Panthers Figure Skaters to Compete at U.S National Championships in Kansas City
U.S. National Team Skaters Franchesca Chiera and Andrew Torgashev to compete, Jan. 14-22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – The Panthers Figure Skating Club announced today that Franchesca Chiera, Andrew Torgashev, and Lukas Altieri will compete at the 2017 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships on January 14-22 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Chiera, 19, qualified for National Championships after winning a gold medal at this 2017 Eastern Sectionals in Indian Trail, N.C. Chiera’s appearance marks her fourth trip to the U.S. Nationals senior ladies event. She was was named to Team USA in October and made her international debut in Montreal, Qué., at the 2016 Autumn Classic. She placed eighth in her first international skate and finished 12th at last year’s National Championships in Minn.

Torgashev, 15, received a bye to the event as a result of competing for Team USA on the Junior Grand Prix Circuit. The 2015 U.S. junior men’s champion is set to make his senior men’s debut at Nationals. This past year Torgashev won a bronze medal at his senior debut at the Tallinn Trophy in Estonia and claimed a silver medal at the Cup of Mordovia in Saransk, Russia.

Altieri, 14, qualified for Nationals by placing third at Eastern Sectionals in the novice men's event.

Chiera and Torgashev are homegrown products of the Florida Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, Fla., and both learned to skate at the facility when they were four years old. The two young figure skaters continue to train at the Panthers IceDen and work with coaches Ilona Melnichenko , Artem Torgashev, Curtis Chornopyski and Laura Pizzelanti.

“The amount of work and training these skaters have put in with their coaches is amazing and it is a real inspiration to the skaters of all levels and ages to see them prepare for Nationals,” said Director of Skating Development at the Panthers IceDen, Artem Torgashev. We are thankful for the wonderful management at Panthers Ice Den to provide these athletes with an amazing facility and program to allow these skaters reach their full potential.”

NBC and NBC Sports will broadcast both the ladies and men’s events as follows:

NBC Sports
Thursday, Jan. 19: 9:30 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
Friday, Jan. 20: 8:30 P.M.- 12:00 A.M.

NBC
Saturday, Jan. 21: 8:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M.
Sunday, Jan. 22: 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.