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Skate Canada Announces 2016-2017 National Team

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is pleased to announce the 2016-2017 National Team. The team is comprised of 28 senior members, which includes five men, five women, four pair teams and five ice dance teams.

To be named to the National Team a skater must finish in the top five in senior singles, pair and ice dance disciplines at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, or be added at the discretion of the Skate Canada. These skaters may be considered to represent Canada at international competitions.

Their appointment to the national team is effective from June 1, 2016 through to April 30, 2017. Skate Canada also announced the three teams that will make up the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating National Team.

MEN
Patrick Chan, 25, Toronto, Ont.
Liam Firus, 23, North Vancouver, B.C.
Kevin Reynolds, 25, Coquitlam, B.C.
Nam Nguyen, 18, Toronto, Ont.
Nicolas Nadeau, 18, Boisbriand, Que.

WOMEN
Alaine Chartrand, 20, Prescott, Ont.
Gabrielle Daleman, 18, Newmarket, Ont.
Kaetlyn Osmond, 20, Marystown, Nfld. & Sherwood Park, Alta.
Véronik Mallet, 22, Sept-Iles, Que.
Michelle Long, 24, Newmarket, Ont.

PAIR
Meagan Duhamel, 30, Lively, Ont. & Eric Radford, 31, Balmertown, Ont.
Julianne Séguin, 19, Longueuil, Que. & Charlie Bilodeau, 22, Trois-Pistoles, Que.
Lubov Ilyushechkina, 24, Moscow, Russia & Dylan Moscovitch, 31, Toronto, Ont.
Kirsten Moore-Towers, 24, St. Catharines, Ont. & Michael Marinaro, 24, Sarnia, Ont.

ICE DANCE
Kaitlyn Weaver, 27, Waterloo, Ont. & Andrew Poje, 29, Waterloo, Ont.
Piper Gilles, 24, Toronto, Ont. & Paul Poirier, 24, Unionville, Ont.
Élisabeth Paradis, 23, Loretteville, Que. & François-Xavier Ouellette, 23, Laval, Que.
Alexandra Paul, 24, Midhurst, Ont. & Mitchell Islam, 26, Barrie, Ont.
Tessa Virtue, 27, London, Ont. & Scott Moir, 28, Ilderton, Ont.

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING
Les Suprêmes, of CPA Saint-Léonard
NEXXICE, of the Burlington Skating Centre
Meraki, of the Leaside Skating Club

Les Suprêmes ends nine-year run for NEXXICE at Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

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WATERLOO, Ont. – NEXXICE’s nine-year winning streak at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships is over.

Quebec’s Les Suprêmes, who led the reigning world champions by almost five points following Saturday’s short program, scored 143.19 in their free program Sunday for a two-day total of 217.42. NEXXICE finished second with 212.59, and Central Ontario’s Meraki (171.23) earned bronze.

It is the third Canadian title for Les Suprêmes, and first since 2004.

Both Les Suprêmes and NEXXICE qualify for the 2016 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships being held April 8-9 in Budapest, Hungary. Last year at the world championships in Hamilton, Ont., NEXXICE claimed their second world crown while Les Suprêmes placed sixth.

“We’ve worked very hard for this,” said Les Suprêmes coach Pascal Denis. “NEXXICE is a team that was (at the top) for many years.

“We had two great skates. They skated well both days, so we’re very happy about that.”

“It feels amazing,” said Les Suprêmes co-captain Claudia Sforzin. “Our goal was to lay out two strong performances and focus on the things we can control. The result is just a bonus. It’s surreal.”

“We were both really happy with our performances,” added Laurie Desilets, the team’s other captain. “It’s just an incredible feeling.”

NEXXICE’s run of nine straight titles began in 2007 and two years later they became the first Canadian team to win the World Synchronized Skating Championships. On Saturday, that 2009 team was the first synchronized skating team inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame.

A day later, their record run was halted.

“The short program was not good, and it put us at a considerable disadvantage,” admitted NEXXICE coach Shelley Simonton Barnett.

“It was disappointing. The free was much stronger. It’s a very difficult program that’s developing, and there’s still more we can do with it.”

In the junior category, NEXXICE scored 168.00 to turn the tables and end Les Suprêmes’ own two-year national championship streak. Les Suprêmes’ (161.11) was second followed by Les Pirouettes (154.95).

Les Suprêmes went home with Novice gold with a total of 114.05 points, edging   NEXXICE (111.89) and Les Pirouettes (102.52).

Quebec-based teams ended up taking home gold in four of the five events in Waterloo.

On Saturday, NOVA claimed their sixth straight national Open title while Cassiopée were crowned Intermediate champions.

Canadian team wins bronze at Mozart Cup

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SALZBURG, Austria – Team Meraki from the Leaside Skating Club in Toronto won the bronze medal Saturday at the Mozart Cup synchronized skating figure skating competition.

Marigold Ice Unity from Finland was first with 19031 points, Miami University from the U.S. was second at 164.49 and Meraki followed at 151.21 out of 13 entries.

The Canadians were third after Friday’s short program and hung on to that position after the fourth best free skate of the day.

‘’The team is thrilled to have skated a solid free program,’’ said Meraki coach Cathy Dalton. ‘’The skaters are very proud to be on the podium at their first international this early in their skating career as Team Meraki, especially with Mozart Cup being one of the largest International competitions on the synchronized skating calendar this season.’’

This is the first international assignment for the 2015 Canadian bronze medallists. Meraki are coached by Cathy Dalton and Lyne Forget.

Canada has two entries at the event which features 52 teams from 15 countries, in senior, junior, and novice.

In junior competition, Les Pirouettes from Laval, Que.,also jad the fourth best free skate which allowed them to climb from sixth to fifth overall out of 19 teams They were just over four ppoints from third spot. Teams from Russia, USA and Finland were 1-2-3.

The three-time consecutive Canadian junior bronze medallists are coached by Nancy Alexander and Stéphanie Savoie. Les Pirouettes were third here last year and won gold in 2014.

More information: 2016 Mozart Cup

Canadian team third after short program at synchronized figure skating event

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SALZBURG, Austria – Team Meraki from the Leaside Skating Club in Toronto is in third place after Friday’s short program at the Mozart Cup synchronized skating figure skating competition.

Marigold Ice Unity from Finland is first with 64.52 points, Miami University from the U.S. is second at 58.10 and Meraki follows at 51.66 out of 13 entries.

‘’The team was delighted with their third place result for the short program,’’ said Meraki coach Cathy Dalton. ‘’They enjoyed the performance despite an unfortunate fall at the ending. They are very proud to represent Skate Canada and are looking forward to a solid free skate tomorrow.’’

This is the first international assignment for the 2015 Canadian bronze medallists. Meraki are coached by Dalton and Lyne Forget.

Canada has two entries at the event which features 52 teams from 15 countries, in senior, junior, and novice.

In junior competition, Les Pirouettes from Laval, Que., are sixth out of 19 teams after their short program but less than four points from third place. Teams from Finland, USA and Russia are 1-2-3.

Competition ends Saturday.

More information: 2016 Mozart Cup