Thirteen Laval skaters headed for Canadian championships

The Eastern Canada Challenge brought together competitors from Central Ontario, Québec and the Maritimes. In the novice category, Laval’s Maria Izzo (Club de patinage artistique Laval) and partner Maxime Thibault (CPA Les Etoiles d’Argent de Joliette) won the gold medal beating out Quebec duos Jessica Bourell-Sylvain Bouillero and Sara Jones-Jéremy Sandor.

Louis-Philippe Sirois of CPA Laval won gold in novice. Paul Poirier and Asher Hill of Central Ontario finished second and third. Samuel Morais of CPA Laval placed a strong fourth.

Ian Martinez became Eastern Canada’s junior champion edging out two other Quebecers, Jean-Simon Légaré and Elladjy Balde.

Amanda Rosa (Club Les Larmes d’Argent) scored substantial success with a silver in pre-novice. Vanessa Juteau (junior) and the junior couple of Amanda Velonesi and Mark Fernandez also won silver.

Christina Bourgeois (CPA Les Lames d’Argent) and partner Frédéric Allain took bronze in junior dance.

In addition to the medal winners, Amanda Velonesi (7th, junior), Samuel Morais (4th, novice), and Jean-Marie Yezilada-Karolyne Iza (6th, novice couple) and juvenile couple Chloé Larose-Benjamin Tidy (who previously qualified) will also be at the junior nationals.

Earlier in January (15th to the 21st) Vanessa Juteau, Ian Martinez, Amanda Velonesi-Mark Fernandez and Christine Bourgeois-Frederic Allain will represent Laval at the Senior Canadian Championships taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Also representing Laval (previously qualified) at these nationals will be Kevin Darwish, Michael Zatylny and Pierre-Philippe Joncas-Emilie Demers.

These Laval athletes will be on the same ice as elite skaters of national reputation such as Joanie Rochette, Marie-France Dubreuil, Jeff Buttle, Patrice Lauzon, Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin, Jessica Dubé, Bryce Davison, and Emmanuel Sandhu, since the junior and senior championships are being contested at the same time and place.

Some of the Laval skaters could very well end up on the Canadian National Team but it won’t be an easy task since only the top five finishers qualify.