Junior Nationals 2006

Five teams from Ice Dance Elite qualified for Junior Nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick. Three placed top ten, and two came home with the gold.

Two months of rigorous training after Eastern Challenge, Olivia Martins and Simon Gagnon (Novice Dance), Lauren Peltier and Alvin Chau (Novice Dance), Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill (Pre-Novice Dance), Kelly Oliveira and Jordan Hockley (Juvenile Dance) and Joanna Salvagna and Marc-Andre Servant (Juvenile Dance), took a two and a half hour flight to Moncton, Very much prepared for the busy week of competitions that awaited them.

The first to compete were Kelly and Jordan and Joanna and Marc. They had an amazing performance after the compulsories. Kelly and Jordan were in second, and Joanna and Marc were in ninth. The next day, the two teams performed their very best Free Dances. Joanna and Marc pulled up to eighth place, and Kelly and Jordan received the gold medal. Congratulations to Joanna and Marc and Kelly and Jordan!

Kharis and Asher then competed their compulsories. They placed in third. They then performed their Free Dance with great energy and pulled up to first. Congratulations to Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill!

Now that already three of the teams had finished their events and done well, all the attention was focused on the two Novice Teams. After a well-executed set of compulsories, Olivia and Simon placed eleventh, and Lauren and Alvin were in tenth. The pressure was now on for them to perform their Free Dances without flaw, which they did. Lauren and Alvin remained tenth and Olivia and Simon pulled up to eighth. Congratulations to Lauren and Alvin and Olivia and Simon!

A special mention goes to Asher Hill and Paul Poirier who competed in Novice Men. Asher's program created a strong atmosphere in the rink and was one of the most beautiful programs to watch, while Paul impressed the crowd with his strong jumps. Asher ended up fourteenth and Paul, fifth.

The teams will remember all the good experiences and lessons they learned while competing. The best memories will also be of the COS/EOS team spirit, of new friendships formed and the hospitality of the people of New Brunswick, especially at CORA'S.

A big thanks is in order to the skater's parents for all their support and to the coaches, Carol, Jon, Juris and Donna who have led all of us skaters to Junior Nationals. And no one should forget to thank Schnappy for being our luck-bringing mascot!