Canadian Skaters in France for First Event of 2016-2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Circuit

Skate Canada – Canadian Skaters in France for First Event of 2016-2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Circuit

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send five skaters, for a total of four entries to St. Gervais, France, for the first stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Canada will have two entries in men’s, one entry in ladies, and one entry in ice dance at the competition which will run from August 24-28, 2016. There will be no pair competition at the event.

Conrad Orzel, 16, Woodbridge, Ont., is the first of two Canadian entries in men’s. This will be his first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Last season he placed fifth in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and won the bronze medal in the junior category at the 2016 Coupe de Printemps. He is coached by Eva Najarro at the YRSA Winter Club.

Eric Liu, 15, Edmonton, Alta., will also represent Canada in men’s, and will also be competing at his first ISU Junior Grand Prix Assignment. Last season he placed seventh in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Ravi Walia at Ice Palace FSC.

Olivia Gran, 13, Kelowna, B.C., will be the sole Canadian entry in ladies. This is will be her first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment. Last season, she won the silver medal in the novice category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. She is coached by Karen and Jason Mongrain at Kelowna SC.

Ashlynne Stairs, 16, Calgary, Alta., and Lee Royer, 18, St. Albert, Alta., will represent Canada in ice dance. Last season, they placed eighth at both of their ISU Junior Grand Prix assignments (U.S.A. and Austria). They also placed 12^th in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Stairs and Royer are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe at the Champs International Skating Centre.

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director, and Manon Perron of Boucherville, Que., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event, and physiotherapist Siobhan Karam of Ottawa, Ont., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Lorna Schroder of Georgetown, Ont., and Ron Conacher of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #1 – St. Gervais, France