Tag Archive for: 2022 Skate Canada International

Canada Wins Two Medals in Ice Dancing at Skate Canada International

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (October 29, 2022) – Ice dance veterans Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto successfully defended their Skate Canada International title on Saturday, producing their best-ever international score in the process. Gilles and Poirier delivered the best rhythm dance and free dance totaling 215.70 points, bettering their 2021 World Championships score of 214.35 where they won the bronze medal.

‘’We are absolutely thrilled,’’ said Gilles, seventh with Poirier at the 2022 Winter Olympics. ‘’We created a moment out there in both programs and just enjoyed ourselves. Having everybody here and feeling the energy is the moment we missed last year.’’

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain took the silver at 209.18, while Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of St-Hubert, Que., snared their first career Grand Prix medal with 195.49 points. Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac of Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., took fifth spot at 189.07, also an international best.

‘’I’m very proud we won our first Grand Prix medal in Canada,’’ said Lajoie, who won the world junior title with Lagha in 2019. ‘’The program was really good today. We were nervous but we forgot what was around us when we were skating. Being at home is more stressful but it’s a better stress.’’

Canada’s Keegan Messing missed the podium in the men’s event by a mere 0.31 points, placing fourth with 250.72. World champion Shoma Uno led Japan to a 1-2 finish with 273.15, followed by Kao Miura in second at 265.29. Matteo Rizzo of Italy was third at 251.03. Stephen Gogolev of Toronto produced the fifth best free skate to move from 11th to seventh overall and Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., was 11th.

‘’I couldn’t have asked for a better skate,’’ said Messing. ‘’To go out and perform like that, I’m so happy. I keep saying I’m not skating for a medal but for myself this year.’’

In pairs, world championship silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan took the gold with 212.02. Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe of the U.S. won the silver with 186.48 and Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy were third at 186.18. Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar of Toronto were fourth at 175.49 and Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jérôme, Que., and Loucas Éthier of St- Adolphe, Que., were seventh.

Rinka Watanabe of Japan surged from sixth spot after the short program to win the gold in the women’s event with 197.59. Starr Andrews of the U.S. climbed from fifth to second at 191.26 and Young You of South Korea took the bronze with 190.15 despite posting the fourth best short program and free skate. Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., was seventh and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., 10th.

On Sunday, select athletes will be taking part in the Exhibition Gala. For full results from the event, click here.

Canadians Shine in the Short Program at Skate Canada International

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (October 28, 2022) – Olympians Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., are currently sitting in first and second after skating clean programs in the women’s short program on Friday at Skate Canada International. In ice dance, defending champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto lead after the rhythm dance and Canada is in the medal hunt in pairs and men’s.

Schizas, 19, earned a season’s best 67.90 points skating to Black Swan while Daleman totaled 66.65 in her first routine this season set to Diamonds by Rihanna. Ava Marie Ziegler of the U.S. stands third at 66.49.

‘’I’m standing here and there’s so many things I can do better,’’ said Schizas, a member of the 2022 Olympic team. ‘’It was my first clean skate of the year and I’m really happy to pull it off at Skate Canada in front of friends and family.’’

Daleman, 24, is looking to regain the magic that earned her a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and put her on the 2018 Olympic team. ‘’It’s really cool,’’ she said about her flawless performance. ‘’I came in here with little goals and I’m feeling very prepared. If I’m not ready now I don’t know when I ever will be.’’

Defending Skate Canada International champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto lead the ice dance field after posting an 87.23, their highest international score for a rhythm dance. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain are second at 83.80 and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons of the U.S. stand third at 76.13.

‘’It was a really excellent start to our season,’’ said Poirier, seventh at the Olympics with Gilles this past winter. ‘’To have a competition at home with a real audience and all of our friends and family here made today’s skate really special.’’

Two other Canadian couples are in the medal hunt, with Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of St-Hubert, Que., placing fourth at 75.94, while Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain le Gac of Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., are fifth at 74.59.

In pairs, world championship silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan are first after the short program with 73.39. Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Brown of the U.S. are second at 67.39 and Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy third at 66.66. Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar of Toronto are fourth at 60.82 and Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jérôme, Que., and Loucas Éthier of St- Adolphe, Que., eighth.

In the men’s event, Japan is 1-2 after the short with Kao Miura first at 94.06 and world champion Shoma Uno second at 89.98. Matteo Rizzo of Italy is third at 81.18. Canada’s Keegan Messing stands fourth after a season’s best 79.69 for his short program. Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., is sixth and Stephen Gogolev of Toronto is 11th.

Competition ends Saturday where medals will be awarded for all four disciplines. For full results, click here.

The Skating World Converges in Mississauga for Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON (October 24, 2022) – After a successful weekend at Skate America that saw Canadians win three medals, the ISU Grand Prix series stops in Mississauga, Ontario this week for the 48th edition of Skate Canada International. From October 28-30, some of the best skaters from around the globe will compete for a spot on the podium at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre, including Shoma Uno, Young You, Lilah Fear, Lewis Gibson, Riku Miura, Ryuichi Kihara, plus fifteen of Canada’s top talents. 

The men’s team, which will count three entries, will be headlined by veteran and two-time Olympian Keegan Messing. Messing is the current Canadian champion and has gotten off to a stunning start this season, winning gold at the Nebelhorn Trophy. He will be joined by Conrad Orzel, who recently placed 11th at the Finlandia Trophy, as well as Stephen Gogolev, who finished 9th at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic.  

Olympians Madeline Schizas and Gabrielle Daleman will represent Canada in the women’s field. Schizas, the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships women’s gold medallist, kicked off the competition season with a 5th place at the Nebelhorn Trophy. Teammate Gabrielle Daleman will be competing at her first international event after an excellent domestic season that saw her win gold at the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge and bronze at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. 

In the pair discipline, Canada will be sending two young but solid teams, with Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar setting their sights on the top step of the podium. The pair, who finished third at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships last season, had a breakthrough start to their first senior season, winning bronze at the 2022 Finlandia Trophy earlier this month. Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier will also be competing in the event after winning bronze over the weekend at Skate America. 

Canada will boast three Olympic teams in ice dance. 2021 Skate Canada International gold medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will be looking to defend their title after a successful 2021-2022 season that saw the pair claim the Canadian title. Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha will also be strong contenders for the title, with the team winning two gold medals this year at the Ondre Nepela Memorial and Budapest Trophy. Finally, Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac , who claimed bronze at Skate America, will be replacing Miku Makita and Tyler Gunara due to injury. 

Competition starts on Friday, October 28 with every discipline performing their short program/rhythm dance. All medals will be awarded on Saturday, October 29, as all disciplines will perform their free program/free dance. The event concludes on Sunday with the exhibition gala. The event will be live streamed in Canada via skatecanada.ca.  

Team Canada 

Name | Age | Hometown | Coach | Training Location 

Women 
Gabrielle Daleman | 24 | Newmarket, Ont. | Lee Barkell | Toronto, Ont.
Madeline Schizas | 19 | Oakville, Ont. | Nancy Lemaire & Derek Schmidt | Milton, Ont.   

Men 
Stephen Gogolev | 17 | Toronto, Ont. | Rafael Arutyunyan & Lee Barkell | Irvine, USA
Keegan Messing | 30 | Girdwood, USA | Ralph Burghart | Anchorage, USA
Conrad Orzel | 22 | Toronto, Ont. | Ravi Walia | Edmonton, Alta. 

Pair 
Kelly Ann Laurin | 16 | St-Jérôme, Que. & Loucas Éthier | 22 | Deux-Montagnes, Que. | Stéphanie Valois | Rosemère, Que.  
Brooke McIntosh | 17 | Toronto, Ont. & Benjamin Mimar | 21 | Terrebonne, Que. | Andrew Evans & Alexander Sheldrick | Toronto, Ont. 

Ice Dance 
Piper Gilles | 30 | Toronto, Ont. & Paul Poirier | 30 | Unionville, Ont. | Carol Lane & Juris Razgulajevs | Scarborough, Ont.
Marjorie Lajoie | 21 | Boucherville, Que. & Zachary Lagha | 23 | Saint-Hubert, Que. | Romain Haguenauer | Montreal, Que.
Marie-Jade Lauriault | 25 | Ste-Anne-Des-Plaines, Que. & Romain Le Gac | 27 | Laval, Que. | Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon| Ste-Anne-Des-Plaines, Que.    

Team Leaders – Carolyn Allwright & Cynthia Ullmark
Medical Team – Tatiana Jevremovic & Agnes Makowski
Officials – Andrea Derby, Veronique Gosselin, Janice Hunter & Lorna Schroder 

For more information about the event and full schedules, click here. To purchase single-session tickets, visit ticketmaster.ca. 

Event Ambassador and In-Venue Host Announced for 2022 Skate Canada International

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (October 11, 2022) – Skate Canada is pleased to announce that two-time Olympic silver medallist and three-time world medallist, Elvis Stojko, is returning as Event Ambassador for the 2022 Skate Canada International, while two-time Canadian champion, Nam Nguyen, will serve as In-Venue Host. 

Stojko, who continues to be involved in the sport as a performer with Stars on Ice, will promote the event and lend his engaging personality to public appearances, media interviews and in-venue fan activities.  

“It is a pleasure to return to this ISU event and it brings back a lot of great memories for me,” said Stojko. “I remember the pressures of competing at this event and I am honoured to represent my fellow athletes. It will also be wonderful to interact and engage with the fans, who have continued to support and cheer for the sport I have loved for so much of my life.” 

After retiring earlier this summer, Nguyen will bring his expertise to the rink by interacting with athletes and fans alike during both competition days. 

“It’s an honour to be at this ISU event and interacting so closely with the fan base just shortly after my retirement,” said Nguyen. “Skating has and will continue to be a huge part of my life and I am grateful to Skate Canada and the fans for welcoming me back. I am looking forward to the competition ahead and excited to see what unfolds.”   

EVENT INFORMATION 

Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The other events take place in the United States (Skate America), France (Grand Prix de France), Great Britain (MK John Wilson Trophy), Japan (NHK Trophy) and Finland (Grand Prix Espoo), and skaters are awarded points based on their placements in the series’ events.  

Single session tickets are still on sale and can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca. Ticket prices range per session, with fans having the opportunity to attend Thursday practices for as little as $10 (plus applicable fees). 

Single Session Tickets on Sale for 2022 Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON (September 9, 2022) – Single session tickets for the 2022 Skate Canada International will be available for pre-sale on Monday, September 12, 2022, at 10:00 AM ET, and on sale to the general public on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 10:00 AM ET. The event will take place at Paramount Fine Foods Centre, in Mississauga, Ontario, from October 28-30, 2022.

The line-up in Mississauga will feature Olympians and 2022 Canadian Champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Keegan Messing, and Madeline Schizas. They will be joined by current world champion, Shoma Uno of Japan, as well as international favourites Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain, Matteo Rizzo of Italy, and Rika Kihira of Japan. A full list of entries can be found on the ISU website.

Single session tickets begin at $25 (plus applicable fees) and prices range by session. Super Fan Bags are still available and can be purchased for $75 (plus applicable fees). The Super Fan Bag includes an event pin, souvenir program, and branded blanket.

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca.

ABOUT SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL

Skate Canada International is the second of five competitions in the annual International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Each skater/team can be assigned a maximum of two events and are awarded points based on their placements at select events. The top six from each discipline (men, women, pair and ice dance) qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final®.

The inaugural Skate Canada International was first held in 1973, in Calgary, and the event was added to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in 1995, the year the series began. In 2022, Mississauga will host the 48th installment of Skate Canada International.

Join our exclusive mailing list to receive advance event and ticket information for Skate Canada events.

All-Event Tickets on Sale Now for the 2022 Skate Canada International

All event tickets for the 2022 Skate Canada International are on sale now! Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca.  

All-event tickets are priced at: P1: $300, P2: $200, P3: $160, P4: $125. All prices are in Canadian dollars, plus, applicable taxes and fees. 

For more information about tickets click here. 

The 2022 Skate Canada International will take place in Mississauga, Ont., at Paramount Fine Foods Centre from October 28-30, 2022.  

Join us in Mississauga to cheer on Team Canada as they compete against the world’s best in skating! 

Mississauga to host 2022 Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada has announced that Mississauga, ON, will host the 2022 Skate Canada International. The event will take place at Paramount Fine Foods Centre from October 28-30, 2022.  Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.   

“Skate Canada is looking forward to welcoming fans back to Skate Canada International for the 2022-23 grand prix season. This October, Mississauga will host some of the best skaters from around the world as they compete for valuable points on the grand prix circuit,” said Debra Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Skate Canada. “We are thrilled to be working with long-time figure skating supporters, the city of Mississauga and Paramount Fine Foods Centre to deliver this event for all participants and fans to enjoy.”  

“On behalf of the City of Mississauga and Members of Council, I’d like to extend my warmest welcome to the athletes and spectators participating in 2022 Skate Canada International competition,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “We are thrilled to have been chosen to host this prestigious event once again and welcome the world’s best figure skaters as they compete to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. I encourage visitors to take some time to explore all the great things our city has to offer, from our diverse culinary scene to our incredible shopping, to our beautiful and charming neighbourhoods. I wish everyone a great competition and a wonderful stay in Mississauga.” 

Mississauga is home to over 700,000 residents and is the sixth largest city in Canada. Mississauga is home to over 500 parks and the city is also gaining traction as an incredible and diverse culinary destination. 

“We are so excited to be hosting and welcoming back the 2022 Skate Canada International competition in our great city again this year,” said Victoria Clarke, CEO of Tourism Mississauga. “Hosting large-scale sporting events, like Skate Canada, fills our hotels, restaurants and retailers and greatly contributes to the economy overall, with this event bringing an estimated $5 million in visitor spending. It also positions Mississauga on the international stage as a destination of choice for elite sporting events, demonstrating that we have the fans, facilities and infrastructure to be a prime location for sport hosting. We’re ready to welcome the world!” 

The inaugural Skate Canada International was first held in 1973, in Calgary, and the event was added to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in 1995, the year the series began. In 2022, Mississauga will host the 48th installment of Skate Canada International.  

Join our exclusive mailing list to receive event and ticket information for Skate Canada events.