by Jacquelyn Thayer. Cover photo by Danielle Earl.
For many ice dance fans, the Lake Placid Ice Dance competitions in July mark the new season’s start. But with livestreaming unavailable for 2022’s event, those at home resorted to the decade-old days of awaiting written reports, photos, and rogue video of programs of interest—particularly, this year, those from the large group of teams representing I.AM Ontario, the London-area offshoot of the Ice Academy of Montreal, led by three-time Olympic champion Scott Moir and the Moir women—mother Alma, aunt Carol, and cousins Sheri, Cara, and Leanne—who have headed up the Ilderton Skating Club’s longstanding program.
Among the London skaters competing were Canada’s Lily Hensen and Nathan Lickers, second-year seniors competing at their first international event, the Lake Placid Ice Dance International. A playful and sultry rhythm dance to selections from the Afro-Cuban All Stars and Buena Vista Social Club generated some buzz; a contemporary free dance to Hozier’s “Work Song” and “Movement,” which features sharp, precise choreography beautifully reflecting the pieces’ tricky rhythms, drew still more praise. That short program was choreographed by Adrián Díaz, the long-tenured Spanish ice dancer now coaching at I.AM Ontario, and the free by Sheri Moir, former ice dancer and synchronized skating world champion with NEXXICE. Scott Moir and Madison Hubbell—herself a four-time world and 2022 Olympic medalist, and another new addition to the London coaching stable—contributed as well.
Lily Hensen and Nathan Lickers compete in the free dance at the Championnats Quebecois d’Ete 2022. Photo by Danielle Earl Event Media.
While Hensen and Lickers may have appeared on more radars with their 2021 transition to I.AM Ontario, their partnership is well-established: they’ve been a team since January 2012, now in their eleventh season together. “Nathan was holding tryouts at our home club Ilderton and I was asked by my coaches to try out with Nathan, among other skaters,” said Hensen. “We were said to be a good match and ever since then we have been skating with each other.”
Along with fellow Ilderton couples like Skate Canada NextGen juniors Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys and Jordyn Lewis and Noah McMillan, Hensen and Lickers became part of the inaugural class of I.AM Ontario teams with the program’s establishment in early 2021. “We are so grateful to have been a part of the Ilderton Skating Club for as long as we were, as they provided incredible opportunities and support to get us to where we are today,” said the team, who were excited to join the I.AM program. “The transition felt very comfortable for us as a lot of the coaches at I AM taught us at Ilderton Skating Club, and we transitioned over with all of our training mates. We are so fortunate to be able to train under such an amazing academy in the comfort of our own hometown.”
With the graduation of sorts to I.AM came too the opportunity to work on a full-time basis with Moir—a skating legend still new to the head coaching world. Hensen and Lickers feel lucky to be among his students. “He is one of the most outgoing and passionate coaches we have worked with,” they said. “The energy and love for the sport that he brings to our practices every day is so inspiring. He pushes us to be better athletes every day and we appreciate everything he does for us. We wouldn’t want to skate anywhere else.”
In their years together, Hensen and Lickers have tried a variety of styles, from traditional tangos to more theatrical pieces to contemporary pop. “We have loved every program that has been created for us,” they said. “Our free dance in junior, Evita, created by Sheri Moir, was one that we absolutely loved. Our first free dance in senior, Ghost, was one that we will remember throughout our career as well.”
This season’s rhythm dance from Díaz is another favorite. “We love to dance and have fun with one another and this program allows us to do so. We can’t wait to see how this program continues to push us and how it will develop throughout this season.”
Lily Hensen and Nathan Lickers compete in the rhythm dance at the Championnats Quebecois d’Ete 2022. Photo by Danielle Earl Event Media.
In addition to their choreographic contributions, Díaz and Hubbell’s addition to the I.AM Ontario ranks has brought “an amazing energy” to the campus. “When we heard they were joining I.AM London we were so excited,” said the team. “We have looked up to both of them as skaters and athletes during both their careers and now as coaches. To have them on the ice with us every day is still so surreal and we are extremely lucky to have them as our coaches.”
And when not working on the ice, the team’s off-ice training regimen is a full one, including three days a week of strength training at London’s Revolution Conditioning, along with regular classes in ballet and yoga, and mental training with a sports psychologist.
While their remaining season schedule is focused on domestic events, the team will have a busy fall, competing at September’s Georges-Éthier in Quebec City, as well as Skate Ontario’s October Sectionals Series event and November’s Sectionals Series Championships on the road to Skate Canada Challenge and January’s national championships. Their major aim: to continue to improve their scores and placements with each competition. They also hope to climb in the standings at Challenge and Nationals after fourth and ninth place finishes, respectively, at those events in the 2021-22 season. The long-term goal? National team status, earning the opportunity to represent Canada at major internationals like Grand Prix events.
Hensen and Lickers’ most recent competition, August’s Championnats Québécois d’Été, also included a breakthrough: a free dance score of 101.78 and total of 170.05, their first time hitting the three-digit free dance mark and a new overall personal best. In the kiss and cry, even coach Scott Moir, often subdued at results, had to crack a smile. The upward trend it suggests is a major source of achievement.
“Our proudest accomplishment is how far we have come as a team,” they said. “We have been by each other’s side for the past 11 years and have learned so many life lessons on the way. From preliminary dance to senior dance, we have pushed each other to become the best athletes we can be and helped shape each other into the people we are today. We have such a strong partnership and friendship and it’s nice having someone you can trust skating by your side every day. We are very lucky to have each other.”