Kelowna, B.C. set to host 2014 Skate Canada International

OTTAWA, ON: Many of the top figure skaters in the world will join Canada’s best for the 2014 Skate Canada International this week in Kelowna, B.C.  The event takes place October 30-November 2, 2014, at Prospera Place. Canada will send an 18-member team, led by world medalists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje in ice dance and Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford in pair.

Skate Canada International is the second of six competitions on the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit, which qualifies skaters for the ISU Grand Prix Final, taking place December 11-14 in Barcelona, Spain.

“The local fans, volunteers, businesses and the city of Kelowna have provided terrific support to stage the event here. Hosting this event across the country allows fans from different cities the opportunity to see many of our best skaters compete against a strong international field,” said Dan Thompson, CEO, Skate Canada. “We are so glad that everyone who loves to skate, especially young people who may just be learning, will be inspired to participate in skating because this event is being held in their community.”

“Congratulations to everyone at Skate Canada for bringing this exciting, prestigious competition to British Columbia,” said Premier Christy Clark, MLA for Westside-Kelowna. “In the heart of B.C.’s beautiful Okanagan, Kelowna will be a great host, welcoming many of the best figure skaters in the world and cheering Canada’s best. The Government of British Columbia is proud to provide $100,000 to help support 2014 Skate Canada International.”

Olympic silver medallists (team) and two-time world bronze medallists Meagan Duhamel, 28, Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford, 29, Balmertown, Ont., will lead the way for Canada in pair. The representatives of Walden FSC and CPA Saint-Léonard have previously won silver at this event in 2012 and bronze in 2011 and 2013. Earlier this season, the three-time Canadian champions won gold at the inaugural Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. Duhamel and Radford are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte at CPA Saint-Léonard.

Kirsten Moore-Towers, 22, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 22, Sarnia, Ont., will also represent Canada in pair. This will be the first international assignment for the representatives of Kitchener-Waterloo SC and Point Edward SC since teaming up in the off-season. Moore-Towers and Marinaro are coached by Kristy Wirtz and Kris Wirtz at the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club.

Brittany Jones, 18, Toronto, Ont., and Joshua Reagan, 24, Dallas, TX, USA, – Toronto, Ont., will be the third Canadian entry in pair. This will be their first event together on the ISU Grand Prix circuit. Jones and Reagan placed fourth at the 2014 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and seventh at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International this season on the ISU Challenger Series. They are coached by Kristy Wirtz and Kris Wirtz at the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club.

World silver medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 25, Waterloo, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 27, Waterloo, Ont., lead the Canadian entries in ice dance. They have previously won silver at this event in 2013 and 2011, and bronze in 2009. Earlier this season, the seven-time Canadian medallists won gold at the Nebelhorn trophy. Representing Sault FSC and Kitchener-Waterloo SC, Weaver and Poje are coached by Pasquale Camerlengo and Angelika Krylova in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Piper Gilles, 22, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 22, Unionville, Ont., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. They have previously placed fourth at this event in 2012. This season, the representatives of Scarboro FSC won silver at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. Gilles and Poirier are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs at Ice Dance Elite in Scarborough, Ont.

Élisabeth Paradis, 22, Loretteville, Que., and François-Xavier Ouellette, 22, Laval, Que., will also represent Canada in ice dance. This will be their third international assignment of the season, having placed fifth at the Nebelhorn Trophy, and fourth at Skate America. The representatives of CPA Loretteville and CPA Les Lames D’Argent De Laval Inc. are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon in Montreal, Que.

Liam Firus, 22, North Vancouver, B.C., is one of three Canadian entries in men’s. The representative of Vancouver SC placed 10th at this event in 2012. Earlier this season, the 2014 Olympian placed ninth at the Nebelhorn trophy. Firus is coached by Christy Krall in Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Elladj Baldé, 23, Pierrefonds, Que., is the second Canadian in the men’s category. Baldé has previously competed at this event placing 10th in 2011, and placing seventh in 2012 and 2013. Earlier this season, he placed fifth at the Nebelhorn trophy. Representing CPA Anjou Kinsmen, Baldé trains at the Detroit Skating Club with coaches Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen.

Andrei Rogozine, 21, Newmarket, Ont., will round out the Canadian entries in men’s. Rogozine has previously competed at this event, placing seventh in 2011 and eighth in 2013. This will be the third international assignment of the season for the representative of Richmond Hill FSC, having placed sixth at the 2014 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and ninth at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. He is coached by Tom Zakrajsek and trains in Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Véronik Mallet, 20, Sept-Îles, Que., is one of three Canadian entries in ladies. Last season, the representative of CPA Sept-Îles placed eighth at this event. Earlier this season, she placed seventh at the Nebelhorn Trophy. She is coached by Annie Barabé and Maximin Coïa at CTC Contrecoeur.

Alaine Chartrand, 18, Prescott, Ont., will also represent Canada in the ladies category. This will be her first assignment on the ISU Senior Grand Prix circuit. Chartrand placed fourth earlier this season at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. She is coached by Michelle Leigh and Leonid Birinberg, and trains at the Nepean Skating Club.

Julianne Séguin, 17, Longueuil, Que., is the third Canadian entry in ladies. This will also be her first assignment on the ISU Senior Grand Prix circuit. Representing CPA Longueuil, Séguin won the bronze medal at her first event of the season, the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. Julianne is coached by Josée Picard and Marc-André Craig and trains in Chambly, Que.

Cynthia Ullmark, of Canmore, Alta., and Manon Perron of Boucherville, Que., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. Marni Wesner of Edmonton, Alta., and physiotherapist Agnes Makowski of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff.  Jodi Abbott of Edmonton, Alta., Karen Howard of Regina, Sask., Karen Butcher of Greely, Ont., and Jeff Lukasik of Calgary, Alta., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results please visit 2014 Skate Canada International.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2014 SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL