Tag Archive for: 2023 Skate Canada International

Gold for Canadian Pair and Ice Dance Team at Skate Canada International

Vancouver, Canada (October 28, 2023) – Deanna Stellato-Dudek of Chicago, USA and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., showed that they are well on the path towards their goal of standing on the podium at the World Championships in Montreal next spring with a commanding free skate that earned them the gold medal in the pair competition at 2023 Skate Canada International.

Piper Gilles of Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., also retained their Skate Canada International title for the fourth year in a row with a beautiful performance in the free dance to win gold in ice dance.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps scored a personal best of 142.34 in their free skate to the theme from “Interview with a Vampire” to win gold by 27 points (214.64 total score) over the Hungarian team of Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko who took silver (187.78). The Italian team of Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise captured bronze (181.42).

“I’m very happy with today’s performance which is a rarity for me,” laughed Stellato-Dudek following their performance. “It’s still early in the season, but we’ve been waiting for a performance like this for years. We were sick of it last year and never skating even close to a clean long program, so we worked really hard to be able to put this out today.”

Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jérôme, Que., and Loucas Éthier of Deux-Montagnes, Que., improved on their short program performance where they were sitting in seventh, to finish the competition in fifth overall with a total score of 168.12. Brooke McIntosh of Toronto, Ont., and Benjamin Mimar of Terrebonne, Que., finished sixth overall with a total score of 166.00.

Gilles and Poirier performed a moving free dance to music from “Wuthering Heights” to win their first gold of the season with a total score of 219.01. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain and Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius of Lithuania retained their positions from the rhythm dance to capture silver (209.55) and bronze (192.01) respectively.

“This has been such a successful competition for us,” said Poirier. “We’ve been able to debut both of our new programs which has been really exciting just to put them out there in the world. We’re proud of how we skated and contained our nerves, and we’re both really looking forward to improving on both of these skates as we go through the season.”

Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que. and Paul Ayer of Brossard, Que. finished seventh with a score of 173.34, while Molly Lanaghan of Doncaster, GB and Dmitre Razgulajevs of Ajax, Ont. placed ninth.

Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., bounced back from her disappointing short program on Friday with a flawless free skate in the women’s competition that gave her the second highest score of the day, which saw her move her up from eighth to fourth overall with a total score of 189.91.

“I’m feeling really good. I was very disappointed after my short yesterday, but I was able to pull it together in the free to put up a really big score which is what I was really looking for. I know I can skate a good short, but sometimes the free gets away from me so I was really happy,” said Schizas whose free skate score of 132.47 is a new personal best and season’s best.

Kaori Sakamoto, the reigning world champion, continued her dominance in the free skate to win the gold with a total score of 226.13. Chaeyeon Kim of Korea took the silver with an overall score of 201.15, and Rino Matsuike of Japan took bronze with an overall score of 198.62. Senior Grand Prix rookies Kaiya Ruiter of Calgary, Alta., and Sara-Maude Dupuis of Montreal, Que., finished the competition 10th (155.44) and 11th (151.95) respectively.

The men’s competition saw Wesley Chiu of Vancouver, B.C., take the title of the top Canadian as he finished in seventh position with a total score of 221.54. Toronto’s Conrad Orzel finished 10th with a total score of 213.12, and Aleksa Rakic of Burnaby, B.C., finished 12th with a total score of 189.38.

It was a close fight for the gold, with Sota Yamamoto of Japan squeaking through to take the gold with an overall score of 258.42 – just ahead of his teammate Kao Miura who took silver with an overall score of 257.89. Matteo Rizzo of Italy captured bronze with a total score of 246.01 after an inspired performance that saw him move up to the podium from eighth after the short program.

Next up for Canadian skaters is the Grand Prix de France taking place in Angers, France from November 3-5, 2023. For full results, please click here.

Canadian Pair and Ice Dance Teams lead after First Day of Skate Canada International

Vancouver, Canada (October 27, 2023) – 2023 World Championship bronze medallists Piper Gilles of Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., showed they are back on form Friday at the Skate Canada International competition taking place at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, B.C., as they set a season’s best score in the ice dance competition.

Gilles and Poirier have won this event three times in the past, and with a score of 87.55 in the rhythm dance, they look poised to repeat again this year.

“We’re really pleased with our skate today, it’s the first competition of the season for us and it’s the first time performing this program in front of people, so I think we’re really pleased with how that went,” said Poirier. “We really took our time, and allowed the program to come to us, and that’s the way we want to approach competitions this early in the season. We want this program to emotionally grow as we go through the season, but (today) we really focussed on the skating and making sure it was clean and I think we accomplished that today.”

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain sit in second with a score of 83.51, while Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius of Lithuania sit third with a score of 75.60. Canadian skaters Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Paul Ayer of Brossard, Que., currently sit seventh (68.31), while Molly Lanaghan of Doncaster, GB and Dmitre Razgulajevs of Ajax. Ont., sit 9th (65.97).

Deanna Stellato-Dudek of Chicago, USA and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorian, Que., gold medallists at the 2023 Autumn Classic International in Montreal earlier this fall, dominated the pair competition and set a season’s best score of 72.55 in their short program to sit first heading into Saturday’s free skate.

“This is a fast song with lots of fast, dynamic arm movements, so we had to work a lot on that, and a lot on the intricacies of the in-between the element parts so we’re happy with that. The twists and the toes were nice, but I’m not happy with the throw,” said Stellato-Dudek following the skate.

Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise of Italy currently sit second (65.83), and Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore of Australia sit third (62.80). Brooke McIntosh of Toronto, Ont., and Benjamin Mimar of Terrebonne, Que., are sitting fifth with a score of 59.83, while Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jérôme, Que., and Loucas Éthier of Deux-Montagnes, Que., sit seventh with a score of 57.14.

In the women’s competition, 2023 Canadian Champion Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., is the top Canadian following the short program, despite downgrading her double axel to a single midway through her program. Kaiya Ruiter of Calgary, Alta., and Sara-Maude Dupuis of Montreal, Que., who are both making their senior grand prix debuts, are sitting 9th (55.82) and 10th (52.17) respectively following the short program.

The men’s short program closed out the event on Friday night and 2023 Canadian Championships silver medallist Conrad Orzel, of Toronto, Ont., led the Canadian men’s efforts with a score of 77.68 to head into the free skate on Saturday in 6th position.

“To be honest, I was really nervous for this competition because it’s my only Grand Prix and I really wanted to have a good showing because I felt I’ve improved a lot, and it would mean a lot for me to be able to show it. I was proud that I was able to control my nerves for my quads but I lost focus on the axel and that sort of ruined the happiness I had before the axel,” said Orzel. “I’m really looking forward to showing a good performance (tomorrow).”

Wesley Chiu had his hometown Vancouver fans cheering loudly for him as he scored a 76.94 to end the day sitting in 7th, while Aleksa Rakic of Burnaby, B.C., who was a late addition to the competition following the withdrawal of Roman Sadovsky, did himself proud in his senior Grand Prix debut scoring a season’s best 72.56 to sit 9th heading into Saturday’s free skate.

The event will wrap up Saturday with the free programs/free dance for all disciplines. For more information about the event or to view the livestream, visit skatecanada.ca. For full results, please click here.

Skate Canada Announces 2023 Skate Canada International Broadcast Team

Ottawa, ON (October 25, 2023) – Skate Canada is pleased to announce the talented team of former high performance athletes that will bring a fresh approach to skating coverage at 2023 Skate Canada International, which will take place in Vancouver, B.C., from October 27-29, 2023.  

Our live stream will welcome back Kevin Reynolds, Kaetlyn Osmond, Kirsten Moore-Towers, and Kaitlyn Weaver, along with host Ted Barton to provide us with in-depth commentary throughout the week for English viewers. French viewers will also receive top-notch coverage throughout the event as Alicia Pineault, Charlie Bilodeau, Élisabeth Paradis, and Laurence Darveau make their live stream debut.  

This enhanced production aims at providing positive analysis of our sport and a supportive approach to help skaters on their individual journeys to achieve excellence. Fans can stream 2023 Skate Canada International on skatecanada.ca, CBC.ca, or CBC Gem. These will be the only places to watch this prestigious event, as there will be no network broadcast.  

For more information about Skate Canada International, click here. 

World-Class Talent Heads to Vancouver for 2023 Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON (October 23, 2023) – Following a successful weekend at Skate America that saw Canadians win two silver medals, the ISU Grand Prix series stops in Vancouver, B.C. this week for the 49th edition of Skate Canada International. The event, which will be held at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from October 27-29, 2023, will draw some of the top skaters from around the world, including two-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), 2023 ISU World silver medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR), 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Kao Miura (JPN), ISU European silver medalists Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR), as well as eighteen talented Canadian athletes. 

Three-time Skate Canada International winners Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will be the favourites in the ice dance event, with the duo finishing third at the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships and achieving several career-best results last season. They will be joined by 2022-2023 Skate Canada Challenge winners Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer, as well as Molly Lanaghan and Dmitre Razgulajevs.  

In the pair event, all three teams will be vying for a spot on the podium after winning medals at their respective Grand Prix assignments last year. Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps will be among the top contenders, with the team coming off a win at 2023 Autumn Classic International a few weeks ago. They will be joined by 2022 NHK Trophy bronze medalists Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar and 2022 Skate America bronze medalists Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier.  

2023 Canadian Champion Maddie Schizas will be looking to better her result from last year after finishing 7th in the women’s event. Kaiya Ruiter, who recently finished second at the 2023 Autumn Classic International, and Sara-Maude Dupuis will be competing alongside her as they both make their senior Grand Prix debut in front of a home crowd. 

Completing the team will be 2023 Cranberry Cup International silver medalist Wesley Chiu, 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships silver medalist Conrad Orzel and Aleksa Rakic, who will be replacing Roman Sadovsky. 

Competition starts on Friday, October 27 with every discipline performing their short program/rhythm dance. All medals will be awarded on Saturday, October 28, as all disciplines will perform their free program/free dance. The event concludes on Sunday with the exhibition gala. For more information about the event or to view the livestream, click here. To purchase single-session tickets, visit ticketmaster.ca. 

Team Canada 

Name | Age | Hometown | Coach | Training Location 

Women
Sara-Maude Dupuis | 18 | Montreal, Que. | Stéphane Yvars & Françoise Parisé | Boucherville, Que. 
Kaiya Ruiter | 17 | Calgary, Alta. | Scott Davis | Calgary Alta.
Madeline Schizas | 20 | Oakville, Ont. | Nancy Lemaire & Derek Schmidt | Milton, Ont.    

Men
Wesley Chiu | 18 | Vancouver, B.C. | Keegan Murphy & Eileen Murphy | Richmond, B.C.
Conrad Orzel | 23 | Toronto, Ont. | Ravi Walia | Edmonton, Alta.
Aleksa Rakic | 19 | Burnaby, B.C.| Joanne McLeod | Burnaby, B.C.  

Pair
Kelly Ann Laurin | 17 | St-Jérôme, Que. & Loucas Éthier | 23 | Deux-Montagnes, Que. | Stéphanie Valois | Rosemère, Que.   
Brooke McIntosh | 18 | Toronto, Ont. & Benjamin Mimar | 22 | Terrebonne, Que. | Andrew Evans & Alexander Sheldrick | Brantford, Ont.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek | 40 | Chicago, USA & Maxime Deschamps | 31 | Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. | Josée Picard | Sainte-Julie, Que.   

Ice Dance
Alicia Fabbri | 20 | Terrebonne, Que. & Paul Ayer | 25 | Brossard, Que. | Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon | Montreal, Que. 
Piper Gilles | 31 | Toronto, Ont. & Paul Poirier | 31 | Unionville, Ont. | Carol Lane & Juris Razgulajevs | Scarborough, Ont.
Molly Lanaghan | 24 | Doncaster, GB & Dmitre Razgulajevs | 26 | Ajax, Ont. | Carol Lane & Juris Razgulajevs | Scarborough, Ont.    

Team Leaders – Carolyn Allwright & Cynthia Ullmark
Medical Team – Tatiana Jevremovic & Agnes Makowski
Officials – Beth Crane, Glenn Fortin, Reaghan Fortin & Erica Topolski 

Patrick Chan Named Event Ambassador for 2023 Skate Canada International

VANCOUVER, B.C. (October 4, 2023) Skate Canada is thrilled to announce that Canadian figure skating legend Patrick Chan has been appointed as the Event Ambassador for the highly anticipated 2023 Skate Canada International. This prestigious event is set to take place from October 27-29, 2023, at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, B.C., and will showcase world-class figure skating talent from across the globe. 

Patrick Chan, a three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, brings his unparalleled expertise and passion for figure skating to the role of Event Ambassador. As a beloved and iconic figure in the sport, his involvement will undoubtedly elevate the excitement and prestige surrounding the event. 

In his role as Event Ambassador, Patrick Chan will play a vital role in promoting the event, engaging with fans, and supporting the athletes throughout the competition. He will also participate in various activities and ceremonies, inspiring the next generation of skaters and fostering a sense of community among skating enthusiasts. 

“I am honoured to serve as the Event Ambassador for the 2023 Skate Canada International,” said Chan. “This competition holds a special place in my heart as it has been a significant part of my journey in figure skating. It will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the sport I love and to connect with fans and fellow athletes.” 

Skate Canada International is one of the most prestigious figure skating events on the international calendar, attracting top skaters from around the world. The competition serves as a crucial stop on the road to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final® and provides athletes with the opportunity to earn valuable qualifying points. Fans can expect to witness breathtaking performances in the singles, pair, and ice dance categories.  

Single session tickets for 2023 Skate Canada International are currently available for purchase via Ticketmaster, with prices starting at $45 plus taxes and fees.

For more information about the event, click here. 

2023 Skate Canada International Single Session Tickets Available Next Week!

OTTAWA, ON (July 20, 2023)  Single session tickets for the 2023 Skate Canada International will be available for pre-sale on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 10:00 AM ET, and on sale to the public on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM ET. The 2023 Skate Canada International will take place at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, in Vancouver, B.C., from October 27-29, 2023. 

The line-up will feature 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships® bronze medalists and defending ice dance champions Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier, as well as Canadian Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek, Maxime Deschamps, and Madeline Schizas. 

Single session tickets begin at $45 and prices range by session. All prices are in Canadian dollars, plus applicable taxes, and fees. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca. 

ABOUT SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL 

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), China (Cup of China), Finland (Grand Prix Espoo), and Japan (NHK Trophy). 

Each skater/team can be assigned to a maximum of two events. Skaters are awarded points based on their placements at their events. The top six from each discipline (men, women, pairs, and ice dance) qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final®. 

World Medalists to Headline 2023 Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON (July 10, 2023) – Following the release of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating assignments by the International Skating Union (ISU), Skate Canada is excited to announce the athletes that will be competing at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, B.C., from October 27-29, 2023.  

A total of 18 Canadian skaters will be showcasing their skills at 2023 Skate Canada International, including 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships bronze medalists and defending ice dance champions Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier. They will be joined by Canadian Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek, Maxime Deschamps and Madeline Schizas, as well as 2022 Grand Prix medalists Brooke McIntosh, Benjamin Mimar, Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier.  

Team Canada will be lining up against a stacked field of international competitors, notably two-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), 2023 ISU World silver medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR), 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Kao Miura (JPN) and ISU European silver medalists Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR).  

Skate Canada International is the second competition on the annual ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Other events take place in the United States (Skate America), France (Grand Prix de France), China (Cup of China), Finland (Grand Prix Espoo) and Japan (NHK Trophy).  

LAST CHANCE FOR ALL-EVENT TICKETS  

All-event tickets for 2023 Skate Canada International are still on sale until July 20 and will give fans full access to all competitions, as well as Thursday practices and the highly coveted Exhibition Gala. Single session tickets will be available starting July 27, 2023.  

2023 SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES  

MEN
Wesley Chiu (CAN)
Conrad Orzel (CAN)
Roman Sadovsky (CAN)
Mihhail Selevko (EST)
Mark Gorodnitsky (ISR)
Matteo Rizzo (ITA)
Kao Miura (JPN)
Kazuki Tomono (JPN)
Sota Yamamoto (JPN)
Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ)
Junhwan Cha (KOR)
Liam Kapeikis (USA)  

WOMEN
Sara-Maude Dupuis (CAN)
Kaiya Ruiter (CAN)
Madeline Schizas (CAN)
Nicole Schott (GER)
Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA)
Rika Kihira (JPN)
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN)
Rinka Watanabe (JPN)
Chaeyeon Kim (KOR)
Starr Andews (USA)
Audrey Shin (USA)
Lindsay Thorngren (USA)  

PAIR
Anastasia Golubeva & Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (AUS)
Kelly Ann Laurin & Loucas Éthier (CAN)
Brooke McIntosh & Benjamin Mimar (CAN)
Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps (CAN)
Letizia Roscher & Luis Schuster (GER)
Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN)
Lucrezia Beccari & Matteo Guarise (ITA)
Daria Danilova & Michel Tsiba (NED)  

ICE DANCE
Alicia Fabbri & Paul Ayer (CAN)
Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier (CAN)
Molly Lanaghan & Dmitre Razgulajevs (CAN)
Shiyue Wang & Winyu Liu (CHN)
Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR)
Jennifier Janse Van Rensburg & Benjamin Steffan (GER)
Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU)
Oona Brown & Gage Brown (USA)
Eva Pate & Logan Bye (USA)
Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik (USA)
 

For more information about the event, click here.  

All-Event Tickets On Sale Now for 2023 Skate Canada International

All-event tickets for the 2023 Skate Canada International are on sale now! Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca for full access to competitions, as well as Thursday practices, and the highly coveted Exhibition Gala. 

All-event tickets will be priced at: P1: $350, P2: $300, P3: $275, P4: $225. All prices are in Canadian dollars, plus applicable taxes, and fees. 

The 2023 Skate Canada International will take place at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, in Vancouver, B.C., from October 27-29, 2023. 

For more information about tickets click here.  

All-Event Tickets: 2023 Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON: All-event tickets for the 2023 Skate Canada International will be available for pre-sale on Monday, April 24, 2023, at 10:00 AM ET, and on sale to the public on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM ET. The 2023 Skate Canada International will be taking place at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, in Vancouver, B.C., from October 27-29, 2023. 

All-event tickets will be priced at P1: $350, P2: $300, P3: $275, P4: $225. All prices are in Canadian dollars, plus applicable taxes, and fees. 

All-event ticket packages will include all competitions, Thursday practices, and the Exhibition Gala. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca. A maximum of eight tickets can be purchased per individual. 

EVENT INFO 

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), China (Cup of China), Finland (Grand Prix Espoo), and Japan (NHK Trophy). 

Each skater/team can be assigned to a maximum of two events. Skaters are awarded points based on their placements at their events. The top six from each discipline (men, women, pairs, and ice dance) qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final®. 

Join our exclusive mailing list to receive early access to event and ticket information for Skate Canada events! 

2023 Skate Canada International Returns to Vancouver

OTTAWA, ON (November 9, 2022) – Skate Canada is pleased to announce that Skate Canada International will be returning to Vancouver, B.C., in 2023. The city will be hosting the best figure skaters from around the world from October 27-29, 2023 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

“Skate Canada is excited to be returning to Vancouver for the 2023 Skate Canada International,” said Skate Canada’s CEO, Debra Armstrong. “We look forward to creating more memorable moments for skating fans from around the globe and to showcase the very best that the sport has to offer. As always, we are thrilled to be working with the City of Vancouver and the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre to create an event all participants and fans will enjoy.”

Vancouver has been a longtime partner of figure skating, hosting world-renowned events such as the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in 1960 and 2001 and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in 2018. This will be the city’s third time hosting Skate Canada International, having previously hosted the event in 2021.

“Vancouver is proud to partner with Skate Canada to host major events here on the West Coast,” said City of Vancouver Mayor, Ken Sim. “Skate Canada International will generate significant economic impact for our region during the tourism off-season and bring world-class figure skating back to our city once again. Vancouver is proud of our figure skating hosting history, and we look forward to continuing to build on this partnership and offering a memorable experience to all the competitors, staff, fans and volunteers.”

The inaugural Skate Canada International was first held in 1973, and the event was added to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in 1995, the year the series began. Vancouver will host the 49th installment of Skate Canada International.

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