Nine of Manitoba’s Top Skaters Descend on Pierrefonds, Quebec to Compete in the 2017 Skate Canada Challenge
Skate Canada Manitoba – WINNIPEG, MB. – Nov. 21, 2016 – Skate Canada Manitoba is sending 9 skaters to Pierrefonds, Quebec to compete in the 2017 Skate Canada Challenge Competition, the skaters will be competing starting Wednesday, November 30 – Sunday, December 4th in Pre-Novice Women, Pre-Novice Men, Novice Women, Junior Women and Senior Women.
Approximately 500 skaters from across Canada will be competing in 16 categories; at the end of the weekend Skate Canada will crown the Pre-Novice Canadian Champion in each of the 4 disciplines (singles {women and men}, ice dance and pairs). Skaters in Novice, Junior and Senior will be vying for a berth to the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships January 16-22nd, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario.
Deidre Russell will be attending her 5th Skate Canada Challenge Competition representing Manitoba as a Senior 
Women. She hopes that she is successful in earning one of the spots to compete at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Championships in Ottawa, January 16-22, 2017.
The competition schedule, start orders and live streaming information is available at Skate Canada’s website www.skatecanada.ca
| Category | Name | Club | Coach |
| Pre-Novice Women | Julia Patenaude | Holland Figure Skating Club | Tammy McKay |
| Chanel Cabak | Portage Skating Club | Margo Russell | |
| Emma King | Skate Winnipeg | Margo Russell | |
| Alternate | Annika Duguay | Carberry Figure Skating Club | Tammy McKay |
| Pre-Novice Men | Yohnatan Elizarov | Skate Winnipeg | Margo Russell |
| Novice Women | Casey Bertholet | Hartney Figure Skating Club | Tammy McKay |
| Andrea Laskovic | Skate Winnipeg | Roni Swischuk | |
| Danae Russell | Skate Winnipeg | Margo Russell | |
| Junior Women | Lindsey Hopkins | Selkirk Skating Club | Michelle Hume |
| Senior Women | Deidre Russell | Skate Winnipeg | Margo Russell |
| Team Leaders | Michelle Magnusson | ||
| Mary Ellen McDonald |
For more information – contact Shauna Marling, Executive Directorskate.exec@sportmanitoba.ca or 204-925-5708 (W), Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Allan Gordon, Skate Canada Communications Coordinator. He will be the media contact at the event and can be reached onsite at 613.697.1354 or atagordon@skatecanada.ca