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Connaught skaters competing at B.C. Yukon Sectionals

After months of training and a handful of preliminary competitions, it’s at last “go time” for Connaught Skating. The Richmond club has a contingent of skaters in Coquitlam this week for the B.C.
Mark Booth
skating
Connaught Skating Club members making their B.C./Yukon Section Championships debut this weekend include: Back row (L-R) — Avia Dobres, Michelle Wang, Catherine Yuen, Jamie Cheung, Mary-Jo Yun, Jennavieve Joa, Hanna Matsumoto, Ria Mesotopitis Samantha Yeung and Phoebe Yan. Front row (L-R) — Maho Harada, Ellie Chung, Wesley Chui, Liza Shepelev, Dorothy Yuen, Isabella Jin and Ciara Iorio.Mark Booth
After months of training and a handful of preliminary competitions, it’s at last “go time” for Connaught Skating.
The Richmond club has a contingent of skaters in Coquitlam this week for the B.C./Yukon Section Championships — the first official step in the road to nationals. Connaught Director of Programs Keegan Murphy suggests at least 10 of his skaters have a shot at being on the podium including Mitchell Gordon (Senior Men), Danica Vangsgaard (Novice Ladies), Phoebe Yan (Pre Novice Ladies), Wesley Chui (Juvenile Men) and Maho Harada (Pre Juvenile Ladies).
“We are very proud that we are not just producing championship calibre skaters at the higher end but right across the spectrum,” said Murphy. “We have contenders in every category. The future is there.”
The final tune-up for Sectionals was a competition in Chilliwack where the Connaught coaching staff felt their skaters performed to “90 percent” of their ability, setting themselves up to peak in Coquitlam.
Meanwhile, Gordon was back in Ontario making his senior men’s international debut at the Autumn Classic. He finished eighth overall in an impressive field that included reigning Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan.
“It’s a huge step going from junior to senior international, explained Murphy. “Mitchell gained a huge amount of experience at a totally different level of competition. “October was a very busy month for us and the kids worked very hard.”
The top four finishers in the Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior and Senior divisions at Sectionals will advance to the Western Challenge, slated for Dec. 2-6 in Edmonton.
Murphy added there is also a chance to move on via a wild card spot which is being offered for the first time.
“The B.C. skating standard is very high,” he said. “You could finish fifth or sixth and still have a high enough score to get to Westerns. It’s not all about placement but rather skating your personal best too.”
The top skaters from Westerns will move on to the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships slated for Jan. 18-24 in Halifax.