Tuesday, January 8, 2002

Stojko begins week-long goodbye

 HAMILTON (CP) -- The first standing ovation of the 2002 Canadian figure skating championships occurred Tuesday night, and the cheers were appropriately directed towards Elvis Stojko.

 This is his week.

 Before he was awarded top marks in his qualifying group, his fans were on their feet to let him know how much they appreciated his effort. He didn't coast, as he could have done and still advance with ease. Only 20 per cent of the total mark was at stake, yet, Stojko delivered a top-notch free-skating routine.

 "I'm taking it seriously," said Stojko, 29. "It's a stepping stone to the Olympics and I want to skate well here."

 The three-time world champion from Richmond Hill, Ont., has said these will be his last nationals. His rookie year was 1986. He's seeking a seventh Canadian title.

 "A lot of people have told me they don't want me to go and that's nice," Stojko said. "But it's time to go."

 That is why everyone wants to shake his hand and wish him well this week. An injury kept him out of the 2001 nationals in Winnipeg, so he's not seen some of his friends from other parts of the country in two years.

 "It's slowly sinking in," he said of the realization these are his last nationals. "I know this is the final one for me.

 "I can feel it in my heart. It's going to be a good feeling this week. It's sad, but good. I have to move on. It's my choice. I'm ready."

 Four years ago, the pre-Olympics nationals were held in the same arena, Copps Coliseum.

 "I went out for my practice (Tuesday) and skated around and I looked around, and Hamilton '98 felt like yesterday," he said. "I thank God he gave me a second chance.

 "That's exactly what it feels like -- that I've been given a second chance. I'm going to try and take advantage of it while I can."

 He wasn't perfect. He fell on his first jump, an attempted quad.

 "I didn't have quite the power I usually have on it," he explained.

 He went on to land seven triples, including two Axels in combination with other jumps. It was the way he collected himself after the fall, how he displayed the competitive fires that still burn bright, that earned him the ovation.

 "I don't know if you're born with that or develop it but I've always had that competitiveness," he said.

 The short programs will be presented Thursday. The men's free-skating final is Saturday night.

 Fedor Andreev of Ottawa was second in Stojko's qualifying group. Emanuel Sandhu of Richmond Hill was third, Ben Ferreira of Edmonton fourth, and Jeffrey Buttle of Sudbury, Ont., fifth.

 Nicholas Young of St-Hubert, Que., was first in the other group. Jayson Denommee of Sherbrooke, Que., was second, Matthew Bueno of Ottawa third, Chad Kilburn of Edmonton fourth and Hugh Yik of Moncton, N.B., fifth.

 Young, 19, who was national junior champion two years ago and seventh among seniors in the final standings last year, showed he's capable of stepping onto the podium this time.

 "It was a good start to the week," he said.

 Young has made significant improvements, notably in his artistic side. He competed on the junior Grand Prix circuit this season, posting fifth- and third-place finishes in his two competitions. The latter, in the Netherlands, was "a breakthrough performance" for Young, says choreographer Jean-Francois Hebert.

 "He's no longer in a shell," said Hebert. "From where we started, and to where he is now, it's a big, big change."

 Denommee, the silver medallist last year, has been bothered by shin splints for years. The left leg has given him trouble this season, forcing him out of scheduled meets in Austria and Russia. This is his first serious competition since the 2001 Winnipeg nationals.

 "It's OK but not exactly what I expected to do," he said after numerous mistakes and a fall. "I was really apprehensive."

 He's had bad luck in previous competitions in Copps Coliseum.

 "I'm one of the old ones here," he said. "It feels weird saying that, being 24. But there are a lot of great up-and-coming skaters in Canada and I think everybody is going to try to pull out their best tricks this week.

 "You're going to see Emanuel and Elvis, obviously, battling to be the best. Ben is there. You can see all these guys in practice -- they're amazing skaters. Hopefully, I'm going to try to be one of those. I'm going to give it everything I've got.

 "I think (the event) is going to be something special, and it's an Olympic year so there is a little Olympic dust in the air. A lot of skaters won't qualify to go but we're all tapping into that. It's a positive vibe."

 Sandhu also fell on a jump. In the past, Sandhu has been known to let a program fall apart following a tumble to the ice. On this night, he regained his concentration, bore down, and finished strongly.

 "It wasn't a clean skate or anything but I fought my way through it and that's what is important," he said. "It takes a lot of competing to get that into your system."

 Being third in his group didn't bug him.

 "It's only qualifying," he said. "I'd be disappointed if I put down my best performance (Tuesday) and not in the most important part of it."

 He'll be on the podium Saturday, and probably joining Stojko at the Winter Games.

 "I want to ensure I have a berth on the Olympic team," he said. "Obviously, I want to skate the best I possibly can and that's all I'm thinking about -- not whether I come first or second."

 The nationals were in the same arena four years ago, when Sandhu won the silver medal but didn't get to go to the Nagano, Japan Olympics because the Canadian Olympic Association decided he didn't meet a certain standard.

 "A lot of stuff has happened since then," said Sandhu. "It's amazing. It seems like a lifetime and a half ago.

 "I skated so amazingly here. It was my first year of senior. It's a good, good memory. It's been such a trip coming back here."

 Ferreira is another skater who'd love to go to Salt Lake City.

 "There are two situations: A, I go. B, I don't go," he said. "I'm not going to be disappointed either way.

 "To come this close is an achievement in itself."