Justin Hampole will compete at his hometown Games after all.
Hampole, who trains out of Prince George's Northern B.C. Centre for Skating, was one of 12 B.C. figure skaters named to the 2015 Canada Winter Games team Thursday by Skate Canada B.C./Yukon.
Hampole, a 13-year-old Grade 8 Duchess Park secondary student, will compete in the pre-novice men category.
"Justin is absolutely thrilled," said his coach Rory Allen from the Northern B.C. Centre for Skating. "We found out Tuesday night and made the announcement at the Elksentre. There were hugs and tears and it was extremely emotional for him. Having Justin be there (at the Canada Games) is just tremendous."
Skate Canada B.C./Yukon named the team after the Canadian Figure Skating championships in Kingston, Ont. last weekend.
After winning the bronze at the B.C./Yukon section figure skating championships in November in Prince George, Hampole returned to competition at the Skate Canada Challenge in Montreal in December and he finished 15th overall.
Figure skating takes place from Feb. 23 to 26 at the Canada Games at Kin 1 Arena.
Beres Clements of the Connaught Skating Club in Gibsons will be competing with Hampole in the pre-novice men's category.
The B.C. team also includes Olivia Gran of Kelowna and Alisa Lysenia of Victoria in pre-novice women; and McKenna Colthorp and Ajsha Gorman of Kelowna in novice women.
In novice men, Brian Le of Delta and Benjam Papp of Burnaby will represent B.C.
Ashlynne Stairs and Lee Royer of Burnaby are competing in novice dance, while Tessa Jones and Matthew den Boer Victoria are competing in novice pairs.
