Canadian skaters continue on ISU Challenger Series at Nebelhorn Trophy

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send six entries, for a total of nine skaters to Oberstdorf, Germany, for the Nebelhorn Trophy, the second stop on the ISU Challenger Series. Canada will have one entry per discipline in men’s and pair, and two entries per discipline in ladies and ice dance at the event which takes place September 24-26, 2015.

Elladj Baldé, 24, Pierrefonds, Que., will be the Canadian entry in the men’s category. This will be his fourth time competing at this event, having placed 10^th in 2011, 14^th in 2012, and 5^th last season. The representative of CPA Anjou Kinsmen also placed sixth at the NHK Trophy last season. Baldé trains in Montreal, Que., with coaches Bruno Marcotte and Manon Perron.

Two-time Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond, 19, Marystown, Nfld., is one of two Canadian entries in ladies. She previously competed at this event in 2012, winning gold. Osmond returns to competition after missing least season due to injury. She most recently competed at the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, where she earned an 11^th place finish. She is coached by Ravi Walia and represents the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club.

Canadian silver medallist Alaine Chartrand, 19, Prescott, Ont., will be Canada’s second entry in the ladies category. This will be her first time competing at this event. Last season, she placed fourth at her assignment on the ISU Challenger Series, the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. She also placed tenth at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 11^th at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Chartrand is coached by Michelle Leigh and Brian Orser and represents the Nepean Skating Club.

Canadian bronze medallists Julianne Séguin, 18, Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau, 22, Trois-Pistoles, Que., will be the sole Canadian pair entry at this event. This will be their first assignment on the ISU Challenger Series. Last season, they won gold at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, silver at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and placed eighth at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. They are coached by Josée Picard in Chambly, Que.

Three time Canadian bronze medallists Alexandra Paul, 24, Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam, 25, Barrie, Ont., are the first of two Canadian entries in ice dance. This will be their third time competing at this event, having placed fifth in 2012 and winning bronze in 2013. Last season, Paul and Islam placed fifth at the Cup of China, sixth at Trophée Eric Bompard, sixth at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and 13^th at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The representatives of Barrie SC train in Montreal, Que., with coaches Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer.

Lauren Collins, 19, Minesing, Ont., and Shane Firus, 21, North Vancouver, B.C., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their first international assignment at the senior level. Last season, the representatives of Barrie SC and Vancouver SC placed sixth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Japan and won silver at the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in junior. They are coached by David Islam and Kelly Johnson at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.

Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk will be travelling with the Canadian team as team leader and Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. André-Marc Allain of Gatineau, Que., and Andrea Derby of Windsor, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2015 NEBELHORN TROPHY