For 25 years, the world’s top figure skaters have enthralled fans of the sport as they travel throughout the U.S. and Canada, with Scott Hamilton’s Stars On Ice tour. Now the stars of the skating world celebrate a milestone when the 25th edition of the Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour glides onto the ice at Nassau Coliseum on Friday. Skating stars past and present join headliners 2010 Men’s Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek and 2006 National Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, and four time World and Canadian National Champion Kurt Browning, for an evening of all-star skating, with a video introduction by its founder, Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist.
Conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with the Ice Capades (after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets), Hamilton created a “home” for his fellow skaters to enable them to continue their skating careers after their competitive days were over.
Hamilton, who is now retired from regular touring with the show, remains actively involved as a producer.
A gathering of legends – past, present and future – honors Hamilton in this anniversary show that showcases figure skating at its best. Smucker’s Stars on Ice continues to be a pioneer in figure skating by offering fans the rare opportunity to witness some of the world’s most creative and cherished champions performing together in individual and ensemble routines. In addition to Lysacek, Cohen and Browning, the stellar cast of world-renowned skaters includes Olympic Gold Medalists Jamie Salé and David Pelletier, of Canada; two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva, of Russia; World Champion and six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge; Olympic Silver Medalists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto; 2010 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Joannie Rochette, also of Canada; and two-time World Bronze Medalist and three-time U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss.