Shpilband booted from Arctic Figure Skating Club
Coach to Olympic, world dance champions dismissed by rink GM, owner
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| Igor Shpilband's client list is uncertain following his dismissal from the Arctic Edge FSC. (Getty Images) |
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By icenetwork.com
(06/03/2012) - Igor Shpilband, whose teams have won each of the last three world ice dancing titles as well as the 2010 Olympic gold medal, was told he could no longer coach at the Arctic Figure Skating Club in Canton, Mich., on Sunday, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Shpilband learned of his dismissal at around 5:30 p.m. in a meeting with Craig O'Neill, general manager of the Arctic Edge, and rink owner John Stansik.
"I'm totally shocked," Shpilband told the paper.
Since defecting to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1990, Shpilband has risen to become the preeminent ice dancing coach in the world. With coaching partner Marina Zoueva, his three top teams -- Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, and Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani -- have combined to bring home seven of the last nine medals at the world championships. Virtue and Moir are also the 2010 Olympic champions.
More on this story as it develops.