Chan, Virtue and Moir lead young Sochi team that includes 14 first-timers

OTTAWA – Canada’s figure skating team for Sochi is loaded with rookies but could prove to be one of the country’s most successful ever.

Three-time world champion Patrick Chan and Olympic ice dance gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir headline a 17-member team that includes 14 first-timers.

The team is aiming for three medals in Sochi — in men’s singles, ice dance, and the new team event — which would match its best ever.

But the team has other podium threats in Meaghan Duhamel and Eric Radford, bronze medallists at the 2013 world championships, and ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, fifth at last year’s worlds.

Canada is the favourite to win the team event, the first figure skating event of the Games.

Skate Canada announced its team Sunday after the Canadian figure skating championships that saw a couple of surprises.

Fifteen-year-old Gabrielle Daleman won bronze in women’s singles and was named to the team, while Liam Firus, a 21-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., snuck in to grab the third spot in men’s singles.