Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje to sit out ISU Grand Prix events

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OTTAWA, ON: World bronze medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 29, Toronto, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 31, Waterloo, Ont., will sit out the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season.

“Over the last 12 consecutive years, we have committed ourselves 100 percent to becoming champions in ice dance, representing our country on the international stage, and enjoying this incredible journey — challenges and accomplishments alike — together every step of the way.  This past season provided us with the most incredible memories, including finishing on the podium at the world championships in Milan. Fulfilling this accomplishment gave us time and the opportunity to reflect on how we would like to continue our skating career. Through a very patient, analytical, and thoughtful process, we have decided to forego the 2018 Grand Prix season. We plan to return to competition at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in January. We thank you for your understanding and allowing us to tailor our career to our best interests,” said Weaver and Poje.

Weaver and Poje are three-time world medallists, winning their most recent world medal at the 2018 world championships in Italy earlier this year. The two-time Canadian champions are coached by Nikolai Morozov and train in Hackensack, NJ, USA.

Ticket Info: 2018 Autumn Classic International

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OTTAWA, ON: Tickets for the 2018 Autumn Classic International will go on sale on Tuesday, June 19 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The fifth edition of the event will take place from September 20-22, 2018, at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ont.

All-event tickets are priced at $85 and single day passes prices are as follows: $30 for Thursday, $35 for Friday and $35 for Saturday. Tickets include entry to view practices on the date(s) of each ticket. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes and services fees. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite.ca in advance and online only.

Please note that seating is general admission and not reserved.  Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Ticket quantities are limited, and all tickets are final sale.

The 2018 Autumn Classic International will feature senior events in men, women, pair and ice dance. The event will host approximately 50 entries from over 15 countries. The senior international figure skating competition is one of 10 events that will form the International Skating Union’s (ISU) Challenger Series. Athletes have the opportunity to earn world standing points through the series. Competitors are eligible to participate in up to three Challenger Series events.

The 2018 entries will be announced after the close of entries in late August.

To register for notification of ticket on-sale dates for Skate Canada events, please fill out the form located here.

Kaetlyn Osmond to skip ISU Grand Prix events

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OTTAWA, ON: World champion Kaetlyn Osmond, 22, Marystown, Nfld./Edmonton, Alta., will skip the ISU Grand Prix circuit this year.

“For the past years, my focus has been on the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and I worked really hard to achieve my goals. The 2017-2018 season went far beyond any of my own expectations and now I need time to refocus and evaluate the next steps in my career,” said Osmond. “While I still love competing and performing, I will be exploring other exciting opportunities during this time. I wish all the skaters competing on the ISU Grand Prix circuit the best of luck.”

In 2018, Osmond became the first Canadian woman to win the world championship title in 45 years. Osmond also won gold in the team event and bronze in women’s singles at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. She is a three-time Canadian champion and is coached by Ravi Walia in Edmonton, Alta.

Skate Canada members honoured at 2018 Achievement Awards Gala in Calgary

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CALGARY, AB: This past weekend, Skate Canada celebrated 21 award winners during its annual Achievement Awards Gala and Banquet, part of the 2018 Ice Summit held in Calgary, Alta.

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 Olympic bronze medallist and three-time world medallist Tracy Wilson, and Olympic bronze medallist and world silver medallist Joannie Rochette.

The Skate Canada Achievement 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 2017-2018 recipients were:

Skate Canada Club and Recreational Coach Award of Excellence
Lianne Sherriff, East Gwillimbury SC, Ontario Section

Skate Canada Competitive Coach/Choreographer Award of Excellence
Marie-France Dubreuil, Montréal International Skating School, Quebec Section
Patrice Lauzon, Montréal International Skating School, Quebec Section
Ravi Walia, Ice Palace FSC, Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section

Skate Canada Officials Award of Excellence
Judy Burwash, Sandy Shores SC, British Columbia/Yukon Section

Skate Canada Event Volunteer Award of Excellence
Dan Potts, Mt. Boucherie SC, British Columbia/Yukon Section

Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award
Megan Maxwell, St. Andrews SC, Manitoba Section

Billie Mitchell Award
Leanna Caron, Timmins Porcupine FSC, Ontario Section

Skate Canada also presents a volunteer award to one member of each of the Skate Canada sections. The following exceptional volunteers were awarded the 2017-2018 Skate Canada Section Volunteer Award of Excellence:

British Columbia/Yukon Section
Joan Omasta, Kamloops SC

Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section
Kathy Kopelchuk, Calalta Figure Skating Club

Saskatchewan Section
Joni Adamcewicz, Skate Regina

Manitoba Section
Mary Ellen McDonald, Skate Winnipeg

Ontario Section
Ross Phelps, Leaside SC

Quebec Section
Patrick Roch, CPA Saint-Basile-le-Grand

New Brunswick Section
Wendy Stokes, Riverview FSC

Prince Edward Island Section
Jocelyne Arsenault, Summerside FSC

Nova Scotia Section
Donna Baker, Bedford FSC

Newfoundland and Labrador Section
Perry Dalton, Mount Pearl-Paradise SC

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
Rae Marie First Charger, Lethbridge SC, Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section

Skate Canada Section STARSkate Athlete Award
Alanna Hickey, Noralta FSC, Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section

Skate Canada Section CompetitiveSkate Athlete Award
Matthew Newnham, Ice Palace FSC, Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section

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

Canadian adult skaters bring home 24 medals from 2018 ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition

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OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian skaters competing at the 2018 ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition returned from Oberstdorf, Germany, with a total of 24 medals. The annual event took place from May 14-18, 2018.

Gary Beacom, 1984 Olympian from British Columbia, set a new all-time record of 107.84 points in the Masters Elite III Free Skating category. Also of note, Ontario’s Team Force won silver in synchronized skating.

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

Gold medallists

Gary Beacom – Masters Elite Men III Artistic Free Skating & Masters Elite Men III Free Skating
Donna Bergvinson – Bronze Ladies IV Free Skating
Dawn Brokers and Ken Langlois – Masters Pairs Artistic Free Skating
Tracey Fowler – Silver Ladies III Free Skating
Erin Leach – Gold Ladies II Artistic Free Skating

Silver medallists

Donna Bergvinson – Bronze Ladies IV Artistic Free Skating
Isabella Ciocoiu – Silver Ladies III Artistic Free Skating
Linda Maundrell – Bronze Ladies V Artistic Free Skating & Bronze Ladies V Free Skating
Lorelei Murphy – Bronze Ladies III-B Free Skating
Ryoko Natori – Masters Elite Ladies III Artistic Free Skating
Teresa Rambold – Gold Ladies IV Artistic Free Skating & Gold Ladies IV Free Skating
Team Force – Synchronized Skating

Bronze medallists

Maureen Barnes – Silver Ladies V Artistic Free Skating & Silver Ladies V Free Skating
Deborah Bennett – Bronze Ladies IV Free Skating
Isabella Ciocoiu – Silver Ladies III Free Skating
Kelly Dunwoody – Gold Ladies I Artistic Free Skating
Wendy Ord – Bronze Ladies III-B Free Skating
Donna Reynolds and Ken Langlois – Masters Pattern Dance
Barbara Tkach – Silver Ladies IV Artistic Free Skating & Silver Ladies IV Free Skating

In all, there were over 900 performances from 771 skaters representing 34 ISU member nations, with nine synchronized skating teams among those. A record 68 Canadians participated in the event, including two synchronized skating teams: Team Force and the Scotian Waves.

The competition was live streamed, and archived performances can be accessed at www.dailymotion.com/skatingvideos. Competition results can be found at www.isu.org.

For the third consecutive year, Vancouver will play host to the North American edition of the ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition. This event will be held at the Canlan Ice Sports Burnaby 8-Rinks Arena from October 10-13, 2018. The official event announcement can be found here.

For further information please visit www.isu.org or the ISU Adult Working Group website www.adultskating.org.

Skating Delegates head to Calgary for 2018 Ice Summit

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CALGARY, ALB.: The Canadian skating community will be in Calgary, Alta., next week for the 2018 Ice Summit. More than 500 skating leaders from across the country will meet up in Calgary for the three-day conference, that will take place from May 24-26. The conference will consist of a wide range of opportunities for members at all levels within Skate Canada.

“This last year was undoubtedly one of the most successful seasons in the past decade for Skate Canada, with technological advancements, organizational growth, and all levels of Skate Canada coming together to support programming from the grassroots levels to the Olympic podium,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “We are thrilled to be celebrating those accomplishments in Calgary, as we prepare for another successful year of inspiring all Canadians to embrace the joy of skating.”

The theme of this year’s event is: Celebrating Success. The 2018 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 20 workshops, attendees will be able to select the workshops most relevant to their skating career.

The Ice Summit will welcome an incredible 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 Calgary 1988 Olympic legacy WinSport facilities. The on-ice workshops feature top coaches and choreographers, including Ravi Walia, Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Anabelle Langlois, Cody Hay and others.

The Ice Summit will also host the Annual General Meeting 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 Achievement Awards Gala and 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 Olympians Tracy Wilson and Joannie Rochette.

Olympian Liam Firus Retires from Competitive Competition

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OTTAWA, ON: Olympian and national medallist Liam Firus, 25, North Vancouver, B.C., has retired from competitive skating. Firus has been an active member of the Canadian figure skating team since 2009 and has competed internationally for Canada 24 times as a junior and senior competitor.

“I’m so fortunate to have been able to grow up in this generation of skating, surrounded by so much talent and passion for the sport. I want to say thank you to every person, my family and mother especially, who gave their support that allowed me to live my dream. I would not have had any of my successes if it weren’t for all of my amazing coaches along the way,” said Firus. “Thank you to Lorna Bauer who spotted me in hockey skates and turned me into the skater and person I am today. She never let me put my personal values aside to exceed in the sport, something I’m so grateful for. Thank you to Christy Krall and everyone in Colorado Springs who gave me the push I needed to fulfill my dream and qualify for the Olympic games.”

Firus continued, “Thank you to my Montreal Family: Bruno Marcotte, Ian Connolly, Julie Marcotte Nicholas Young, Patrick Magee and my younger brother Shane who believed in me at every moment and most importantly helped me find my passion and love for the sport again. Lastly, a sincere thank you to all the volunteers and fans who make our experience as skaters so memorable and special.”

“Skating over the years has provided me with so many amazing lessons. I was fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable highs, but along the way came some very difficult lows. Though when those difficult times came, I never let the thought of failure get in the way of improving and pursuing my goals. If there’s anything I want to share with the sport’s future generation, it’s to not base your happiness and fulfillment on your successes. Always embrace and celebrate your successes, but stay focused on proving yourself in training each day, enjoying the process of getting better and committing yourself to moving forward in any way, both on and off the ice. Figure skating has an amazing ability to knock you down right when you think you’re getting going, just don’t let it stop you from enjoying the sport we all love so much,” concluded Firus.

Firus won the Canadian junior title in 2010 and would go on to medal at the senior national championships three times, winning bronze in 2014 and 2015 and silver in 2016. He represented Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, placing 28th. Internationally, he won multiple Junior Grand Prix medals and two bronze medals on the ISU Challenger Series in 2017 at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and Warsaw Cup.

“Liam’s natural skating ability and artistry combined with his technical skills left an impression with fans around the world. His positive energy and outgoing personality have made him a favourite among his teammates and he will be missed on our Canadian team,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “Skate Canada wishes Liam the best of luck with his future endeavors and thanks him for his contributions to skating worldwide.”

Firus has already begun his career post-skating and is currently working at Northbay Capital Partners, a boutique merchant bank based in Vancouver that provides services in many areas to both private and public companies. He plans to stay involved in skating through his new venture, Skate Global, with his training mate and friend Elladj Baldé. They hope to inspire Canada’s youth through a platform providing assistance and mentoring to athletes and coaches across the country. Of course, he won’t be far from the sport as he cheers on his younger brother Shane and partner Carolane Soucisse as they hope to fulfill their dream of representing Canada in the Olympic Winter Games.

Largest Canadian contingent in history to compete at the 2018 ISU Adult Competition in Germany

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OTTAWA, ON: A record 68 Canadians, the largest group of Canadians in the event’s history, are headed to Oberstdorf, Germany, to compete at the International Adult Figure Skating Competition from May 14-19, 2018.

This is the 14th edition of the renowned adult figure skating competition, which attracts skaters from across the world, including a sizeable group of Canadians every year. This year, 515 competitors from 34 International Skating Union (ISU) member nations are registered to compete.

“It’s so great to see our adult skaters following their passion by embracing the joy of skating and staying active for life,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “The impressive size of this group will undoubtedly be matched by their abilities on the ice and their character as representatives of the Canadian skating community.”

Over the six-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 – Short Dance
  • Ice Dance – Free Dance
  • Synchronized Skating

The Canadian delegation includes skaters from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. For a full list of entries, please refer to the start orders.

In five months’ time, the second ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition of the year takes place. The third annual ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition in Vancouver will be held at the Canlan Ice Sports Burnaby 8-Rinks Arena from October 10-13, 2018.

For further information please visit www.isu.org or the ISU Adult Working Group website www.adultskating.org.

Media Inquiries:

Diana Barkley
ISU Adult Working Group
[email protected]

National Team Skater Elladj Baldé Retires from Competitive Competition

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OTTAWA, ON: National team skater Elladj Baldé, 27, Montreal, Que., has retired from competitive competition. Baldé has been an active member of the Canadian figure skating team since 2007 and has competed internationally for Canada 27 times as a junior and senior competitor.

“I can’t express the amount of gratitude I have for all of my peers and fans who have given me such endless support throughout the years. Finishing my career the way I did at Canadian Nationals was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life and I am so thrilled to forge ahead with the exciting opportunities that lie in my professional career,” said Baldé.

Baldé won the Canadian junior title in 2008 and would go on to compete at nine senior Canadian championships, making the national team five times. In 2015, he won his first gold medal on the international scene at the Nebelhorn Trophy.

“Elladj’s innovative style of skating combined with his powerful technical abilities left a lasting impression on all those that saw him skate. His drive and dedication to skating made him a long-time fan favourite who has been exciting to watch over the years and will be dearly missed on the competitive scene,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “Skate Canada would like to thank Elladj for inspiring Canadians to embrace the joy of skating and wish him the best of luck with his future plans.”

Baldé will continue to stay involved in skating through professional shows, where he is already entertaining crowds around the world. Alongside his new career as a choreographer, he is also keeping busy inspiring the next generation of athletes with his new company, Skate Global. Founded with friend and fellow figure skater Liam Firus. Skate Global is a multi-faceted platform that provides insight, assistance and training methods to coaches and young figure skaters all around the world.

Pair Champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford Retire from Competitive Skating

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OTTAWA, ON: Two-time world pair champions and three-time Olympic medallists Meagan Duhamel, 32, Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford, 33, Balmertown, Ont., are retiring from competitive skating. Duhamel and Radford teamed up in 2010 and would go on to become one of Canada’s most accomplished pair teams.

“I am extremely thankful and grateful for the incredible journey that the sport of figure skating gave me. I’m thankful to my family, who were my first supporters and first fans; they instilled a work ethic in me that became the base of my success and they encouraged me to dream big. Thank you to all my coaches over the years at the Walden Skating Club: Lana, Becky and Nancy. Thank you to Lee Barkell and his team at the Mariposa School of Skating from 2000-2007 and to Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier, Sylvie Fullum, Julie Marcotte and Ian Connolly, my team in Montreal since 2007, who took a chance on me and believed in me during times I couldn’t find faith,” said Duhamel.

Duhamel continued, “Most importantly, thank you to my skating partners: Ryan Arnold, Craig Buntin and Eric Radford. Ryan and Craig both gave me the fundamentals of pairs skating and the tools of how to work as a pair team so that I could eventually thrive with Eric. I cherish all the moments, both good and bad, with all three of my partners. Thanks to Eric for being the best partner anyone could ask for. One more big thank you goes to all the amazing fans of figure skating in Canada. It’s been a true pleasure to share my love of skating with you all. Thank you for supporting me over the years, I truly appreciate it. Although I’m leaving the competitive world of figure skating, I will never leave the sport completely. Figure skating was my first love and I want to spend the rest of my life with this sport, in many different capacities.”

“I could never have imagined that my skating career would be filled with so many incredible and unforgettable moments. From the outdoor rink in Balmertown to the Olympic podium, there were many people whose unwavering support made it all possible and gave the journey so much more meaning. Thank you to my parents and family for believing in me and my dream from day one, to my fiancé Luis for inspiring me and giving perspective to the most difficult times, to my friends for cheering for me no matter where I was in the world and to the team of coaches, Bruno, Julie, Ian, Richard and Sylvie that made Meagan and I the best pair team we could be.” said Radford.

“Finally, I want to thank Meagan. Her incredible drive and determination always pushed and inspired me to be my best and I’m so happy we got to share all those amazing moments together. I couldn’t feel prouder that we got to represent Canada around the world throughout our career. Your love of our sport and the support you show all the athletes have given me some of the best and most special moments in my career,” finished Radford.

Duhamel and Radford won their first of seven consecutive Canadian titles in 2012 and hold the record for most national titles won by a pair team. They competed at two Olympic Winter Games, winning three medals. At the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi they won silver in the team event and at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang they won bronze in their individual event and gold in the team event. Duhamel and Radford have won four medals at the ISU World Championships, winning back-to-back gold in 2015 and 2016.

“Meagan and Eric have been champions and innovators in pair skating. Their drive to push the sport forward by executing advanced elements has truly inspired a new generation of pair skating,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “They have been staples on our national team for two quadrennials and their presence will be missed. Skate Canada thanks Meagan and Eric for their dedication to excellence and wishes them the best of luck with their future plans.”

At the 2018 Olympic Winter Games they became the first team to complete a quad throw salchow in Olympic competition. Over their career they won 14 medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit and four medals at the ISU Grand Prix Final, winning the event in 2014. They also earned four medals at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, winning gold in 2013 and 2015.

“Meagan and Eric have been leaders worldwide in the pair discipline as they pushed the technical boundaries, which made them one of the best pairs in the world and an inspiration to future pair teams,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “Their passion for the sport and accomplishments are evidence of their hard work and dedicated work ethic, always striving to be the best. We thank them for letting us enjoy this amazing journey with them.”

Duhamel and Radford are both currently living in Montreal, Que., and plan to stay involved in skating together through skating shows and seminars.

Duhamel is working on her lifestyle brand Lutz of Greens and has been involved with the Humane Society in the rescuing of dogs. She is finishing her studies in nutrition with a specialized certification in Sports and Fitness Nutrition and Vegetarian Nutrition and plans to develop a wellness program for figure skaters. Duhamel also plans to take the training to become a technical specialist.

Radford’s future plans include pursuing music and eventually composing for film, as well as coaching and choreography in skating. He is also planning his wedding to Spanish ice dancer Luis Fenero.

Skating Legend Patrick Chan Retires from Competitive Competition

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TORONTO, ON: Olympic Champion Patrick Chan, 27, Toronto, Ont., announced his retirement from competitive skating today. Chan is the most decorated male figure skater in Canadian history with three Olympic medals, three world championship crowns and 10 Canadian titles.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to skate for Canada”, said Patrick Chan. “It has given me memorable experiences and has taught me lessons I will carry throughout life. I have fulfilled my dreams and aspirations in competitive skating and it is now time to move on to new challenges and opportunities. I hope to have inspired many young skaters that with hard work, perseverance and dedication anything is possible.”

Chan won his first Canadian title in 2008 and would go on to win nine more, establishing a Canadian men’s record with 10 in total. Over the course of his decorated career Chan would compete at three Olympic Games, winning silver in Sochi in both his individual and team event, capping off his career with a gold medal in the team event at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.

“It has truly been an honour to have Patrick on our team and he will be greatly missed by the entire skating community. His beautiful lyrical skating matched with his outgoing and positive personality has made him a champion on and off the ice,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Patrick has left a tremendous mark on Canadian skating and we thank him for inspiring Canadians to embrace the joy of skating. Skate Canada would like to congratulate Patrick on a fabulous career and we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors.”

During his senior career, Chan won five medals at the ISU World Championships, winning the title three times (2011, 2012, 2013). He picked up 15 medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit and would go on to earn four medals at the ISU Grand Prix Final, winning gold twice (2011, 2012). He would also claim top spot at the ISU Four Continents Championships three times (2009, 2012, 2016).

“Patrick’s impact on the sport has been instrumental to the continued success of figure skating in Canada. His strong technical ability combined with his effortless skating made him one of the best the world has ever seen and has brought endless memories to skating fans worldwide,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “Patrick’s achievements are a testament to his hard work, dedication, and humble personality, which enabled him to reach the highest accomplishments at the world and Olympic level. We wish Patrick every success in his new chapter and thank him for having us along for this incredible ride.”

For his work on the ice, Chan was awarded the prestigious Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s top athlete in 2011, as well as Sportsnet’s Canadian Athlete of the Year, QMI Agency Canadian Male Athlete of the Year and the Canadian Press’s Lionel Conacher Award for Canadian male athlete of the year.

Chan is currently residing in Vancouver, B.C., where he plans to stay involved in the skating community through seminars and performing in skating shows across Canada.

Olympic Medallist Dylan Moscovitch Retiring from Competitive Skating

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OTTAWA, ON: Olympic figure skater Dylan Moscovitch, 33, Toronto, Ont., announced today that he has retired from competitive figure skating. Moscovitch has been a staple in Canadian pair figure skating for over a decade. His competitive highlights include competing at six world championships, winning a national title and winning a silver medal in the team event at the 2014 Olympic Games.

“Skating was my first love and forever my passion. Representing Canada on both the world and Olympic stage has been an honour and a privilege. It has given me invaluable opportunities and experiences over the years, ones which have played a pivotal role in shaping me into the man that I am today. I look forward to taking the lessons learned and skills acquired into the chapters and adventures to come. I can’t thank my family, friends and fans enough for the endless support they’ve given me throughout the years, as well as the support received from COS, WOS, Skate Ontario, Skate Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee and both the provincial and federal governments,” expressed Moscovitch.

Moscovitch continued, “I’d also like to thank all of my coaches, trainers, choreographers, training mates and clubs from all over Ontario for guiding me and supporting my dream. I’d like to thank my partners Kyra, Kirsten and Luba for the priceless memories and experiences throughout my career and I wish Kirsten and Luba the best of luck in their respective careers in the years to come. I’d especially like to thank Kris and Kristy Wirtz and the late Paul Wirtz for the 10-plus years working together and for starting my career in pairs figure skating. As well, a huge thank you to Lee Barkell, Tracy Wilson, Bryce Davison, and everyone at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club for renewing my love for skating and taking my level of growth as both an athlete and a person beyond what I could have ever hoped. Most importantly, I will cherish the incredible people I’ve met and the lifelong friendships I’ve made throughout my career in this amazing sport. Thank you to all for sharing this journey with me.”

Moscovitch began his pair skating career with his sister, Kyra. They won the Canadian junior pair title in 2006 and would go on to skate together until 2008. In 2009 he teamed up with Kirsten Moore-Towers and went on to win the Canadian title in 2011. They would accumulate 11 international medals over their time together and earn three trips to the ISU Grand Prix Final. They capped off their partnership with an Olympic silver medal in the team event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. He ended his pair skating career with Lubov Ilyushechkina. Their partnership began in the spring of 2014. In their four seasons together, they won three national medals and five international medals, including a bronze at the 2016 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

“Dylan has represented Canada with pride and has brought tremendous leadership to our national team on and off the ice. His presence will be missed,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “Skate Canada thanks Dylan for all his contributions to pair skating in Canada and wish him the best of luck with his future aspirations.”

Looking to the future, Moscovitch plans to stay involved with skating through coaching, seminars and mentoring. Moscovitch will also continue with his motivational speaking work, in which he has become highly sought-after on the corporate speaking circuit over the past few years. In addition, he has signed with B&M Models and is planning on perusing an acting and commentary career.

His skating partner, Ilyushechkina will be evaluating her opportunities in the coming months.