Lee Harris (figure skater)

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Lee Harris
Born (1981-10-16) October 16, 1981 (age 42)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
Skating clubDetroit SC
Began skating1984
Retired2006

Lee Harris (born October 16, 1981) is a skating coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets and former pair skater who competed internationally for the United States. With partner Colette Appel, he is the 2002 U.S. national junior champion and placed 12th at the 2002 World Junior Championships. They were fourth at two ISU Junior Grand Prix events and on the senior level at the 2003 Finlandia Trophy.

A native of Harrow, Ontario, Harris practiced both ice hockey and figure skating from the age of three.[1][2] He also played Jr. Hockey for the Belle River Canadians and Kingsville Comets in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League (GLJCHL) from 1996 to 1999.[citation needed] Harris settled on figure skating at age 18.[1]

After splitting with his previous partner, Harris paired with Colette Appel in 2000, after getting invited to Newington, Connecticut, by Appel's mother to train with her.[3] While in Connecticut, he was roommates with Alexei Yagudin.[3] The pair of Harris and Appel "burst on to the scene" by winning the 2002 U.S. national junior title.[4] They made their senior debut at the 2003 Finlandia Trophy, finishing in fourth place.[4]

In 2006, Harris retired from competitive figure skating and began a five-year professional skating career going on tour with Royal Caribbean Cruise ships.[1]

Coaching career[edit]

After retiring from Royal Caribbean, Harris began coaching at the Chiller Skating Rinks in Columbus, Ohio. In 2012 and 2013 he became a National Level Figure Skating Coach when his Novice pair team competed at the U.S. National figure skating championships.

In 2014, Harris was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) as their skating coach.[5] Harris works with both the Columbus Blue Jackets players and their AHL affiliate team.[6]

In 2017, Harris was added onto the Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey team's coaching staff as the on-ice conditioning specialist (consultant).[7]

Programs[edit]

(with Colette Appel)

Season Short program Free skating
2005–2006
[8]
  • Finished Symphony
    by ATB
2001–2002
[9]
  • The Children
    by Robert Parsons

Results[edit]

(pairs with Colette Appel)

Results[9]
International
Event 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
Finlandia Trophy 4th
International: Junior
World Junior Championships 12th
JGP Serbia 4th
JGP Slovakia 4th
National
U.S. Championships 1st J. 3rd J. 15th 11th 12th
J. = Junior level; JGP = Junior Grand Prix

Personal life[edit]

Harris was previously married to Marcy Hinzmann, his skating partner on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship tours.[10][11] He married Chelsea Koenigseker in 2015.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Parker, Jim (July 11, 2015). "Harris helping NHLers hit stride (I)". Windsor Star. p. 43. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Caton, Mary (December 3, 1996). "Double-edged blade". Windsor Star. p. 29. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Caton, Mary (November 7, 2000). "On the edge of skating's elite". Windsor Star. p. 29. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Caton, Mary (January 2, 2004). "Harrow skater glides to top". Windsor Star. p. 16. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bellacicco, Bob (November 11, 2022). "NHL coach helps local hockey teams get an edge". CTV Windsor. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Blue Jackets 0703.HTML".
  7. ^ "Ohio State Adds Carlson, Caruso and Harris to Men's Hockey Staff". 19 September 2017.
  8. ^ "2006 U.S. Championships: Colette Appel & Lee Harris" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Colette APPEL / Lee HARRIS: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 22, 2006.
  10. ^ "Area teen to train with Olympian". The Columbus Dispatch. May 4, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "Passing the Torch". Columbus Monthly. April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Parker, Jim (July 11, 2015). "Harris helping NHLers hit stride (II)". Windsor Star. p. 44. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

External links[edit]