Joey Rocks The House

If you listened closely last night, you might have heard them cheering all the way from Labrador City.
Joey Russell, well on his way to becoming the biggest name the province has ever had in this sport (if he isn't already), drew a well-earned standing ovation during the men's qualifying session at the Metro Centre last night. Russell landed seven triples jumps — including a pair of impressive triple-triple combinations — in a fine display of improvement. His score of 117.63 was a personal best by nearly 13 points, a whopping improvement.
It was the performance of the night until Edmonton's Vaughn Chipeur went a tad better, posting a 117.94 score to win the night. Everyone goes back to zero, though, for Friday's short program.
Russell, who won the junior men's title a year ago at the Ottawa Civic Centre, has seen his star has continue its rapid ascent since he set up camp at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie under the tutelage of Lee Barkell — the same coach who guides the fortunes of Olympic bronze medallist Jeffrey Buttle.
The 18-year-old Russell should be a skater to watch in the years to come.
They're surely paying big attention back home in Lab City.

ON THE HOME FRONT
*** Ottawa's Sophie Knippel and partner Matthew Doleman of Dundas stand third after the compulsories in what is shaping up to be a tight race for the podium in the junior ice dance event. Two Quebec teams are within 0.30 points of the Knippel/Doleman duo heading into today's original dance.
*** It was a good day for three Eastern Ontario skaters in men's qualifying. Brennan Martin (11th) of the Minto Skating Club, and Kingston's Jamie Forsythe (12th) and Tyler Cochrane (13th) all advanced to Thursday's short program. Minto's Michael Elias (19th) was eliminated.