On the ice: Triple power

Smucker's Stars on Ice, in its 17th consecutive year of touring the United States, is coming to the Ralph Engelstad Arena at 7 p.m. Tuesday, complete with an exceptional cast of returning favorites and new Olympic stars.

With an elite production team and musical selections ranging from Elvis to Ozzy, Leonard Cohen to Bon Jovi, and Tony Bennett to Will Smith, this edition of Smucker's Stars on Ice explores themes of power - athletic power, star power and the power of a dream.

The U.S. tour of Smucker's Stars on Ice features the debuts of 2002 Olympic pair champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada and Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia, all four of whom emerged from an unprecedented Olympic controversy with gold medals and the hearts of millions of fans around the world for the grace and dignity they demonstrated on and off the ice.

Yagudin debut

Also making his debut with the production is 2002 Olympic men's champion Alexei Yagudin, whose phenomenal performance in Salt Lake City not only earned him an Olympic gold medal but the highest marks ever received by a single skater in Olympic history. In March 2002, Yagudin went on to capture his fourth World Championship title, again making history by receiving six out of six perfect scores for his competitive short program.

Additionally, this year's tour will be highlighted by the return of Stars on Ice co-founder, co-producer and 15-year co-headliner, Olympic champion Scott Hamilton, as well as two-time Olympic champion Ekaterina Gordeeva. Hamilton, who retired from full-time touring with Stars on Ice in April 2001, will make a minimum of 15 special guest star appearances during the tour. Gordeeva will guest-star in a minimum of seven cities. The appearances mark her return to Stars on Ice since last touring with the production during its 1999-2000 season.

Returning to the tour are two-time Olympic champion Katarina Witt, World Champion and six-time U.S. National champion Todd Eldredge (who debuted in Stars on Ice after his participation in the February 2002 Winter Olympic Games), four-time world champion Kurt Browning and three-time U.S. National pair champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand. Making their Smucker's Stars on Ice debut are three-time U.S. National pair champions and world bronze medalists Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman. Two-time U.S. National dance champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur return to the tour as well.

Due to injuries, Olympic champion Tara Lipinski and eight-time British National champion Steven Cousins will not tour with the production as originally planned. Lipinski, however, will be able to return to the tour at a date yet to be determined.

The tour will appear in 61 cities in 33 states and conclude April 12 in Portland, Maine.