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Canadian skaters kick off ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Season at Skate America

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send three entries, for a total of five skaters to the first event on this season’s ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, Skate America. Canada will have one entry per category in ladies, pair and ice dance. The competition is the first of six ISU Senior Grand Prix stops, and will take place from October 23-25, 2015, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Centre in Milwaukee, WI, USA.

Canadian silver medallist Alaine Chartrand, 19, Prescott, Ont., will be Canada’s entry in the ladies category. This will be her first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, she placed fourth at the Nebelhorn Trophy. Last season on the ISU Grand Prix circuit, she placed seventh at Skate Canada International and won bronze at the Rostelecom Cup. She also placed tenth at the 2015 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and 11th at the 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Chartrand is coached by Michelle Leigh and Brian Orser and represents the Nepean Skating Club.

Canadian bronze medallists Julianne Séguin, 18, Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau, 22, Trois-Pistoles, Que., will be the Canadian pair entry at the event. This will be their first assignment on the ISU Senior Grand prix circuit. Earlier this season, they placed fifth at the Nebelhorn Trophy on the ISU Challenger Series. Last season, they won gold at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, silver at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and placed eighth at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. They are coached by Josée Picard in Chambly, Que.

Canadian silver medallists Piper Gilles, 23, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 23, Unionville, Ont., will represent Canada in ice dance. This will be their first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, they won gold at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy. Last season, they won silver at Skate Canada International and Trophée Eric Bompard, placed fifth at the ISU Grand Prix Final, fourth at the Four Continents Championships and sixth at the World Championships. The representatives of Scarboro FSC are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs at Ice Dance Elite in Scarborough, Ont.

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, will be the Canadian team leader and physiotherapist Mike McMurray of Oak Bluff, Man., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Nicole Leblanc-Richard of Dieppe, N.B., and Lynne Dey of Edmonton, Alta., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2015 SKATE AMERICA

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Ladies Alaine Chartrand 19 Prescott, Ont. Nepean Skating Club Michelle Leigh / Brian Orser
Pair Julianne Séguin / Charlie Bilodeau 18/22 Longueuil, Que. / Trois-Pistoles, Que. CPA Longueuil / CPA Chambly Josée Picard
Ice Dance Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier 23/23 Toronto, Ont. / Unionville, Ont. Scarboro FSC / Scarboro FSC Carol Lane / Juris Razgulajevs