Record sixth title for Duhamel and Radford, ninth Canadian crown for Chan

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OTTAWA – Ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Kaetlyn Osmond Patrick Chan and pairs skaters Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford were crowned senior champions Saturday at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

In pairs, two-time world champions Duhamel and Radford, from Lively, Ont., and Balmertown, Ont., collected a pairs’ record sixth national title with 227.23 points. Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto were second at 208.24 and Kirsten-Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., third at 198.74.

‘’There were some small mistakes but it didn’t take away from the overall performance of the program,’’ said Radford. ‘’It’s actually the perfect kind of skate we want to have at this point in the season and especially after that rough skate at the Grand Prix Final (in December)’’.

In men’s competition, Chan, from Toronto, equalled the mark for most national titles with his ninth earning 296.86. Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., was second at 255.77 and Nam Nguyen of Toronto third at 240.60.

In women’s competition, Osmond, fromMarystown, N.L., survived two falls to win the gold medal with 219.66 points. Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., took the silver with 211.09 and defending champion Alaine Chatrand of Prescott, Ont., was third at 182.07.

‘’I was so nervous,’’ said Osmond, with her third career national crown. ‘’I didn’t deliver the program that I wanted but I’m super happy with the result. This third win feels so much better. I may have taken the first two for granted. I’m going to enjoy this as much as I can and get ready for worlds.’’

In ice dancing, Virtue and Moir, from London, Ont., and Ilderton, Ont., dominated with 203.15. Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., were second at 192.73 and Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto third at 189.68.

‘’That was a big program for us,’’ said Moir, now with seven national titles with Virtue. ‘’It’s always special to get a Canadian title. Tessa and I were proud of both our performances here. It’s a huge step for us as we build for the world championships.’’

Full results: 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships Results

SKATE CANADA NAMES TEAMS FOR 2017 ISU CHAMPIONSHIPS

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OTTAWA, ON: At the conclusion of the senior events at 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, Skate Canada named the teams for three upcoming ISU Championships. The championships took place in Ottawa, Ont., from January 16-22 at TD Place.

2017 ISU WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Helsinki Finland, March 29 – April 2, 2017

MEN
Patrick Chan
Kevin Reynolds

WOMEN
Kaetlyn Osmond
Gabrielle Daleman

PAIR
Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford
Lubov Ilyushechkina & Dylan Moscovitch
Julianne Séguin & Charlie Bilodeau

ICE DANCE
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje
Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier

2017 ISU FOUR CONTINENTS FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gangneung, South Korea – February 14-19 ,2017

MEN
Patrick Chan
Kevin Reynolds
Nam Nguyen

WOMEN
Kaetlyn Osmond
Gabrielle Daleman
Alaine Chartrand

PAIR
Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford
Lubov Ilyushechkina & Dylan Moscovitch
Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro

ICE DANCE
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje
Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier

2017 ISU JUNIOR WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Taipei City, Chinese Taipei – March 15-19, 2017

MEN
Nicolas Nadeau
Roman Sadovsky
Conrad Orzel

WOMEN
Sarah Tamura

PAIR
Evelyn Walsh & Trennt Michaud
Lori-Ann Matte & Thierry Ferland

ICE DANCE
Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha
Ashlynne Stairs & Lee Royer

National records for Osmond and Virtue/Moir at 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA – Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L., and ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir broke Canadian records in their respective short programs Friday at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

In women’s competition, Osmond landed three triple jumps, including two in her opening combo, and earned a Canadian record 81.01 points. Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., is second after collecting 75.04 and defending champion Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., is third 67.41 points.

‘’The crowd was phenomenal, I’m glad they enjoyed it as much as I did,’’ said Osmond. ‘’I was able to get a clean program and enjoy every moment of it. The short program is one that’s been given me confidence all season long.’’

In ice dancing, 2010 Olympic champions Tessa Scott of London, Ont., and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., topped the field after the short dance with a Canadian record 84.36. Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., are second at 78.92 just ahead of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto in third at 78.15.

“Every competition is different and this is a special part of our journey because we decided to come back (to competition),” said Moir, who returned to competition this season with his partner after a two-year absence. “This is on our shoulders. We have a different perspective, but the pressure seems to be higher. But we kind of welcome that.”

In the pairs short, two-time world champions Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., tabulated 80.72. Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto are second at 72.19 and Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., are third at 70.69.

‘’This is a moment to savour for us,’’ said Duhamel. ‘’We came here to nail that short program and we did that. I was hoping to come here and find some balance with the program and I did.’’

In the men’s short program, eight-time Canadian champion Patrick Chan of Toronto is first at 91.50, Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., second at 81.76 and Elladj Baldé of Pierrefonds, Que., third at 77.45.

All four free skates are on Saturday.

Full results: 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships Results

Decisive women’s junior win for Aurora Cotop at 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA – Aurora Cotop of Richmond Hill, Ont., won the women’s junior gold medal on Thursday at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

Cotop, the national novice champion last year, tabulated 163.11 points for the victory. Emily Bausback of Vancouver took the silver at 151.52 and Alison Schumacher of Windsor, Ont., was third at 150.17.

‘’Unbelievable,’’ said Cotop after her win. ‘’This season has been difficult for me with my performances. I have had trouble finding my knees. However, tonight I just didn’t worry about the placement and just showed everyone what I could do.’’

In men’s junior competition, Stephen Gogolev of Toronto won the gold medal with Conrad Orzel of Woodridge, Ont., second and Samuel Turcotte of Varennes, Que., third.

“In the beginning, it was a bit shaky,” said Gogolev, who fell on a triple during the first minute of his program. “Then, as I went through the first three jumps, I kind of got used to it and it got much easier later in the program.”

In junior pairs, Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Trenton, Ont., were the winners with 155.73. Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Lévis, Que., followed at 141.33 and Olivia Boys-Eddy and Mackenzie Boys-Eddy of Brampton, Ont., were third at 122.53.

‘’We still have things to work on but it feels pretty great to get the win,’’ said Walsh. ‘’We worked as a team and kept the performance sharp. We still have our sights on landing a triple twist in both the short and long programs and cracking 100 points for the free skate.’’

Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of Greenfield Park, Que., won the junior ice dance title on Tuesday.

In novice competition, the champions were: Corey Circelli of Toronto in men’s singles, Catherine Carle of Milton, Ont., in women’s singles, Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell of Toronto in ice dancing and Chloé Panetta of Acton Vale, Que., and Steven Lapointe of Laval in pairs.

Senior competition gets underway Friday with the short programs in all four events.

Full results: 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships Results

Vancouver to host 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA, ON: The 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championship will head to the west coast as Vancouver, B.C., will host the momentous championships at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from January 8-14, 2018. The 2018 event will serve as a qualification event for the team that will compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea later that same year.

“Vancouver holds a special place in skating fans’ hearts. It is where we saw Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win the first ever Olympic gold for Canada in ice dance and the home province of so many great skaters,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “We are thankful for the support of our title partner, Canadian Tire. Their commitment to figure skating in Canada sets our skaters up for success domestically and internationally. We know Vancouver will be a fabulous host for this important championships. The dedication of the community, volunteers, and fans will be critical to the execution of the event and we are looking forward to a very exciting competition in Vancouver next January.”

The pre-eminent all-Canadian sporting event will feature approximately 250 skaters in the men, women, pair, and ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior, and novice. Athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, 2018 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 2018 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

“Figure Skating was extremely successful here when we hosted the 2010 Olympic Games and we are so thrilled to bring another world-class skating competition back to Vancouver,” exclaimed Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver. “We have a rich history of hosting skating events and are sure that the 2018 National Championship will bring together our whole city in celebration once again.”

This will be Vancouver’s sixth time hosting the national championships. Most recently they hosted the event a decade ago in 2008. They also hosted in 1997, 1973, 1968 and 1951. The city has also hosted several international figure skating events: the 2009 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, 2001 & 1960 ISU World Figure Skating Championships and the 1978 Skate Canada International.

“UBC is thrilled to host the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, and we are confident that our 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy venue will be a spectacular theatre to showcase the sport to spectators and fans across the country. It is an honour to host such an vital event in the lead up to the 2018 Olympics, and together with our partners, UBC is ready to welcome Canada’s best athletes, their fans and all visitors to our beautiful city and campus.” – Kavie Toor – Senior Director, Facilities, Recreation and Sport Partnerships

Ticket information for the championships will be available shortly. Register at www.sc3staging.skatecanada.ca for ticket sale notifications.

EVENT HASHTAGS
#CTNSC18 (English)
#CNPCT18 (French)

Lajoie and Lagha win first junior title at 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA – Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of Greenfield Park, Que., won the junior ice dance title on Tuesday at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships being held this week at TD Place.

Lajoie and Lagha totalled 153.55 points with Ashlynne Stairs of Calgary and Lee Royer of St. Albert, Alta., second at 139.63 and Danielle Wu and Nik Mirzakhani of Burnaby, B.C., third at 133.98.

‘’This is a great accomplishment for us,’’ said Lajoie, who competed at the world junior championships last winter with her partner. ‘’We are super happy.’’

The couple, runners-up last year, are in their sixth season together.

‘’So far we’ve accomplished a lot in our career and we want to keep that progress going,’’ said Lagha.

Corey Circelli, Catherine Carle and ice dancers Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell all won novice titles on Tuesday

In men’s competition, Circelli, of Toronto, took the gold with 139.27 points. Dawson Nodwell of Calgary was second at 132.67 and Alistair Lam of Hamilton, Ont., was third at 127.75.

‘’It feels amazing to get the gold,’’ said Circelli, who also competed in the ice dancing event. ‘’I have trained so hard this year. It was very satisfying when I finished and it went so well.’’

In women’s competition, Carle, from Milton, Ont., earned 133.73 points for the victory. Emma Bulawka of Edmonton followed at 122.68 and Élodie Adsuar of Greenfield Park, Que., was third at 119.96.

‘’It feels good because all my hard work has paid off,’’ said Carle, the pre-novice national champion last year. ‘’I kept calm and kept training hard this season.’’

In ice dancing, D’Alessandro and Waddell, of Toronto, totalled 90.49 for top spot. Jade McCue and Gabriel Clemente of Brampton, Ont., had 80.48 for second and Jessica Lee-Behiel and Jackson Behiel of Calgary were third at 83.20.

‘’We had a lot of fun here,’’ said Waddell. ‘’Our goal was to win and we came out and did it.’’

The couple were pre-novice Canadian champions last winter.

‘’This season we worked a lot on our speed and going out there and having fun every day in practice,’’ added D’Alessandro.

Competition continues Wednesday with junior free skates and the novice pairs free skate. The senior competition gets underway Friday.

Full results: 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships Results

Séguin & Bilodeau withdraw from the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA, ON: Julianne Séguin, 20, Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau, 23, Trois-Pistoles, Que., have withdrawn from the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships due to injury. They were scheduled to compete in the senior pair category.

“Julianne sustained a concussion for which she has been receiving care, and which has been improving.

She has been able to resume practices, but has not yet been cleared to return to full practices or competition. Her progress has been on track, and is expected to continue,” explained Dr. Tatiana Jevremovic, Skate Canada, Chief Medical Advisor.

Séguin sustained the concussion in late December. The team will still be in consideration for the 2017 ISU championships.

The Nation’s Top Skaters in Ottawa for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA, ON: Canadian figure skaters will kick-off Ottawa’s year-long celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday with the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. The event will take place in Ottawa, Ontario at The Arena at TD Place from January 16-22, 2017. The pre-eminent all-Canadian sporting event will feature approximately 250 skaters in the men, women, pairs, and ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior, and novice.

“We are thrilled to be back in Ottawa for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. The championships will kick off the yearlong celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday and we are proud to be the first major sporting event to take place in Ottawa in 2017,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Fans in Ottawa will get to see the best skating our great nation has to offer and we hope the community will be inspired to embrace the joy of skating this winter.”

Ottawa hosted the very first National Skating Championships in 1914 as well as in 1922, 1925, 1929, 1935, 1940, 1949, 1953, 1958, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2014. The 2017 event will be 15th time that Ottawa will have hosted the largest gathering of Canadian skating talent.

“At Canadian Tire, we believe in the power of sport to unite families, communities and the nation,” said Allan MacDonald, President, Canadian Tire Retail. “We are proud to return to Ottawa as title sponsor of the National Skating Championships and to support Canada’s top skaters as they help inspire the next generation of young skating hopefuls.”

The week long competition will begin with the novice ice dance on Monday, January 16 and the senior events will begin on Friday, January 20. Athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2017 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 2017 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Three-time world champion Patrick Chan will lead the excitement in the men’s category as he looks to claim his ninth Canadian title, which will see him tie the all-time record with Montgomery Wilson.

In the pair discipline, two-time world champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford will look to capture their sixth consecutive Canadian title, while facing off against the youthful team of Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau who saw success on the international circuit this season.

In women’s, Alaine Chartrand will defend her 2016 Canadian title in front of a hometown crowd. She will be up against previous Canadian champions Gabrielle Daleman and Kaetlyn Osmond, who will both be looking to recapture the title.

In ice dance,  Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the Canadian favourites, return to competition after a two season hiatus. They look to capture their seventh national title, but will face tough competition from two-time defending Canadian champions Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje.

Fans will get to see emerging talent in the junior and novice categories earlier in the week as they look to make their mark on the national stage. For full entries and the event start orders please click here. In addition to the competing skaters, Kurt Browning, one of the most popular and charismatic figure skaters in Canadian history, is back with Skate Canada as the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships’ Athlete Ambassador. During the week of the championships, Browning will handle speaking engagements, media interviews, make appearances on behalf of the competing athletes, and of course, make time for his fans.

The Skate Canada School Program will add some extra enthusiasm to the rink. Approximately 800 Ottawa area kids from grades three to five will have the opportunity to participate in a free session to watch and learn about the sport during the senior practices on Thursday, January 19. This initiative is part of Skate Canada’s vision to help youth develop a love for skating and encourage them to get active at their local skating club.

A special ceremony to honour coach Richard Gauthier, one of the most respected pair coaches in the world for more than three decades, will take place on Sunday, January 22, in conjunction with the Gala. Gauthier will take his place in the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in the professional discipline.

TICKETS Single event ticket prices for the senior short programs are priced at $25, $35 and $45. Prices for the senior free programs and gala are priced at $30, $40 and $50. All tickets are subject to applicable surcharges.

Tickets can be purchased online at TDPlace.ca, by phone at 1-877-489-2849 or 613-232-6767, or in person at The Box Office at TD Place.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook Skate Canada / Patinage Canada

Twitter @SkateCanada

Instagram skate_canada

YouTube SkateCanada PatinageCanada 

EVENT HASHTAGS

#CTNSC17 (English)

#CNPCT17 (French)

Media who have not already applied for accreditation are asked to contact Emma Bowie, Communications Manager. She will be the onsite media contact at the event and can be reached at 613-914-2607 or at [email protected].

Kurt Browning to act as Athlete Ambassador for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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OTTAWA, ON: Four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, 50, of Caroline, Alberta is making his return to the competitive landscape, as the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships Athlete Ambassador. Browning will represent his fellow athletes during the event by participating in public appearances, media interviews and in-venue fan activities.

The event will take place in Ottawa, Ontario at The Arena at TD Place from January 16-22, 2017. The championships will be the first sporting event in Ottawa’s year-long celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.

“I am excited to be back at the national championships and proud to represent the over 250 skaters that will compete during the week-long event. Having competed at these championships several times over my career I am well aware of the training it takes to make it and the pressure they will feel when they step onto the ice,” said Browning. “I am wishing every skater the best of luck and am honoured to represent them in my role as athlete ambassador.”

As an athlete, Browning has competed at the national championships in senior eight times. He medalled at seven of his appearances, winning four golds (1993, 1991, 1990, 1989) and three silver (1994, 1988, 1987) medals.

“We are delighted to have Kurt as our athlete ambassador. He brings a passionate energy everywhere he goes and we know the fans in Ottawa are going to get to experience his vigor during the championships,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada.

Browning was the first athlete ever to complete a quadruple jump in World competition, forever changing the face of men’s figure skating. His unparalleled success and style earned him legions of fans around the world and many honours, including the prestigious Order of Canada in 1989.

Browning will act as the Athlete Ambassador over the course of the seven-day championships in Ottawa.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets can be purchased online at TDPlace.ca, or by phone at 1-877-489-2849 or 613-232-6767 or in person at the box office at TD Place.

EVENT INFO

The pre-eminent all-Canadian sporting event will feature approximately 250 skaters in the men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior, and novice. Athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2017 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 2017 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Ottawa hosted the very first National Skating Championships in 1914 as well as in 1922, 1925, 1929, 1935, 1940, 1949, 1953, 1958, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2014. The 2017 event will be 15th time that Ottawa will have hosted the largest gathering of Canadian skating talent.

 

Skate Canada Releases Ticketing Information for 2017 Events

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is pleased to release complete ticketing information for the rest of the 2016-2017 skating season. Three competitions will round out the events taking place in Canada for the 2016-2017 skating season, beginning January 16th with the Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships, hosted in Ottawa.

Below is a complete list of event dates, locations and ticketing information:

2017 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships

January 16 – 22, 2017,

Ottawa, Ontario – TD Place Arena

Ticket Info:  Single event ticket prices for the senior short programs are priced at $25, $35 and $45. Prices for the senior free programs and gala are priced at $30, $40 and $50. All tickets are subject to applicable surcharges.

Tickets can be purchased online at TDPlace.ca, or by phone at 1-877-489-2849 or 613-232-6767 or in person at the Box Office at TD Place (1015 Bank St, Ottawa, ON).

2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

February 24 – 26, 2017

Calgary, AB – WinSports Markin MacPhail Centre

Ticket Info:  All event tickets are $50 and $25 for children ages 5-14. Children under four years of age are free. Day passes are $22 and $10 for children. All tickets are general admission and will have applicable taxes and service charges.

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.  Walk up tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the events at the Winsport Box Office (88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary, AB).

2017 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships

March 10 – 11, 2017

Mississauga, ON – Hershey Centre

Ticket Info:  All event tickets are $90 and $60 for children ages 5-14. All event ticket holders will receive a complimentary souvenir championship program and an event pin (added value of $15). Children under 4 years of age are free. Short program prices are $50 ($30 for children). Free programs are $60 ($40 for children). All tickets will have applicable taxes and service charges.

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000 or in person at Hershey Centre Box Office (5500 Rose Cherry Pl, Mississauga, ON). Groups of 25 or more can order through group order form found at sc3staging.skatecanada.ca.

 

2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships: Tickets on sale now!

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CALGARY, AB: Tickets for the 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will go on sale Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (MT). The event will take place from February 24-26, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta at The WinSport Arena at the Markin MacPhail Centre.

All event tickets are $50 and $25 for children ages 5-14. Children under four years of age are free. Day passes are $22 and $10 for children. All tickets are general admission and will have applicable taxes and service charges.

Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.  Walk up tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the events at the Winsport box office.

The 2017 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will bring approximately 40 teams and over 800 skaters from across the country to Calgary. The city and facility last hosted this event in 2013.

Teams will compete for national titles in the senior, junior, open, intermediate and novice categories. The top two senior teams will represent Canada at the 2017 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.

Olympians Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam Retire from Competitive Skating

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OTTAWA, ON: Six-time national team members Alexandra Paul, 25, Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam, 26, Barrie, Ont., have decided to retire from competitive figure skating. The ice dance duo have been staples on the Canadian dance scene for over eight seasons. Paul and Islam represented Canada at the highest level of competition, competing at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia and at the world championships in 2014 and 2015.

“Skating has given me so many amazing life experiences, friendships, and opportunities I will never forget. I would like to thank our families, Skate Canada, COS, and our fans for always supporting our dreams and helping to make them a reality,” said Paul. “It is with sadness that we leave the sport that we love, but we look ahead with open arms to whatever the future may hold.”

Islam added, “It has been an absolute privilege competing around the world wearing the Canadian flag. We are so grateful for the unwavering support we’ve received from Skate Canada, COS, our fans and our families. We’d like to thank the incredible people we were fortunate enough to work with in Montreal, Michigan and Barrie. Skating taught us lessons that will serve us for the rest of our lives and given us experiences and friendships we will cherish forever. We leave the competitive side of the sport with nothing but joy and excitement for the future.”

Paul and Islam teamed up in 2009 and found success at the 2010 national championships, winning the junior ice dance title. They went on to win the silver medal the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships that same year.

“Alex and Mitch have been prominent members of our national team for many years. They have represented Canada proudly on the international stage and have been great ambassadors for the sport,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “We wish Alex and Mitch the best of luck with their future endeavors.”

During their senior career they won bronze at the national championships in 2011, 2014 and 2015. Internationally they medalled four times, most recently winning bronze at the 2016 U.S. Classic International.

Paul and Islam are returning to Michigan in January to finish their degrees, they are both majoring in political science and both have plans to continue their education with post-graduate studies. They will stay involved with skating by helping out with the ice dance program in Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.