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Canadian ice dancers take bronze at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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BOLZANO, Italy – Ice dancers Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio of Laval, Que., reached new heights on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit on Friday winning the bronze medal.

Russian couples were 1-2 with Arina Ushakova and Maxim Nekrasov  first with 149.01 points and Sofia Polischuk and Alexander Vakhnov second at 146.78.

Fabbri and Pietrantonio followed at 136.01 for their best career result on the circuit in four appearances. They were just ahead of Ellie Fisher of Lower Coverdale, N.B., and Simon-Pierre Malette-Paquette of Laval in fourth at 133.38.

‘’We gave everything we got,’’ said Fabbri. ‘’We are so pleased to get our first medal. After our first Grand Prix this year we really worked on the areas that we needed to improve.’’

After struggling earlier in the week in practice, Pietrantonio said the skating improved.

“We just got better everyday and when the competition started we were ready,’’ he said. ‘’Third place never felt like a win before. We’re proud of this one.’’

Fisher and Malette-Paquette improved their overall score by 11 points and gained a spot in the standings on their performance earlier this season in Croatia.

“We trained hard and saw the improvement,’’ said Fisher. ‘’We were more confident and skated a lot better element-wise.’’

Being close to a medal heading into the free dance didn’t change their approach.

‘’We kept our game plan,’’ said Malette-Paquette. ‘’We wanted to be aggressive and perform like we know we can.’’

Meanwhile Alison Shumacher of Toronto is eight after the women’s short program and Eric Liu of Edmonton is 13th after the men’s short.

The men’s and women’s free skates are Saturday.

Full results: ISU JGP Egna/Neumarkt 2017

Canadian ice dancers crack top-five at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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RIGA, Latvia – Ice dancers Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio of Laval, Que., placed fifth Saturday at the third stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit.

Russians were 1-2. Sofia Schevchenko and Igor Eremenko took the gold with 140.91 points and Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov won silver with 139.83. Caroline Green and Gordon Green of the U.S. were third at 124.58.

Fabbri and Pietrantonio, in their third career Junior Grand Prix, were fourth after the short program. They produced the sixth best free skate performed to Moulin Rouge soundtrack selections to wind up fifth at 119.67.

Valerie Taillefer of Montreal and Jason Chan of St. Laurent, Que., climbed from ninth to eighth with the seventh best free dance.

In men’s competition, Corey Circelli of Vaughan, Ont., tumbled to 14th spot after placing seventh in the short. Mitsuki  Sumoto of Japan was the winner.

On Friday, Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Strathroy, Ont., won the bronze medal in pairs.

The fourth stop is in two weeks in Belarus.

Full results: ISU JGP Riga Cup 2017.

Canadian juniors travel to Dresden for final event of ISU Junior Grand Prix

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send seven entries, for a total of eleven skaters to Dresden, Germany, for the final event of the 2016-2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit. Canada will send two entries per discipline in men’s, pair and ice dance, and one entry in ladies to the competition taking place from October 5-9, 2016.

Conrad Orzel, 16, Woodbridge, Ont., finished fourth in St. Gervais, France at the first event of the 2016 season, which also marked his debut on the junior circuit. Orzel also placed fourth at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior category, and third in the junior category of the 2016 Coupe de Printemps. He is coached by Eva Najarro and trains in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Iliya Kovler, 13, Richmond Hill, Ont., is the second Canadian entry in men’s. Kovler earned his first international medal, a bronze, at the 2016 Autumn Classic International. Last season, he placed fourth in the novice category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Andrei Berezintsev in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Sarah Tamura, 15, Burnaby, B.C., will represent Canada as the lone female entry. Tamura will be competing in her second ISU Junior Grand Prix event of the season after finishing eighth in Slovenia. After capturing the 2016 Canadian junior title, Tamura earned a berth at the 2016 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, where she placed 13th. She is coached by Joanne McLeod in Burnaby, B.C.

Justine Brasseur, 15, Brossard, Que., and Mathieu Ostiguy, 19, Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Que, are one of two pairs representing Canada at the event. The pair finished eleventh at their first assignment of the season in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Last season on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, Brasseur and Ostiguy finished sixth in Latvia and fourth in Austria. The duo from Quebec also finished fourth in junior at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and placed seventh at the 2016 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Brasseur and Ostiguy train in Saint-Leonard, Que., and are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte.

Evelyn Walsh, 15, London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, 20, Strathroy, Ont., are the second Canadian pair competing in Germany. Earlier this season, the pair competed in their first Junior Grand Prix event together in Estonia and placed 11th. Walsh and Michaud are coached by Alison Purkiss and Margaret Purdy, and train in London, Ont.

Marjorie Lajoie, 15, Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha, 17, Greenfield Park, Que., are the first of two Canadian ice dance entries. They will be competing at their second ISU Junior Grand Prix event of the season, after finishing fourth at the event in Japan. Last season, Lajoie and Lagha claimed the silver medal in junior at the 2016 national championships and placed 13th at the 2016 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. The ice dancers train in Montreal, Que., with coaches Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer and Pascal Denis.

Alicia Fabbri, 13, Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio, 19, Laval, Que., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their second ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment, having placed fourth in Russia earlier this season. Last season, they won silver in the novice category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Fabbri and Pietrantonio are coached by Julien Lalonde, Mylène Girard and Lynn McKay.

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director, and Nathalie Martin of Montreal, Que., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. Erika Persson of Edmonton, Alta., and Karen Seymour of Toronto, Ont. will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Susan Morriss of Victoria, B.C., and Sylvain Guibord of Brossard, Que., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

The ISU will be live streaming the competition via the ISU Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel. For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #7 – Dresden, Germany

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Conrad Orzel 16 Woodbridge, Ont. York Region Skating Academy Eva Najarro
Mens Iliya Kovler 13 Richmond Hill, Ont. Richmond Hill FSC Andrei Berezintsev
Ladies Sarah Tamura 15 Burnaby, B.C. Champs International SC Joanne McLeod
Pairs Justine Brasseur / Mathieu Ostiguy 15/19 Brossard, Que. / Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Que. CPA Brossard / CPA Saint-Césaire Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte
Paris Evelyn Walsh / Trennt Michaud 15/20 London, Ont. / Strathroy, Ont. London SC / Prince Edward SC Alison Purkiss / Margaret Purdy
Ice Dance Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha 15/17 Boucherville, Que. / Greenfield Park, Que. CPA De Boucherville / CPA St. Lambert Marie-France Dubreuil / Patrice Lauzon / Romain Haguenauer / Pascal Denis
Ice Dance Alicia Fabbri / Claudio Pietrantonio 13/19 Terrebonne, Que. / Laval, Que. CPA Terrebonne / CPA Laval Julien Lalonde / Mylène Girard / Lynn McKay

Canadian pairs climb to fourth at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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SARANSK, Russia – Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Lévis, Que., climbed to a fourth place finish in pairs on Friday at the fourth stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Russians swept the podium with Anastasia Mishina and Vladislav Mirzoev first with 175.82 points. Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii were second at 152.57 and Ekaterina Borisov and Dmitry Sopot of Russia third at 150.76.

Matte and Ferland were fifth after the short program on Thursday but produced ghe fourth best free skate of the day to make a move in the final ranking. They were sixth at the second stop in Ostrava, the Czech Republic.

Jamie Knoblauch of Milton, Ont., and Cody Wong of Cambridge, Ont., were 10th.

There was another Russian victory in men’s competition as Alexander Samarin took the gold. Andrew Torgashev of the U.S. was second and Matyas Belohradsky of the Czech Republic was third.

Edrian Paul Celestino of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., also made an impressive climb up the standings going from 12th after the short program to ninth overall.

‘’After the long I’m very satisfied with how I performed,’’ said Celestino, 18. ‘’There were things I could improve but with the way came back in this long program I’m happy with myself. It’s a learning experience and I want to improve from now on.’’

In the short dance, Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio of Laval, Que., stand seventh.
The free dance is on Saturday. Canada has no entries in women’s competition.

Full results: ISU JGP Cup of Mordovia 2016

ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit continues as Team Canada heads to Russia

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OTTAWA, ON: Canada will have four entries, for a total of seven skaters at the fourth ISU Junior Grand Prix of the season, taking place in Saransk, Russia. Canada will have one entry per discipline in men’s and ice dance and two entries in pair at the event which takes place from September 14-18, 2016.
Canadian junior silver medallist Edrian Paul Celestino, 18, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., will represent Canada in men’s. Last season, he placed 13th at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Austria and fourth at the Autumn Classic International. The representative of Saint Laurent FSC is coached by Daniel Beland at the Dollard Civic Centre.

Lori-Ann Matte, 17, Lévis, Que., and Thierry Ferland, 19, Lévis, Que., are one of two Canadian pair entries at the event. Earlier this season, they placed sixth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the Czech Republic. Last season, they placed sixth at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the junior category. Matte and Ferland are coached by Martine Simard and represent CPA St. Romuald – St. Jean.

Canadian novice pair champions Jamie Knoblauch, 14, Milton, Ont., and Cody Wong, 21, Cambridge, Ont., are the second Canadian pair entry at the event. This will be their first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Knoblauch and Wong are coached by Kevin Wheeler and Laurence Collin-Knoblauch and represent Champs International SC and Preston FSC.

Alicia Fabbri, 13, Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio, 19, Laval, Que., are the Canadian entry in ice dance. Last season, they won silver in the novice category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Fabbri and Pietrantonio are coached by Julien Lalonde, Mylène Girard and Lynn McKay.

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director, will be the Canadian team leader. Dr. Erika Persson of Edmonton, Alta., and physiotherapist Sylvia Ciurysek of Berwyn, Alta., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Andrew Bosco of Thorold, Ont., and Karen Butcher of Nepean, Ont., are the Canadian officials at the event.

The ISU will be live streaming the competition via the ISU Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel. For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #4 – Saransk, Russia

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Edrian Paul Celestino 18 Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. Saint Laurent FSC Daniel Beland
Pair Lori-Ann Matte / Thierry Ferland 17/19 Lévis, Que. / Lévis, Que., CPA St. Romuald – St. Jean / CPA St. Romuald – St. Jean Martine Simard
Pair Jamie Knoblauch / Cody Wong 14/21 Milton, Ont. / Cambridge, Ont. Champs International SC & Preston FSC / Preston FSC Kevin Wheeler / Laurence Collin-Knoblauch
Ice Dance Alicia Fabbri / Claudio Pietrantonio 13/19 Terrebonne, Que. / Laval, Que. CPA Terrebonne / CPA Laval Julien Lalonde / Mylène Girard / Lynn McKay

Eleven-year-old wows crowd at 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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Novice Men Podium National Skating Championships 2016

Novice – Men

Novice Dance Podium National-Skating Championships 2016

Novice – Dance

HALIFAX – Eleven-year-old Stephen Gogolev of Toronto landed a triple Axel en route to the gold medal in men’s novice competition which concluded on Wednesday at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

Gogolev scored 142.30 to outdistance his nearest rival by more than 20 points. Matthew Markell of Prescott, Ont., took silver at 120.25 and Bruce Waddell of Toronto was third at 106.91.

‘’I felt more comfortable in the long program than the short,’’ said Gogolev, who is coached by Brian Orser. ‘’I just wanted to go out there and do my best for my first nationals.’’

Markell also delivered a personal best performance. ‘’There are some elements I know I could have done better but it is a great way to end the season,’’ he said.

Ontario skaters grabbed all four Canadian titles in novice.

In ice dancing, Olivia Han and Grayson Lochhead of Kitchener, Ont., took the gold with 90.26 points. Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Claudio Pietrantonio and Laval, Que., were second at 89.22 and Irina Galiyanova and Tommy Tang of Toronto were third at 87.50.

‘’It was pretty intense and lots of fun,’’ said Han. ‘’We are pretty proud of our performances.’’

Novice Pair Podium national skating championships 2016

Novice – Pair

Novice Women Podium National Skating Championships 2016

Novice – Women

In pairs, first-year teammates Jamie Knoblauch and Cody Wong of Milton, Ont., were the victors at 119.90. Katrina Lopez and Kurtis Schreiber of Calgary were second at 104.81 and Hannah Dawson of Hawkesbury, Ont., and Daniel Villeneuve of Sherbrooke, Que., were third at 103.50.

‘’We did exactly what we wanted,’’ said Wong. ‘’We had fun with it.’’

In women’s competition, Aurora Cotop of Thornhill, Ont., overcame a three point deficit after the short program to win gold with 123.85. Olivia Gran of Kelowna, B.C., the leader heading into the long, followed at 121.84 and Natalie D’Alessandro of Thornhill was third 117.56.

‘’For my free program I really wanted to just perform after getting the nerves out in the short,’’ said Cotop. ‘’I wanted to show what I could do.’’

Competition continues Thursday with the completion of the junior event.

The seniors go Friday and Saturday.

More information: 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships