Twelve figure skaters named to Team BC for the Canada Winter Games

Burnaby, BC – Twelve B.C. Figure Skaters from seven clubs have qualified for the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Team BC will compete at the Games in Prince George this February. The athletes were named to the team following the conclusion of the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Kingston, Ontario last week.

Novice Dance Team, Ashlynne Stairs and Lee Royer (Burnaby), and Novice Woman, McKenna Colthorp(Kelowna) lead the team to the games after recently placing 4th in their categories in Kingston.

Olivia Gran (Kelowna) leads the Pre-Novice skaters to Prince George. Gran is considered a medal favorite after placing 5th in Pre-Novice Women at the Skate Canada Challenge event in December in Montreal.

Hometown Prince George athlete Justin Hampole has been named to the team in the Pre-Novice Mens event. Hampole is the first Northern athlete in recent history to be named to a Canada Winter Games Team BC Figure Skating Team.

The Canada Games are the premier multi-sport competition in the country. Twice every four years the provinces and territories come together for this two week event (Canada Summer and Winter Games). The 2015 Canada Winter Games are taking place from February 13 to March 1 in Prince George, BC. The Figure Skating competition takes place during the second week of the games.

Team BC is comprised of the following athletes (Athlete’s clubs and hometowns are in brackets):

Pre-Novice Women
Olivia Gran (Kelowna SC, Kelowna)
Alisa Lysenia (Oak Bay SC, Victoria)

Pre-Novice Men
Beres Clements (Connaught SC, Gibsons)
Justin Hampole (Northern BC Centre for Skating, Prince George)

Novice Women
McKenna Colthorp (Kelowna SC, Kelowna)
Ajsha Gorman (Kelowna SC, Kelowna)

Novice Men
Brian Le (Champs ISC, Delta)
Benjam Papp(Coquitlam SC, Burnaby)

Novice Dance
Ashlynne Stairs & Lee Royer(Champs ISC, Burnaby)

Novice Pairs
Tessa Jones & Matthew den Boer(Racquet Club of Victoria, Victoria)

For many athletes, the Canada Games are the stepping-stone to significant international competition. Past Games have featured future Olympians such as: Marianne St-Gelais (speed skating), Sidney Crosby (hockey), Eugenie Bouchard (tennis), Steve Nash (basketball), Brian Orser (figure skating) and Hayley Wickenheiser (hockey & softball).

For further information please contact:

Danielle Williams
Skate Canada (BC/Yukon)
(B) (604) 205-6960
email: Danielle@skatinginbc.com