Richmond, British Columbia, ready to host fourth stop of 2018 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit

RICHMOND, B.C.: The City of Richmond, British Columbia, is set to welcome athletes from across the world for the fourth stop on the 2018-2019 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Skate Canada will send 12 entries, for a total of 18 skaters to the event taking place at the Minoru Arenas from September 12-15, 2018. Canada will have three entries per discipline in men, women, pairs and ice dance.

Stephen Gogolev, 13, Toronto, Ont., is the first of three Canadian entries in the men’s discipline. Gogolev won the gold medal at his first ISU Junior Grand Prix last month in Slovakia. He is coached by Brian Orser and Lee Barkell in Toronto, Ont.

Iliya Kovler, 15, Richmond Hill, Ont., is the second Canadian entry in men. Last season, he placed fourth in junior at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. In 2016, he placed 19^th at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Germany. He is coached by Andrei Berezintsev and Inga Zusev in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Beres Clements, 16, Richmond, B.C., will also represent Canada in the men’s discipline. Clements placed 12^th in Austria at his first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment of the season. He is coached by Joanne McLeod in Burnaby, B.C.

Canadian junior silver medallist Sarah-Maude Blanchard, 17, Sherbrooke, Que., is the first of three Canadian entries in junior women. This will be her first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. She trains in Sherbrooke, Que., with coaches Marie-Christine Grenier and Odrée Grenier.

Alison Schumacher, 15, Tecumseh, Ont., will also represent Canada in the women’s category. Schumacher placed ninth at her first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment of the season in Slovakia. She is coached by Lee Barkell in Toronto, Ont.

Hannah Dawson, 17, Vankleek Hill, Ont., will round out the Canadian women entries. Last season, she placed 15^th in the junior women’s category at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Dawson is coached by Annie Barabé in Varennes, Que.

Canadian junior silver medallists Patricia Andrew, 13, London, Ont., and Paxton Fletcher, 19, Rodney, Ont., are the first of three Canadian pairs entries at the event. They placed fourth at their first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment in Slovakia earlier this season. Andrew and Fletcher are coached by Alison Purkiss in Brantford, Ont.

Canadian novice bronze medallists Camille Perreault, 14, Orford, Que., and Bryan Pierro, 18, Saint-Hubert, Que., will also represent Canada in pairs. This will be their first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. They train in Chambly, Que., with coach Marc-André Craig.

Also representing Canada in pairs are Chloé Panetta, 15, Laval, Que., and Benjamin Mimar, 17, Terrebonne, Que. This will be their first international assignment since teaming up in the offseason. Panetta and Mimar are coached by Richard Gauthier, Bruno Marcotte and Sylvie Fullum in Montreal, Que.

Two-time Canadian junior champions Marjorie Lajoie, 17, Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha, 19, Greenfield Park, Que., are the first of three Canadian ice dance entries. They duo who placed fourth at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in 2018 began their ISU Junior Grand Prix 2018-2019 season with a silver medal in Austria. They train in Montreal, Que., with coaches Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer and Pascal Denis.

Natalie D’Alessandro, 14, Toronto, Ont., and Bruce Waddell, 16, Toronto, Ont., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. They placed fourth at their first ISU Junior Grand Prix this season, in Austria. They are coached by Andrew Hallam and Siobhan Karam in Toronto, Ont.

Canadian novice silver medallists Miku Makita, 15, Anmore, B.C., and Tyler Gunara, 16, Burnaby, B.C., round out the Canadian ice dance entries at the event. This will be their first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. They are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe in Burnaby, B.C.

Annie Thibodeau of Montreal, Que., and David Schultz of Regina, Sask., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. Ed Pilat of Winnipeg, Man., and physiotherapist Sylvia Ciurysek of Berwyn, Alta., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Susan Blatz of Burlington, Ont., Andrew Bosco of Thorold, Ont., Pam Chislett of Grand Prairie, Alta., and Patty Klein of Mt. Royal, Que., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org. All events on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit will be livestreamed on the ISU Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #4 – RICHMOND, CANADA