Canadian adult skaters bring home 26 medals from 2019 ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition

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OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian skaters competing at the 2019 ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition returned from Oberstdorf, Germany, with a total of 26 medals – 10 gold, nine silver and seven bronze. The event took play from May 19-25, 2019.

In total, there were more than 770 performances from 600 skaters representing 35 ISU member countries. Nine synchro teams participated this year, including two teams from Ontario’s Team Energice.

The following Canadian skaters and teams took home medals in their respective categories:

Gold medallists:
Gary Beacom, Masters Elite Men IV Artistic Free Skating / Masters Elite Men IV Free Skating
Karen Ciprietti, Bronze Ladies III Artistic Free Skating, Group B
Ken Langlois and Laura Goode, Ice Dance, Masters Free Dance
Carol Ann Lehovich, Bronze Ladies III Artistic Free Skating, Group A
Jacqueline Parser, Bronze Ladies IV Artistic Free Skating
Alanna Rittich, Bronze Ladies III Free Skating – Group B
Karen Smith, Gold Ladies II Free Skating
Barbara Tkach, Silver Ladies V Free Skating
Elina Viola, Masters Ladies IV Artistic Free Skating

Silver medallists:
Karen Ciprietti, Bronze Ladies III Free Skating, Group B
Joanne Johnson, Bronze Ladies IV Artistic Free Skating
Carol Ann Lehovich, Bronze Ladies III Free Skating, Group A
Cathy and Fred Lynd, Bronze Pattern Dance
Henrietta Penny, Bronze Ladies V Artistic Free Skating
Linda Reynolds, Masters Elite Ladies III Artistic Free Skating
Barbara Tkach, Silver Ladies V Artistic Free Skating
Elina Viola, Gold Ladies IV Free Skating
EnergICE 1- Synchronized Skating

Bronze medallists:
Ken Langlois and Laura Goode, Ice Dance, Masters Pattern Dance / Masters Rhythm Dance
Alanna Rittich, Bronze Ladies III Artistic Free Skating – Group B
Jennifer Powell, Bronze Ladies III Artistic Free Skating – Group A
Karen Smith, Gold Ladies II Artistic Free Skating
Natasha Sopel, Masters Ladies I Free Skating / Masters Ladies I Artistic Free Skating

The North American edition of the ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition will take place in Lake Placid, New York from October 14-19, 2019. For further information, please visit www.isu.org.

Skate Canada mourns the passing of Hall of Famer Bruce Hyland

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is saddened by the passing of Hall of Famer Bruce Hyland. He passed away peacefully at age 92 on May 22, 2019 surrounded by his family. Hyland was a successful ice dancer with his wife Margaret and together the went onto create the Metropolitan Ice Skating Schools.

Together they would teach thousands of Canadians in figure skating, hockey and power skating. As a coach, Hyland taught at the elite level. For eighteen consecutive years he would coach at world and Olympic events. His motivational and optimistic approach to coaching lead many of his skaters to success. Included among his students were 1962 World Pair Champions Maria and Otto Jelinek and 1964 Olympic silver medalists Debbi Wilkes and Guy Revell.

A celebration of life for Hyland will take place at a later date, please click here for more information.

Skate Canada offers its sincere sympathies to Hyland’s family and friends.

Skate Canada members honoured at 2019 Ice Summit in Ottawa

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OTTAWA, ON: This past weekend, Skate Canada honoured 20 award winners during its annual Awards Banquet at the 2019 Ice Summit held in Ottawa, Ont.

The winners received their awards on Saturday night in front of a crowd of over 350 of Canada’s top skating delegates. The evening was co-hosted by 2019 Canadian ice dance silver medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. The awards were given out by 2019 junior ice dance world champions Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha.

The Skate Canada Awards program honours dedicated members of the skating community who have donated their time to help contribute to improving the quality of skating in Canada.

The 2018-2019 recipients were:

Skate Canada Club and Recreational Coach Award of Excellence
Joanne Godin

Skate Canada Competitive Coach/Choreographer Award of Excellence
Marie-France Dubreuil

Skate Canada Officials Award of Excellence
Jean Senft

Skate Canada Event Volunteer Award of Excellence
Susan Taylor

Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award
Jennifer Betts

Billie Mitchell Award
Sally Rehorick

Skate Canada also presents a volunteer award to one member of each of the Skate Canada sections. The following exceptional volunteers were awarded the 2018-2019 Skate Canada Section Volunteer Award of Excellence:

British Columbia/Yukon Section
Margaret Warwick

Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section
Laurie Finney

Saskatchewan Section
Marg Auringer

Manitoba Section
Don Brown

Ontario Section
Paul Mallet

Quebec Section
Guylaine McSween

New Brunswick Section
Patsy Henderson

Prince Edward Island Section
Lynn MacLeod

Nova Scotia Section
Terry Ackles

Newfoundland and Labrador Section
Eleanor Scott

Three additional host section awards were recognized in the CanSkate, STARSkate and CompetitiveSkate athlete areas, as representatives of all section winners across the country in those categories:

Skate Canada Section CanSkate Athlete Award
Bryden Strachan

Skate Canada Section STARSkate Athlete Award
Kira Christie

Skate Canada Section CompetitiveSkate Athlete Award
Lily Wilberforce, Aidan Wright

In addition, Olympians Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon were inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in the athlete category. One of Canada’s most loved dance teams, they paired up in 1995. They went on to win the Canadian ice dance title five times (2000, 2004-2007). Dubreuil and Lauzon retired in 2008 and began a successful coaching career in Montreal.

Leanna Caron, President, Skate Canada, and ISU Council member Benoit Lavoie handed out the ISU Gold Award of Merit to Skate Canada BC/Yukon’s Susan Heffernan, and Skate Ontario’s Joanne Shaw for their valuable contributions to the ISU. This award may only be made to Office Holders and other individuals who have served the ISU sport disciplines.

Skate Canada congratulates all award winners, nominees and countless invaluable volunteers!

Skating Delegates headed to Ottawa for 2019 Ice Summit

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OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian skating community will be in Ottawa, Ont., this week for the 2019 Ice Summit. More than 400 skating leaders from across the country will meet up in Ottawa for the three-day conference, that will take place from May 23-25. The conference will consist of a wide range of opportunities for members at all levels within Skate Canada.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating this past year’s accomplishments here in the nation’s capital at the 2019 Ice Summit,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “It’s always an exciting time when all levels of Skate Canada come together in one place to support development from the grassroots level to the world stage. We all have the same goal to continue to inspire Canadians to embrace the joy of skating.”

The theme of this year’s event is: Plan to Execute for Success. The 2019 Ice Summit package offers a broad spectrum of informative and interactive workshops specifically targeting coaches, choreographers, officials, clubs and skating schools, and Skate Canada sections. With over 24 workshops hosted by world-class experts and sports professionals, attendees will be able to select the workshops more relevant to their skating career.

The Ice Summit will welcome an unbelievable group of presenters, keynote speakers and moderators. The conference offers a selection of off-ice and on-ice workshops, of which the on-ice portions will be taking place at the Richcraft Sensplex facility. The on-ice workshops feature top coaches and choreographers, including Lee Barkell, Richard Gauthier, Lance Vipond, Carol Lane and others.

The Ice Summit will also host the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association on Saturday. Members will again be able to participate remotely as the AGM and voting will be available via live stream.

The weekend will close out on Saturday evening with the annual Skate Canada Awards Banquet, where Skate Canada will celebrate success and honour the many accomplishments of key contributors in the skating community. The evening will be hosted by 2019 Canadian silver medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

Fifty-four Canadians to compete at the 2019 ISU Adult International Competition in Germany

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OTTAWA, ON: Canadian adult figure skaters are headed to Oberstdorf, Germany for the International Adult Figure Skating Competition from May 19-25, 2019.

This year marks the 15th edition of the prominent adult figure skating competition, which attracts skaters from across the world, including a large group of Canadians each year. This year, 600 competitors from 34 International Skating Union (ISU) member countries are registered to compete. Nine synchronized skating teams have registered, including two teams from Ontario’s EnergICE. Canada will have a 54 member team.

“We are thrilled to see such a dedicated and skillful group of adult skaters heading to Oberstdorf for the 2019 International Adult Figure Skating Competition,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “These skaters are the perfect example of what it means to live a healthy and active lifestyle which Skate Canada values deeply. Best of luck to the Canadian Team.”

Over the seven-day competition, skaters will compete in the following categories:

  • Free Skating
  • Artistic Free Skating
  • Pairs Free Skating
  • Pairs Artistic Free skating
  • Ice Dance- Pattern Dance
  • Ice Dance- Rhythm Dance
  • Ice Dance- Free Dance
  • Synchronized Skating

The Canadian delegation includes skaters from British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.

British Columbia

Gary Beacom Maureen Bennie Donna Bergvinson Isabella Ciocoiu
Joanne Johnson Linda Maundrell Wendy Morris Henrietta Penny
Jacqueline Parser Linda Reynolds Lesley Ricci Alanna Rittich
Karen Smith

Alberta

Cathy McLean Krista Wright Natasha Sopel Elina Viola

Ontario

Karen Ciprietti Patricia Clarke Laura Goode Fred Gutz
Ken Langlois Carol Ann Lehovich Cathy Lynd Jennifer Powell
Barbara Tkach Angie Zurita

Synchro Teams (Ontario)
EnergICE – Adult 2 and 3

Melissa Becker Laura Blake Melanie Chapman Deanna Collins
Melissa Collver Dodi DeLeye Michelle Docker Jennifer Elsdon
Carly Ens Katrina Ferguson Jennifer Fink Elizabeth Gough
Carmina Halstead Tracy Knack Katie Knight Tammy Lama
Jade Mercier Laurie Milne Anne Marie Moss Debbie Murray
Adrianna Otten Victoria Phillips Stacey Robinson Jessica Sinnesael
Erin Slager Kendra Walker Breanne Wilson

For further information, please visit www.isu.org. This event will be live streamed.

Media Inquiries:
Diana Barkley
ISU Adult Figure Skating Group
[email protected]

World & Olympic Champion Kaetlyn Osmond Retires from Competitive Skating

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OTTAWA, ON: 2018 world champion, Kaetlyn Osmond, 23, Marystown, N.L./Edmonton, Alta., announced her retirement from competitive figure skating today.  Osmond is Canada’s most decorated female singles skater with three Olympic medals, two world championships medals and three national titles.

“Competition has been such a rewarding part of my life. Having a purpose and accomplishing goals beyond my wildest dreams has been incredibly fulfilling. No words will ever describe the emotions competitions carry,” said Osmond. “I would like to thank my coaches, family, friends, and Skate Canada for all the support they have given me over the years. Leaving competition is terrifying, but I am excited to see what else life has to offer.”

Osmond won her first Canadian title in 2013 and would go on to win two more in 2014 and 2017. Over the course of her decorated career, Osmond would compete at two Olympic Games in 2014 and 2018. At the 2014 Olympics she won the silver medal for the team event. In 2018 she added two more Olympic medals to her collection, a bronze in the individual women’s event and gold in the team event.

“It was truly a pleasure to have had a skater like Kaetlyn represent Canada. Kaetlyn brought energy to our Canadian team and inspired many young women around the world with her talent,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Kaetlyn’s accomplishments on the ice are only matched by her outgoing and kind personality and Skate Canada wishes Kaetlyn the very best in the next chapter of her life.”

During her senior career, Osmond won two world championship medals, winning gold in 2018 and a silver in 2017. In 2018 she became the first Canadian woman to win the world championship title in 45 years. On the ISU Grand Prix circuit, she picked up four medals and would go on to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final in 2016 and 2017, earning a bronze medal in 2017.

“It has been a pleasure to be a part of Kaetlyn’s amazing journey. She has done so much for skating in Canada and her dedication to the sport led her to three Olympic medals and a world championship title. Skate Canada is incredibly proud and grateful for Kaetlyn’s contribution to our national team and we wish her the best in her future endeavours,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada.

For her work on the ice, Osmond received the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2018 and the highway from Red Harbour, N.L., to Marystown was officially renamed as Osmond Way. Osmond currently resides in Brantford, Ont., where she continues to perform in skating shows in Canada and internationally.