Hamilton Bids Farewell to Stars Tour

Chrysler Stars on Ice, which hits Ottawa April 18 for a show at the Corel Centre, will feature some of the most notable stars in figure skating.

Four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, two- time Olympic Silver Medallist Brian Orser of Ottawa, Stars On Ice co-founder and Olympic Gold Medallist Scott Hamilton, three-time World champion Alexei Yagudin, and four-time World Bronze Medallists and seven-time Canadian National Dance Champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz are set to delight audiences across Canada. Tickets go on sale December 1 through Ticketmaster.

The cast of Canadian, world and Olympic skating champions will also include world silver medallists from the United States, Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, three-time Canadian champion Josee Chouinard, British champ Steven Cousins and Olympic silver medallist Denis Petrov, who will skate for the first time without his partner Elena Bechke.

"Chrysler Stars On Ice is always a crowd-pleaser. We always try to give the audience their favourite routines and throw in a few surprises," says Browning.

The tour marks Olympic champion Scott Hamilton's farewell to the production. Hamilton, who founded Stars On Ice in 1986, has co-headlined and co-produced the show ever since.

"It's incredible to think that Scott Hamilton was the catalyst for Stars On Ice and that this will be his last performance with the show. We wish him all the best, but we'll definitely miss him!" Browning said.

"I'm not retiring. I'm not going to stop skating. I'm cutting back," said Hamilton. "There's so much else I want to accomplish... like doing a theatre skating show on Broadway.

"The tour needs to develop more beyond me, with the next generation. And, because we always sign great talent, now is the time for the tour to take on a different identity. This year will give me the opportunity to led people know how grateful I am to them ... for everything. It's tough to move on, but I have to."

This edition of Chrysler Stars On Ice will not only give audiences the opportunity to participate in the celebration of Hamilton as skating's most honored and beloved ambassador, but to enjoy a "soulful" evening of emotional, yet uplifting music evolving from each skater's career.