Stars On Ice gliding into Halifax

Haligonians will be able to see national Olympians showcase their talents during the annual Stars On Ice this month.

With bravura performances at this year's PyeongChang, South Korea games, the Canadian Figure Skating team won gold, and now they'll delight fans across the country.

Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue, who also took home gold for Ice Dance, will be joined by other star athletes for the Halifax show, including women's figure skating bronze medalist Kaetlyn Osmond and pairs bronze medalists Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford.

“It doesn't get a whole lot better than the cast we have. It's really unbelievable, and we're so confident this will be a great show,” said tour producer Byron Allen.

Also coming are Olympic bronze and six-time European champion Javier Fernández, and medalists and Olympians Patrick Chan and Gabrielle Daleman.

Two-time silver medalist Elvis Stojko and Olympic bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle will be on-hand, as well as 2018 Olympians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje.

Producer Allen says the allure of Stars On Ice is apparent, and has been a draw since the first iteration in 1994.

“It's incredibly gratifying to see these athletes, performers and people so close, and see them do things up close and personal,” he said. 

“This group has been together competing and touring for a long time, and it shows.”

The show, sponsored by Investors Group and presented by Lindt, will be a “gratifying product” on the ice, says Allen.

“Watching the excitement on people's faces will be amazing for the athletes,” he said. 

“Without a doubt, these athletes are great individually, but they're so much better together.”

2018 World gold medalist and three-time National Champion Kaetlyn Osmond can't wait for her fourth tour with the show.

“It's absolutely incredible to be involved with. It's so nice to travel Canada, and the group I perform with are like family,” she said.

The Newfoundland native is excited to get back to the Maritimes.

“Though the show doesn't go to Newfoundland itself, Halifax does feel like home. All of us on tour love starting in Halifax,” she said.

Osmond still can't believe her hard work garnered her the world gold medal.

“It's so unbelievably shocking. With the training, eating well and now getting ready for touring, it's hard to take time to let it sink in,” she said.

“It was exciting to represent my country, and it was so rewarding. This is such a supportive country, and you can feel that support even when you're across the world.”

Osmond says being able to skate for a living is a dream come true.

“I never thought I could turn this into a career, or make it something I could do for my entire life. I wanted to do it for fun, and my parents wanted me to stay in shape,” she said.

“So many people don't get to live out their dreams, and I worked so hard. I'm lucky to be able to do this.”

For Osmond, the feeling of being on the ice is incomparable.

“The adrenaline and the butterflies are exhilarating. The need to compete mixed with my nerves over performing in front of a crowd is overwhelming,” she said.

“Knowing your years of training will be judged on a four-minute performance is scary, but it's a rush too, an there's no other feeling like it.”

She says this year's Stars On Ice will be a must-see performance.

“Each person on the cast has a world medal, and watching skating live is different than on tv,” she said. 

Producer Byron Allen says event goers can expect a whole lot of noise.

“The response will be tremendous. The stars will be skating to accessible, popular music,” he said.

“There are clever group numbers, and people really are in for a spectacular show.”

The show will hit Halifax on Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre.

Tickets are on sale now, and start at $25. They are available via www.starsonice.ca, and through Ticket Atlantic.