Latest news with #figure skating
National Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Olympic figure skating champion David Pelletier joins Dallas Stars as assistant coach
DALLAS — Former figure skating star David Pelletier is getting his first shot at being an NHL assistant coach. Article content The Dallas Stars announced Friday that Pelletier is joining new head coach Glen Gulutzan's staff. Article content Article content The 50-year-old from Sayabec, Que., had been a skating coach with the Edmonton Oilers for the last 11 years. Article content Pelletier joined the Oilers after a decorated figure skating career that included a gold medal in pairs with partner Jamie Sale at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Article content In what became one of the biggest stories of those Games, Pelletier and Sale finished behind Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze. But when a French judge admitted she'd been pressured by her federation to favour the Russians, it ignited a controversy. Pelletier and Sale were later elevated to the top of the podium alongside Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze. Article content Pelletier and Sale also won a world title and three Canadian championships over their career and shared the Lou Marsh Trophy (now Northern Star Award) as top Canadian athlete in 2001. Article content Pelletier joins Alain Nasreddine (assistant coach), Neil Graham (assistant coach), Jeff Reese (goaltending coach), Patrick Dolan (head video coach) and Chris Demczuk (assistant video coach) on Gulutzan's staff. Article content Gulutzan, who spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with Edmonton, was named head coach of the Stars on July 1. He replaced Peter DeBoer, who was fired after the Stars lost to Edmonton in the Western Conference final for the second straight year. Article content
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Olympic figure skating champion Pelletier joins NHL's Stars as assistant coach
DALLAS — Former figure skating star David Pelletier is getting his first shot at being an NHL assistant coach. The Dallas Stars announced Friday that Pelletier is joining new head coach Glen Gulutzan's staff. Advertisement The 50-year-old from Sayabec, Que., had been a skating coach with the Edmonton Oilers for the last 11 years. Pelletier joined the Oilers after a decorated figure skating career that included a gold medal in pairs with partner Jamie Salé at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. In what became one of the biggest stories of those Games, Pelletier and Salé finished behind Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze. But when a French judge admitted she'd been pressured by her federation to favour the Russians, it ignited a controversy. Pelletier and Salé were later elevated to the top of the podium alongside Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze. Pelletier and Salé also won a world title and three Canadian championships over their career and shared the Lou Marsh Trophy (now Northern Star Award) as top Canadian athlete in 2001. Advertisement Pelletier joins Alain Nasreddine (assistant coach), Neil Graham (assistant coach), Jeff Reese (goaltending coach), Patrick Dolan (head video coach) and Chris Demczuk (assistant video coach) on Gulutzan's staff. Gulutzan, who spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with Edmonton, was named head coach of the Stars on July 1. He replaced Peter DeBoer, who was fired after the Stars lost to Edmonton in the Western Conference final for the second straight year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'How I helped Torvill and Dean 45 years ago'
Almost five decades ago, entertainment agent Tony Sherwood received a call asking if he could arrange a fundraising event for a "starry" pair of amateur figure skaters. That event - a cabaret variety show - raised money to help send Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, and another ice skater, to the 1980 European Skating Championships. The duo came fourth and, four years later, Torvill and Dean would dance the Bolero in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, becoming the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time for a single programme. The Olympic gold medallists are now preparing to skate together for one final time in Nottingham on Saturday, bringing their 50-year career to an end. Speaking to the BBC in their dressing room at the National Ice Centre, Dean said: "Tony helped us so much, really quietly in the background. "He didn't make a song and dance about it, but he put on some fundraisers to send us off the European and world championships." Torvill added: "It's just fantastic what he did to put on those shows - and the artists who gave their time and the generosity of the public who came and donated some money." Tony, now 80, still has the bright orange poster promoting the fundraiser held at the-then Gedling Miners Welfare in Mapperley in January 1980. "This is the show that started it off," he said. It forms part of a collection of memorabilia, including posters and photographs, which Tony said he had not shared with anyone for 45 years. He said his involvement had begun with a phone call from an ice skating coach called Mick Wild, who asked if he could use his showbusiness connections to put on some events to raise money for Torvill and Dean. He organised raffles and shows at social clubs and miners clubs, raising £4,500 in total. Tony said: "Nottingham's got a great history of sporting activity. "I'd explained to the artists, who gave their services free, that they would be helping someone who might become very, very successful. "It was an act of faith on their part, but they took a bit of persuading." Tony knew Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980, and called him to see if he could help. He recalled Clough's response: "Young man, I can't send the team but I can send the European Cup." Those who attended the event had their photos taken with the cup and a letter kept by Tony shows that Clough also sent a cheque for £25. The money raised went towards the purchase of video camera equipment that was used by Torvill and Dean to improve their rehearsals. Reflecting on the fundraising events he organised and the support they gave to the duo, Tony said he felt "very proud". "Now that they are world famous, there's no other act, no other skaters like Torvill and Dean and I'm very proud to be involved with them," he added. Torvill and Dean unveiled a newly-updated tram in their name on Tuesday to celebrate their career. A rink at the National Ice Centre was also officially named after them and a blue plaque marking their final performance was revealed. Looking ahead to their last show, Dean said: "We want it to be a celebration, it's not a sad occasion, for us it's full circle. "This is where we started in Nottingham, this is sacred ground for us." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Torvill and Dean honoured in their home city Torvill and Dean to dance together for final time Watch: Torvill and Dean perform Bolero 40 years on How to cook up an Olympic-winning routine
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'How I helped Torvill and Dean 45 years ago'
Almost five decades ago, entertainment agent Tony Sherwood received a call asking if he could arrange a fundraising event for a "starry" pair of amateur figure event - a cabaret variety show - raised money to help send Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, and another ice skater, to the 1980 European Skating duo came fourth and, four years later, Torvill and Dean would dance the Bolero in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, becoming the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time for a single Olympic gold medallists are now preparing to skate together for one final time in Nottingham on Saturday, bringing their 50-year career to an end. Speaking to the BBC in their dressing room at the National Ice Centre, Dean said: "Tony helped us so much, really quietly in the background."He didn't make a song and dance about it, but he put on some fundraisers to send us off the European and world championships."Torvill added: "It's just fantastic what he did to put on those shows - and the artists who gave their time and the generosity of the public who came and donated some money." Tony, now 80, still has the bright orange poster promoting the fundraiser held at the-then Gedling Miners Welfare in Mapperley in January 1980."This is the show that started it off," he forms part of a collection of memorabilia, including posters and photographs, which Tony said he had not shared with anyone for 45 said his involvement had begun with a phone call from an ice skating coach called Mick Wild, who asked if he could use his showbusiness connections to put on some events to raise money for Torvill and organised raffles and shows at social clubs and miners clubs, raising £4,500 in said: "Nottingham's got a great history of sporting activity."I'd explained to the artists, who gave their services free, that they would be helping someone who might become very, very successful."It was an act of faith on their part, but they took a bit of persuading." Tony knew Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980, and called him to see if he could recalled Clough's response: "Young man, I can't send the team but I can send the European Cup."Those who attended the event had their photos taken with the cup and a letter kept by Tony shows that Clough also sent a cheque for £ money raised went towards the purchase of video camera equipment that was used by Torvill and Dean to improve their on the fundraising events he organised and the support they gave to the duo, Tony said he felt "very proud"."Now that they are world famous, there's no other act, no other skaters like Torvill and Dean and I'm very proud to be involved with them," he added. Torvill and Dean unveiled a newly-updated tram in their name on Tuesday to celebrate their career.A rink at the National Ice Centre was also officially named after them and a blue plaque marking their final performance was ahead to their last show, Dean said: "We want it to be a celebration, it's not a sad occasion, for us it's full circle. "This is where we started in Nottingham, this is sacred ground for us."
