Next stop:
Vancouver

Olympics-bound Arctic Edge ice dancers given warm send-off

BY ED WRIGHT
Feb. 3, 2010, 3:15 p.m.

  Several rounds of heart-felt cheers filled the main gym at the Summit on the Park Tuesday afternoon as Canton Township gave Arctic Edge-based ice-dancing teams Meryl Davis and Charlie White (U.S.A.) and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Canada) a fitting send-off.

  The world-class skating teams will be pitted against one another in the XXI Olympic Winter Games, which open Feb. 11 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

  The ice-dancing competition kicks off Feb. 19 with the compulsory competition. The original dance part of the competition is set for Feb. 21 and the free dance finale will be held Feb. 22.

  Davis and White, who have been skating together for 14 years, are ranked No. 1 in the world heading into the Olympics.

  Virtue and Moir, the No. 1-ranked Canadian team, are ranked No. 3 in the world.

  Tuesday's well-orchestrated celebration was emceed by Canton Township Trustee Karl Zarbo. Among the speakers were Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy and Arctic Edge General Manager Craig O'Neill.

  The ice dancers were led into the gym by members of the Salem cheerleading squad.

 Also saluted on Tuesday were 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Junior Dance silver medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, a sister-and-brother duo that also trains at Arctic Edge.

  For a feature story on the ice-dancing skaters, please click on the following link:

http://www.plymouthcantonsports.com/icedancers.html