Canadian team headed to Russia for first stop on 2017 ISU Grand Prix circuit

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have three entries, for a total of five skaters, competing at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia, from October 20-22, 2017. The competition is the first event on the 2017 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (with subsequent stops in Canada, China, Japan, France, and U.S.A.). Canada will have one entry per discipline in men’s, pairs and ice dance at the event.

Canadian bronze medallist Nam Nguyen, 19, Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian men’s entry. This will be his third time competing at this event; in 2014 he won the bronze medal. This season, he placed fifth at the 2017 Autumn Classic International. Nguyen is coached by Tracey Wainman and Gregor Filipowski in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Julianne Séguin, 20, Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau, 24, Trois-Pistoles, Que., will represent Canada in pairs. They are the defending champions at this event and 2015 bronze medallists. The pair started this season at the 2017 Autumn Classic International where they won bronze. Séguin and Bilodeau are coached by Josée Picard in Chambly, Que.

Canadian bronze medallists Piper Gilles, 25, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 25, Unionville, Ont., will be the Canadian entry in ice dance. They previously competed at this event in 2015, winning bronze. This season, they won the bronze medal at the 2017 Autumn Classic International. Gilles and Poirier are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs in Scarborough, Ont.

Terra Findlay of Echo Bay, Ont., will be the Canadian team leader at the event. Dr. Sari Kraft of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Paige Larson of North Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Lynne Dey of Edmonton, Alta., and Karen Butcher of Greely, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org. For photos of Canadian entries, please contact [email protected].

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2017 ROSTELECOM CUP