Kelly Britten
Nicknames: Kel, kbritt, kelbrit, grandma, Winnie
Hometown: Dundas, Ontario
Age: 26
Years Skating: 23
Years Skating Synchro: 14
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 7
Favourite Element: No Hold
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Spiralling Edges
Favourite Competition: Nationals, Worlds
Favourite Skater: Kurt Browning
Ambitions: To go back to school and continue to share my love of skating
Favourite Program: Rhapsody in Blue (skated)
Interesting Fact: I have worked at McDonald’s since I was 15 years old
Favourite Quote: “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided” -Albus Dumbledore
Courtney McNaughton
Nicknames: Court, Squirt, Shorty, Cordelia
Hometown: Ilderton, Ontario
Age: 19
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 13
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 3
Favourite Element: No Hold, Creative
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Janet, Speed Skater
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skater: Sheri Moir, Tessa & Scott
Ambitions: Graduate from university and stay involved in the sport
Favourite Program: The Widow (skated), Carmen (watched)
Interesting Fact: Country girl but not as country as Celina
Favourite Quote: “Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you”
Celina Hevesi
Nicknames: Bean, Cee, Doris
Hometown: Scotland, Ontario
Age: 20
Years Skating: 17
Years Skating Synchro: 4
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 3
Favourite Element: Spirals, No Hold
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Spiralling Edges
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skater: Joannie Rochette, Kiersten Tietz, Gracie Gold, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Ambitions: Complete a BA Double Degree in Biology and Environmental Studies while continuing to skate and travel the world.
Favourite Program: MUD (watched), Got Your Number (skated), The Widow (skated)
Interesting Fact: A country girl at heart with big city dreams
Favourite Quote: “All your dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” ~ Walt Disney
Nadine Banholzer
Nicknames: Swiss, Nora
Hometown: Bern, Switzerland
Age: 22
Years Skating: 18
Years Skating Synchro: 14
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: No Hold, Pivot Block
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Worlds, French Cup
Ambitions: To become the best skater I can be / Living my life to the fullest
Interesting Fact: I’m scared of fish
One Thing on My Bucket List: Got to a music festival
Favourite Quote: “If you can’t stop thinking about it, it’s probably worth going after! In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take!”
Aurora Ylppö
Nicknames: Roro, Ro, Audrey
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Age: 20
Years Skating: 16
Years Skating Synchro: 13
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: No Hold
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skater: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Ambitions: To become the best skater I can be and to become a doctor
Favourite Program: The Widow
Favourite Quote: “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations”
Ariana Gould-Tasoojy
Nicknames: Ari
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Age: 19
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 12
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Field Moves, Wheel
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Theatre
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skater: Carla Coveart, Samantha Defino, Kristen Loritz
Ambitions: Contribute to the growth and development of synchronized skating, complete my university degree, and pursue a career that I am passionate about.
Favourite Program: Fix You (watched), Mud (Watched), Sleeping Beauty (skated), Got Your Number (Skated)
Interesting Fact: My grandfather was originally from Canada and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, before he moved to the U.S.
Favourite Quote: “Ask not what your team can do for you – ask what you can do for your team”
Allesandra Toso
Nicknames: Alé, Pearl
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Age: 20
Years Skating: 16
Years Skating Synchro: 12
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Field Moves
Favourite ‘Anne’ Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skater: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Ambitions: Compete in the Olympics, Win worlds, Graduate from University
Favourite Program: The Widow (Skated)
Interesting Fact: Biology major at York University
One Thing on my Bucket List: Bungie jumping
Favourite Quote: “Your dreams don’t work unless you do.”
Laura Emery
Nickname: Laur, Lil Laur, Laureese, Lauretta
Hometown: London, Ontario
Age: 19
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 11
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Creative
Favourite Anne Skill: Spiralling Edges
Favourite Competition: Canadians
Favourite Skaters: Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir
Ambitions: Graduate from university with a career I’ll love, Be on the podium at worlds
Favourite Synchro Program: Carmen (watched), The Widow (skated)
Interesting fact: I study at McMaster University
One thing on my bucket list: Go to Wimbledon and watch a match live
Favourite quote: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
Megan MacLellan
Nickname: Megs, sneakz, Meggo, Melinda
Hometown: Riverview, New Brunswick
Age: 22
Years Skating: 19
Years Skating Synchro: 11
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Field Moves
Favourite Anne Skill: Circle Cycle, Soul Surfer
Favourite Competition: Winterfest
Favourite Skaters: Steph Dobson, Elizabeth Landers
Ambitions: Go to grad school for social work, stay involved in the sport for as long as possible.
Favourite Synchro Program: Mud (watched), Once (skated), Miss Saigon (skated)
Interesting fact: I rode a camel once when I was 10.
One thing on my bucket list: To see the Northern Lights.
Favourite quote: “The secret of change is to focus your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” -Dan Millman
Caroline Marr
Nickname: lil Marr, Cora
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
Age: 20
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 11
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Creative
Favourite Anne Skill: Bongo
Favourite Competition: Bill Phillips
Favourite Skaters: Betty (Brooke) Williamson
Ambitions: Be as happy as possible with as many dogs as possible
Favourite Synchro Program: African Heart, Soul Surfer, Widow (skated), Baba Yetu & Carmen (watched)
Interesting fact: I have two guinea pigs, Sloan and O’Malley.
One thing on my bucket list: Bathe an elephant
Favourite quote: “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” – J.K. Rowling
Brooklyn Williamson
Nickname: Brooke, B, Betty
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Age: 19
Years Skating: 13
Years Skating Synchro: 10
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Around the World Spirals
Favourite Anne Skill: Bongo
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skaters: Caroline Marr
Ambitions: Compete for Canada if synchro gets entered into the Olympics, become a nursing officer in the military when I retire from skating
Favourite Synchro Program: The Widow (skated), Baba Yetu (watched)
Interesting fact: I love playing rugby
One thing on my bucket list: Become a personal trainer next summer
Favourite quote: “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” -Michael Jordan
Emma Kim
Nickname: Em, Edith, Smidge, Schmem
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Age: 18
Years Skating: 8
Years Skating Synchro: 7
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Pivot Block
Favourite Anne Skill: Rocket, Bossa Nova, Body Leads
Favourite Competition: Mozart Cup
Favourite Skaters: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
Ambitions: To finish my degree in Book and Media studies at the University of Toronto while continuing to skate and travel the world
Favourite Synchro Program: The Widow (skated), Die Fledermaus (watched)
Interesting fact: I’m a first year student at UofT
One thing on my bucket list: To explore and immerse myself in other cultures and regions of the world, and to find the perfect cup of hot chocolate
Favourite quote: “Normality is a paved road: it’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow.” – Vincent Van Gogh
Morgan Stang
Nickname: Morgs, Molgan, Albertina
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 18
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 4
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 2
Favourite Element: Field Moves, Pivot Block
Favourite Anne Skill: Ally’s, Spiralling Edges
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skaters: Patrick Chan, Joannie Rochette
Ambitions: Finish my undergrad in Honours B. Com, Medal at Worlds
Favourite Synchro Program: The Widow (skated), West Side Story (watched)
Interesting fact: I have lived with 4 Nexxice Senior Skaters/ Alumni and I currently live with Laura Emery at McMaster University!
One thing on my bucket list: Travel to every continent
Favourite quote: “Work hard in silence, let success be your noise.”
Micayla Shantz
Nickname: Mic, Micky, Miclynn, Mabel
Hometown: Drayton, Ontario
Age: 22
Years Skating: 17
Years Skating Synchro: 12
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Field Moves, No Holds
Favourite Anne Skill: Samba, Ally’s, Michael
Favourite Competition: Canadians
Favourite Skaters: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
Ambitions: Graduate university, go to grad school, medal at worlds, be the best skater I can be, and travel as much as possible
Favourite Synchro Program: A drop that contained the sea (skated), Mud (watched)
Interesting fact: I skated on the intermediate team last year
One thing on my bucket list: Go to Ireland
Favourite quote: “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety” – Abraham Maslow
Marlyne Bernier
Nickname: Mars, Minnie
Hometown: Montréal, Québec
Age: 19
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 11
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Creative
Favourite Anne Skill: Diagonals
Favourite Competition: Nationals
Favourite Skaters: My team
Ambitions: To one day work for the RCMP
Favourite Synchro Program: The Widow (watched)
Interesting fact: I speak 3 languages
One thing on my bucket list: Sky Diving
Favourite quote: “Be like snow, cold but beautiful” – Lana Del Rey
Emiko Marr
Nickname: Em, Coco
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
Age: 18
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 11
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Creative
Favourite Anne Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Winterfest
Favourite Skaters: Javier Fernandez, Amy Cebulak
Ambitions: To graduate from university with an engineering degree
Favourite Synchro Program: Saving Mr. Banks (skated)
Interesting fact: I used to play soccer
One thing on my bucket list: To design my own house
Favourite quote: “Never regret anything because at one time it was exactly what you wanted”
Payton Beckett
Nickname: Pay Pay, Hazel
Hometown: London, Ontario
Age: 15
Years Skating: 12
Years Skating Synchro: 10
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Creative
Favourite Anne Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Nationals
Favourite Skaters: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Ambitions: To medal at worlds
Favourite Synchro Program: Mud (watched)
Interesting fact: I am currently in grade 10 at A.B. Lucas
One thing on my bucket list: Go on a real lion safari
Favourite quote: “She believed she could so she did”
Taylor Johnston
Nickname: Taylor, Trixie
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
Age: 18
Years Skating: 10
Years Skating Synchro: 9
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: No Hold, Whip Intersection
Favourite Anne Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Mozart Cup, Winterfest
Favourite Skaters: Amanda Kaufmann, Scott Moir & Tessa Virtue
Ambitions: Skate as long as humanly possible, help to get synchro into the Olympics and coach synchro at a high level
Favourite Synchro Program: Roses and Violets (watched), Saving Mr. Banks (skated), Baba Yetu (watched), August Rush watched)
One thing on my bucket list: To help as many people as possible
Favourite quote: “Find true beauty within” – Disney Beauty and the Beast
Kaitlin Lees
Nickname: Kate, Wanda
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Age: 17
Years Skating: 9
Years Skating Synchro: 9
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Field Moves, Pivot Block
Favourite Anne Skill: Janet, Bongo
Favourite Competition: Canadians, Internationals
Favourite Skaters: Joannie Rochette, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Ambitions: To be a world medalist and become a paediatrician
Favourite Synchro Program: Mud (watched), Widow (watched), Saving Mr. Banks (skated)
One thing on my bucket list: Travel to every continent
Favourite quote: “Success isn’t owned it’s leased, and rent is due everyday” – Unknown
Emily Wright
Nickname: Sofia, Scoot
Hometown: Waterloo, Ontario
Age: 19
Years Skating: 17
Years Skating Synchro: 4
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Moves
Favourite Anne Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Worlds
Favourite Skaters: Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko, Mao Asada, Surya Bonaly, Tessa and Scott, Michelle Kwan
Ambitions: Medal at worlds
Favourite Synchro Program: Mud (watched)
Interesting Fact: I have pet snakes. Some very cute ball pythons and a boa constrictor.
One thing on my bucket list: Go to a reptile expo
Abigail Chase
Nickname: Abby, Abs, Abster, Alice
Hometown: Bellingham, Washington, USA
Age: 18
Years Skating: 16
Years Skating Synchro: 3
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Creative
Favourite Anne Skill: Samba, Coco
Favourite Competition: Nationals
Favourite Skaters: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje, Kim Navarro & Brent Bommentre
Ambitions: Skate at Worlds, star in one of my favourite musicals, earn a degree in Book & Media Studies from University of Toronto to pursue a career in international media
Favourite Synchro Program: West Side Story (watched — it inspired me to skate synchro!)
Interesting Fact: I am an ice dancer and trained at the Vancouver Ice Dance Academy in BC with Megan Wing & Aaron Lowe
One thing on my bucket list: Travel all around Europe!
Favourite Quote: “If you’re going to walk on thin ice, you may as well dance.”
Emma Daigle
Nickname: Bagel, Emz, Ethel
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 20
Years Skating: 15
Years Skating Synchro: 3
Years on NEXXICE Senior: 1
Favourite Element: Moves
Favourite Anne Skill: Janet
Favourite Competition: Nationals
Favourite Skaters: Shoma Uno, Joannie Rochette, Kurt Browning
Ambitions: Compete at the World Championships
Favourite Synchro Program: The Widow, Team Unique Short Program 2017 (watched)
Interesting Fact: I was adopted from China
One thing on my bucket list: To go skydiving!
Favourite Quote: “Never, Never, Never give up” -Winston Churchill