By: Selin Ulugbay

This week, from February 28th to March 2nd , 2025, synchronized skating teams from all over Canada are travelling to Waterloo, Ontario to compete in the Skate Canada Cup, the third year for this prestigious event. As the national championships for Novice, Gold and Open Synchro, it is the capstone event for teams of this level as they compete for a chance at the national title. It represents a culmination of their hard work throughout the season after competing in the Synchro Series, which allowed them to qualify for the Skate Canada Cup, and now it’s their chance to show their skills and programs on the national stage.

Edge Gold. Photo Credit: Danielle Earl Photography.

Synchro skaters across Ontario are excited for this event. “We have been hard at work over the past few weeks, preparing to represent Ontario at the 2025 Skate Canada Cup,” says Megan Asquith from Gold Ice Gold. “It is incredible to see how far we have come this season and even more exciting continuing to challenge ourselves, strengthen our unison and build our character in our final practices of the season. Further, it is truly a remarkable experience training together as a team towards reaching one common goal of two confident and powerful performances in Waterloo.

The teams are all going into the Cup with goals and objectives.

Maeching Wilson from Gold Ice Novice says, “Our goal as a team is to have two clean skates and to get off the ice feeling satisfied. We do this by making sure we are skating one hundred percent every practice just like a competition, while making quick fixes when given. We work as a team by communicating at practices to make sure everything is running smoothly. At the end of the day, we come to practice hungry for more but when all is said and done, spending time together as a family is the best part about being on this team.”

Coaches equally see the value of the Canada Cup and have long been preparing their teams for this moment. Jennifer O’Brien, coach of EDGE Gold, says, “The Canada Cup is the opportunity to let the hard work pay off! It is not about the perfection…, it’s about the progress!” Jennifer encourages her teams to “Embrace the challenges that come…. This is an opportunity for extraordinary growth!”

16 teams are representing Team Ontario this year:

Novice

Gold Ice – Skate Canada Brampton-Chinguacousy

Synchronicity – London SC

Meraki – Leaside SC

NEXXICE – Burlington Skating Centre

EDGE – Skate Oakville

Ice Ignite – Ilderton SC

These Novice teams and their members are Canada’s rising stars in synchronized skating, having won several medals throughout the Synchro Series and with hopes to put out their best performances and compete for the title of national champions.

Gold

Starlight – March-Kanata SC

NEXXICE – Burlington Skating Centre

Team Unity – Tavistock & District FSC

Synchronicity – London SC

EDGE – Skate Oakville

Gold Ice – Skate Canada Brampton-Chinguacousy

Team Ontario has swept the Gold podium for the past two Skate Canada Cups. This year the Gold category is the biggest one out of the three at this event, with 15 teams from five provinces.

Open

Synchronicity – London SC

Capital Ice – Nepean SC

Matrix – Matrix Synchronized Skating Academy

NEXXICE – Burlington Skating Centre

Photo Credit: Danielle Earl Photography.

The Open category includes older skaters, many of whom have been competing for many years at high levels. The programs these skaters perform are the longest out of the three categories, and include nine elements. These impressive teams are excited to showcase their programs and skating skills on the national stage.

Don’t miss out on this event showcasing creative programs and amazing skating! Follow our teams on Instagram @skateontario. For information on results, the livestream and for how to buy tickets to watch in person in Waterloo, check out this link.