 17, Port Moody, B.C. & ZhaoKai Pang, 18, Burnaby, B.C.
Mackenzie Bent, 16, Uxbridge, Ont. & Garrett MacKeen, 19, Oshawa, Ont.

 

Skate Canada names synchronized skating teams to world championships

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is proud to be sending two talented synchronized skating teams to the 2014 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Courmayeur, Italy from April 4-5, 2014.

Nexxice from the Burlington Skating Club and Les Suprêmes from the CPA Saint-Léonard   secured their entries to the world championships by finishing one-two at the 2014 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships last weekend in Burnaby, B.C.

In 2013 Nexxice won the world silver medal and in 2009 they became the first North American team to win gold at the world championships. They are coached by Shelley Barnett and Anne Schelter.

Les Suprêmes placed sixth at last year’s ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships. They are coached by Marilyn Langlois, assisted by Pascal Denis and Amélie Brochu.

Earlier in the year the entries for the 2014 ISU Synchronized Skating Junior World Challenge Cup in Neuchâtel, Switzerland from March 6-8, 2014 were determined at a Skate Canada Central Ontario’s annual Winterfest competition. Les Suprêmes (junior) from CPA Saint-Léonard and Les Pirouettes of CPA Laval earned the two spots for Canada.

 

Canadians skaters come home with silver linings

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Silver. Silver. And more silver.

Canadian skaters brought home a bundle of attractive Olympic medals of this precious metal, which has a white metallic lustre that can take a high degree of polish. There will be a lot of polishing of these medals, as athletes make the long trek back from Sochi with their booty.

In all, the largest team of figure skaters (17) to contest the Games in Sochi returned with three silver medals, won in the first team event ever held at the Olympics; by three-time world champion Patrick Chan; and by the exquisite ice dancers, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

In the pairs event, Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch finished fifth, while Canadian champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford were seventh, both at their first Olympics.

In the women’s event, Canada’s two entries also faced the Olympic rings for the first time and used the event for valuable experience for the future. Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond was 13th, while determined 16-year-old Gabby Daleman was 17th.

The skaters got busy the day before the opening ceremonies with the new team event – and nobody knew how it would work out. In the end, it made Chan the only man ever to win two figure skating medals at an Olympics. The men who accompanied him on the individual medals podium – Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan who took gold and Denis Ten of Kazakhstan – didn’t fare so well in the team event. In fact, there was no Kazakhstan team at all.

Duhamel and Radford finished second to eventual Olympic champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov in the team pair short program, with a season’s best of 73.10, then handed the torch to Moore-Towers and Moscovitch who were second to rising Russian stars Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov in the free skate. Both teams played a huge role in the Canadian team’s success.

Chan got into action early in the men’s short, but scaled down his quad toe loop – triple toe loop to a quad-double and then stepped out of his triple Axel, leaving him third behind picture-perfect Hanyu and a rejuvenated Evgeny Plushenko who was second. Chan finished with 89. 71 points, good enough to give Canada eight points toward the team total.

He handed off to Kevin Reynolds, who, despite his boot problems over the past year, pulled up his socks and soared. In fact, Reynolds clinched the silver medal for Canada, landing three quads and finishing only a quarter of a point behind Plushenko.

Kaetlyn Osmond skated both programs, and was magnificent in the short, landing a triple toe loop – triple toe loop combo for fifth place. She returned to finish fifth in the long.

Virtue and Moir finished second in the short dance with a bobble on a twizzle, but the medals were already decided before they skated the free dance: Russia had won. Virtue and Moir took second in that part, too.

“It was a great event for the young skaters,” said Moir, the team captain (ably assisted by his partner, Virtue). “We had Kaetlyn Osmond out there, 18 years old and we asked her to do two skates at an Olympic Games. The great thing about the team is that everybody pulled their weight. We’re so proud of the team.”

Duhamel and Radford drew into the second last group to skate the individual pairs short, and had only very minor errors and finished fifth. Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers, skating at their first Olympics – and probably the first skaters from Saskatchewan to do so – wore a smile the whole time and finished 13th in a field of 20. The building was silent when Moore-Towers and Moscovitch skated their quirky Motely Crue routine; they made an error on the death spiral and sat sixth.

With a set of Stetsons in the audience (from Lawrence’s rodeo family), Lawrence and Swiegers skated with joy – Lawrence admitted she didn’t want to leave the ice. They finished 14th overall.

Moore-Towers and Moscovitch impressed with their great speed in the free skate, and with only a doubling of a triple Salchow, they ended up with 202.10 points, good for fifth place. Duhamel and Radford were seventh in the long and seventh overall.

The contest was tense in the men’s event, from which Plushenko withdrew because of back issues. Liam Firus tightened up in the short program, couldn’t get the knees to work and finished 28th, missing out on the long program. Reynolds came out with his fabulous AC/DC short program, but fell on his quad Salchow and then again on his triple Axel, leaving him in 17th place.

Chan finished second in the short, but was within striking distance of Hanyu, who had set a world record for the short program of 101.45. Chan was about four points back.

The free skate was a rough go, with many men making mistakes, but Chan held onto the silver medal with a hard-fought effort, only half a point behind Hanyu in the long program, but second with finishing with a score of 275.62 points.

In the ice dancing event, Kaitlyn Weaver, Andrew Poje, Alexandra Paul and Mitch Islam all took Olympic ice for the first time.  Weaver and Poje skated two strong programs for a top 10 finish, placing 7th overall. Paul and Islam had to overcome a twizzle mistake in the short dance but skated a lovely free dance to finish in 18th place.

Virtue and Moir were never better, delivering exquisite routines, first to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong and then skating the story of their lives in the free dance. Their efforts earned them a silver medal to go along with their Olympic gold from 2010 and the Sochi team medal, too.

Beverley Smith

NEXXICE breaks Canadian record en route to eighth straight national crown at Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

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BURNABY, B.C. – It’s official – NEXXICE and Les Suprêmes can pack their packs for Italy.

The two senior synchronized skating powerhouses punched their tickets to the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, thanks to a one-two finish at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships Saturday in suburban Vancouver.

NEXXICE did it in record-breaking fashion.

The Burlington, Ont.-based team claimed their eighth straight Canadian senior crown, posting 148.90 in the free skate to take gold with 228.12 points, setting a new Canadian record in the process. NEXXICE shattered their own Canadian record of 223.58, which they set at the 2009 world championships – where they won gold.

Quebec’s Les Suprêmes (215.02) finished second while Edge earned bronze.

Both NEXXICE and Les Suprêmes will represent Canada at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships to be staged April 3-5 in Courmayeur, Italy. NEXXICE has won silver at the world championships in each of the past two years, missing out on gold by half a point in 2013.

“This doesn’t get old at all,” NEXXICE coach Shelley Barnett said of her squad’s eight straight titles. “It’s really exciting for our girls.

“Every year is a different team, different programs, and new challenges. We are really looking forward to skating at worlds.”

Two other Canadian champions were crowned Saturday. Les Suprêmes took home junior gold with a sparkling free program, scoring 111.30 for a two-day total of 172.10. The silver went to NEXXICE (164.72) and Les Pirouettes (159.96) were rewarded with bronze.

In the open category, Nova, from Quebec, secured gold with a free program score of 96.86 and a 140.70 total. Gold Ice (129.72) won silver while NEXXICE (128.01) skated away with bronze.

On Friday, Les Suprêmes won novice gold while Synchronicity won the national intermediate title.

Les Suprêmes, Synchronicity take home novice, intermediate gold at Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

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BURNABY, B.C. – Les Suprêmes were crowned Canadian novice champions while Synchronicity took home intermediate gold Friday at the 2014 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.

Performing a dazzling Michael Jackson routine that had the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on its feet, Quebec’s Les Suprêmes, the leaders after the opening day of competition, scored 77.58 in the second free program to claim novice gold with a 112.31 total. Their provincial counterparts, Nova, finished second at 98.40 while NEXXICE, from Western Ontario, took bronze with a 97.69 total.

After starting the day in sixth spot, defending champions Les Pirouettes made a charge for the podium before falling just short, finishing in fourth spot with 92.02 points.

Synchronicity won the Canadian intermediate title, edging Évolution for gold. The Western Ontario team scored 69.94 in their final free program for a 102.72 total, while Évolution came in at 102.62 for silver. Nova took bronze with 98.92 points.

Teams in the open, junior and senior categories took to the ice for their opening programs Friday.

NEXXICE, the back-to-back world silver medallists, set the tone in the senior division, scoring 79.22 in their short program to vault into top spot ahead of Les Suprêmes (74.54). The top two finishers in the senior category after Saturday’s free program will wear the Canadian colours at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Italy in April.

Les Suprêmes were also quick out of the gate in the junior short program, managing 60.80, more than six points clear of second-place Les Pirouettes (54.32).

In the Open Free Program #1, Nova scored 43.84 to hold a slight edge on NEXXICE (42.93) and Central Ontario’s Gold Ice (39.64).

Competition closes out Saturday, with the second open free program along with the junior and senior free programs. Tickets are available at the door. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for children (ages 6-16).

Les Suprêmes novice, Evolution intermediate set early pace at Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

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BURNABY, B.C. – Les Suprêmes Novice and Evolution Intermediate took first steps towards national titles Thursday as the 2014 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships kicked off in Burnaby, B.C.

Les Suprêmes, from Quebec, set the early pace in the novice category, scoring 34.73 to take a slim lead into Friday’s second free program. NEXXICE, representing Western Ontario, holds down second spot at 31.99.

Defending novice champions Les Pirouettes of Quebec scored 29.60 and are currently sixth.

In the first of two intermediate free programs, Quebec’s Evolution scored 33.90 to take the lead heading into Friday’s second free program. Synchronicity, the defending intermediate national champions from Western Ontario, are in second with 32.78 points, while another Quebec team, Nova, holds down third spot at 32.63.

More than 40 teams from across Canada are competing for Canadian crowns at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in novice, intermediate, open, junior and senior.

Both the novice and intermediate teams will battle for medals Friday followed by the Open Free Program #1 and the junior and senior short programs.

Competition wraps up Saturday with the second Open free program as well as the junior and senior free programs. The senior gold and silver medallists will represent Canada at the 2014 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Courmayeur, Italy in April.

Single-day tickets are available at the door. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for children (ages 6-16).

First-time Olympians Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman advance to Thursdays free programs

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Okay, so it was less than perfect for the Canadian women in the women’s short program at the Olympics. Note: it was their first Olympics. It was Gabby Daleman’s first senior international competition.

The short program is a tough place for a miscue. It can be costly. Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond’s first triple-triple turned into a triple toe loop – double toe loop in a flash and it’s not a combination that gets a lot of points. Then she slipped off the edge of a double Axel, but sold the rest of the program, well enough to land her in 13th place with 56.18 points. She’s aiming for a top-10 finish at these Games.

Daleman, early out of the box, went for the gusto, and may have tried to make her combo too big. She put a hand down on her triple Lutz, and had the presence of mind to squeeze in her triple toe loop. She’s in 19th place with 52.51 points and hoping for top 15.

“I messed up my Lutz-toe, but I’m still so proud,” Daleman said afterwards.

Above both of them, was worse heartbreak. Mao Asada, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist and an icon in the sport, lost her way, tragically. She had landed a beautiful triple Axel in warmup, and she appeared to be on her way to another during her Chopin routine, when she fell. It seemed to shock her. She did not complete a combination, and then doubled a triple loop. Marks disappeared like water through a sieve. She ended up 16th, almost 20 points behind defending Olympic champion Yu-Na Kim, on top with 74.92, the best short program score of the season.

Asada scored 55.21 points, only 2.70 points ahead of Daleman. She no longer has a shot for a medal.

“I don’t know what to make of this now,” she said. “All I can do is give it everything I have tomorrow. I can’t comprehend any of this.”

She said training had been going well, but when she started the program, she said she couldn’t control her emotions or her body.

“Heartbreaking” Michelle Kwan said in a tweet.

“Mao has a gentle grace… tweeted US pair skater John Coughlin. “I’d have watched if she marked all three jumps.”

Kim had the opposite experience. She was so nervous in the warm-up, that she said she couldn’t jump at all. “But I tried to believe in myself and believe in what I’ve done before,” she said.

When the music started, she said she felt as if she was dreaming.

She skated a winsome, magical routine to “Send in the Clown,” choreographed by Canadian David Wilson, and did a triple Lutz-triple toe loop with ease. Her technical points were higher than her program components by about three points.

Carolina Kostner delivered a memorable moment with her “Ave Maria” routine, not only because it was beautiful, but because she did a very Olympic thing. During the team event, she had done only a triple toe loop – triple toe loop, but she upped the difficulty by doing a triple flip – triple toe loop during the short program Wednesday.

“I didn’t even talk to my coach about changing it,” she said. “Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m thankful that he left the choice up to me. I wanted to show him that I could do it.” She earned 74.12 points, only about half a point behind Kim.

But Kostner ended up third after Adelina Sotnikova of Russia faced the loud, supportive Russian crowd. Sotnikova did the easier triple toe loop – triple toe loop but still finished second with 74.64, only a quarter of a point behind the defending Olympic champion.

Sotnikova said she was a little nervous, but treated the event like a normal competition. “I was very happy that my technical mark was so high,” she said. (At 39.09, it was .06 of a point higher than Kim’s mark and about 1 ½ points higher than Kostner’s).

And she outshone fellow Russian Julia Lipnikstaia, who had skated both sections of the team event, and had suddenly developed a celebrity status at home. Lipnitskaia is in fifth place with 65.23 points after falling from a triple flip – something she rarely does.

“I don’t know what happened,” she said sadly. “I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t feel too much pressure. The crowd helped me.” The marks weren’t as low as she expected.

US champion Gracie Gold is in fourth place with 68.63 points, about six points back of the leader. “I was happy to perform under the bright lights and stress,” she said “It’s a tough event.”

The other two Americans are right behind her: Ashley Wagner is sixth, while Polina Edmunds is seventh.

The Canadian women have their own goals to achieve in Thursday’s long program. “It definitely wasn’t as good a program as I did in the team event,” Osmond said. “The jumps were a little shaky and I just couldn’t save them today. My components felt great, though. Of course, it’s not what I wanted to do, but I still have one more skate to go. Tomorrow I will focus and let things happen.”

In the kiss and cry, Osmond did not think about her miscues. She thought about what she did well.

Daleman got a season’s best mark of 52.61 and admitted she was a little nervous about what she faced: having her first senior international be the Olympic Games. She said she added more detail to both of her programs since finishing second at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

Beverley Smith

Canadian titles on the line at the 2014 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships in Burnaby

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OTTAWA, ON: Synchronized skating teams from across the country will descend on Burnaby, British Columbia for the 2014 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships, taking place from February 20-22, 2014 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

The event will host approximately 800 skaters and coaches on 41 teams. Teams will compete for national titles in the senior, junior, open, intermediate and novice categories. The top two senior teams will represent Canada at the 2014 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships from April 4-5, 2014, in Courmayeur, Italy.

“The Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships is one of the most thrilling events of the year. The event combines the skill and artistry of figure skating coupled with the synchronized movements of a team,” said Dan Thompson, CEO Skate Canada. “We are excited to be in Burnaby for this event and with national titles and world spots on the line fans can expect a great competition.”

Tickets are available at the door at $30 for adults and $20 for children and seniors.

 

CANADA’S TESSA VIRTUE AND SCOTT MOIR WIN SILVER IN ICE DANCE

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SOCHI, RUSSIA – Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir captured a silver medal in figure skating’s ice dance competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

“What a performance by a truly remarkable Canadian team. In winning a silver medal for their trophy cases, Tessa and Scott have once again shown Canada and the world they are one of the great ice dance teams in figure skating history, said Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee. “Their 17 years together as ice dance partners have been filled with greatness – Olympic medals, Canadian championships and world championships and we loved every minute of it. Congratulations once again to Tessa and Scott for being such extraordinary ambassadors for the sport around the world.”

Canada’s two other ice dancing duos competed in the free skate event, with Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje finishing in 7th place, and Alexandra Paul and Islam Mitchell finishing 18th.

Canada now has 15 medals at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (4 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze).

From the Canadian Olympic Committee