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

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.