By: Pj Kwong

Once a year, singles, pairs, and ice dance skaters from across the country are selected to participate in a NextGen event put on by figure skating’s national organization, Skate Canada. The event features current NextGen Team members as well as other Junior level skaters who are participating in order to be evaluated and assessed for their potential to be selected compete internationally at Junior events. It’s a big deal.

To be a NextGen athlete is to believe in your own potential, and to be part of a community that believes in you, too. It’s about striving for excellence, growing through challenges, and knowing that every step you take contributes to a bigger picture.

In the case of Skate Ontario, approximately 25 athletes will be making the trek to Gatineau to compete from July 17 to 20. “Competing in Gatineau is an exciting opportunity for up-and-coming athletes to test themselves, gain valuable feedback, and show they’re ready for the next level,” said Christopher Mabee, Skate Ontario’s Director of Sport. “For Skate Ontario, it’s a proud moment to see our skaters rise to the challenge and give a glimpse of the future of Canadian skating.”

The selection process for the NextGen Team is based on a combination of performance results and potential for international success. Skate Canada evaluates skaters across the disciplines using criteria such as national championship placements, international competition outcomes, technical scores, and evidence of consistent progression. Athletes are considered in close consultation with their respective Skate Canada Sections, including Skate Ontario, as well as through collaborative input from Own The Podium and the Canadian Sport Institutes.

Putting their best foot forward is an important consideration for these athletes who need to have their programs ready early in the season to be evaluated. Although Skate Ontario is not involved in the selection of athletes for the team, we do provide financial support to those chosen through the OHPSI program and direct funding. This support helps Next Gen athletes pursue their high-performance goals at the provincial level.

Once selected, skaters and their coaches gain access to a variety of supports designed to accelerate their development. These include targeted training camps, expert sport science and medical services, mentorship, and guidance in long-term performance planning. The program not only supports current achievement but also helps athletes build the foundational skills required to excel in a high-performance environment unique to Canada’s figure skating system.

Chris Mabee sees things this way: “Skate Ontario’s goal is to support the athletes as they gain experience in a high-performance setting and take important steps toward international readiness. We want them to use this event to measure their progress and build confidence for the next stage in their development.”

Inclusion in the NextGen program is both an honour and a responsibility. It recognizes a skater’s potential while committing them to a path of focused growth. With the combined support of national and provincial partners, the Skate Canada NextGen program plays a critical role in shaping the future of Canadian figure skating — one dedicated, driven athlete at a time.

As always, we are #SkateOntarioProud.

Skate Ontario Athletes Competing at the Skate Canada NextGen Competition

Junior Men

Rui Qin

Petro Chebotarov

Jeffrey Chen

Grayson Long

Ethan Luo

David Bondar

Junior Women

Megan Woodley

Reese Rose

Kaylee Sun

Victoria Barakhtina

Ksenia Krouzkevitch

Hannah Quinn

Hetty Shi

Lulu Lin

Junior Pairs

Jazmine Desrochers / Kieran Thrasher

Brianna Dion / Jacob Côté

Ava Kemp / Yohnatan Elizarov

Junior Ice Dance

Summer Homick / Nicholas Buelow

Layla Veillon / Alexander Brandys

Charlie Anderson / Cayden Dawson