Five members of the Connaught Skating Club are representing B.C. at this week’s Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Kingston, ON.
The Richmond-based contingent is headed by Mitchell Gordon who will be competing for the third time at the senior men’s level.
The 18-year-old is coming off a second place performance at last month’s Skate Canada Challenge in Pierrefonds, Que. He was fourth after his short program, then had the second best free skate of the 19 competitors to jump into the silver medal position.
After winning the Canadian junior title in 2012, Gordon was seventh in his senior debut and 11th last year. This time, he hopes to be back in the top eight.
“That would be a reasonable result for him,” said his longtime coach and Connaught director of programs Keegan Murphy. “The number he ends up with this year is not the biggest impact. It’s what is he going to do with it over the next two years. It’s the start of a new Olympic cycle and there is no real pressure. It’s going to be an interesting nationals in all disciplines because of that.
“Mitchell is happy, healthy and dealing with his post-secondary studies really well. It’s and important transition year for him.”
Also competing at the senior men’s level is Garrett Gosselin, a native of Saskatchewan who came to Connaught just over a year ago. He was eighth at Skate Challenge and has finished 10th at the previous two nationals.
Jessica McHugh and Elvie Carroll will be making their national debuts in Novice Women’s after finishing 13th and 15th respectively in Quebec. Junior men’s competitor Shawn Cuevas secured his spot with an eighth place finish.
“Jessica was fortunate to get out of (B.C./Yukon) Sectionals and Elvie really had to fight her way back (with a strong free skate) at Challenge to get to nationals,” added Murphy. “Both have done great work to get to their first nationals and top 10 is a very reasonable goal for both of them.
“It’s important for Garrett to get into the top 10 (for the first time) too. Shawn is aiming for a top five or six and had a fantastic performance at Challenge.”
The Senior Men’s and Ladies short and long programs will be televised Friday and Saturday respectively on TSN.
Besides getting their skaters ready for major competitions, the club is busy preparing for the Karen Magnussen Tribute Benefit Show, slated for March 14 (6 p.m.) at Minoru Arenas’ stadium rink.
The event, produced by Connaught’s own Aundrea Feltham, Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy, is a fundraiser for the former international skating star who won silver at the 1972 Winter Olympic Games.
The five-time Canadian champion and 1973 world champion went on to headline for Ice Capades before turning to a career in coaching based out of the North Shore Winter Club. That changed dramatically in 2011 when an ammonia leak at that club resulted in Magnussen suffering serious damage to her lungs. The 62-year-old has not been able to coach since.
“I skated many, many years ago, and this is a woman that I watched and idolized,” said Feltham. “So, here I am some 40 years later with the great honour of planning an event that will help her in this time of need. We are going to make this event one that will not soon be forgotten.”
Tickets for the Karen Magnussen benefit show can be purchased through the club website at connaughtsc.com or at the door.
