UPDATED: The Skating Club of Boston will host its annual benefit show with local, national and international competitors — starring U.S. Gold Medal Olympian Alysa Liu. Performing among these top figure skaters, at just 10-years-old, will be Arlington resident Zoe Abele.
“Ice Chips 2026: A World Journey”,” will be performed for three shows; on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 and 7 p.m . and a final show on Sunday, March 1″ will be performed for three shows: on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 and 7 p.m, and a final show on Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m. at the Tenley E. Albright Performance Center in Norwood.
The show’s headliner, Liu, secured the gold medal during the women’s free skate on Thursday, Feb. 19. This is the first time a U.S. woman has ranked number one in Olympic figure skating since 2002.
Additionally, she was the winner of the 2025 International Skating Union Championship (ISU) in Boston, and a two-time national champion. Liu secured her first win at the age of 13, making her the youngest skater to win the title.
Arlington’s Abele is no stranger to skating on the big rink with some of the top athletes in her sport; last year, the young skater was a “sweeper” at the ISU championships. She was one of 39 skaters chosen in her age group. In the last year, Abele said she has been training both on and off the ice almost every day. The young athlete told YourArlington the experience as an ISU sweeper helped prepare her to perform in front of large audiences alongside professional skaters.
“I absolutely loved being on the ice at the same time as so many champions. One of my favorite memories was when Alysa Liu won and received so many stuffed animals that I had to go back onto the ice several times to collect them all,” Abele recalled. “She looked so happy and joyful, it was amazing.”
This benefit show will be Liu’s first appearance once the 2026 Winter Olympics conclude, after her gold medal win.
“To bring Alysa Liu to the Boston area right after the 2026 Winter Games is a thrill for our local skating fans,” said Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of The Skating Club of Boston.
“This annual benefit is a great opportunity for skating enthusiasts of every age to see Alysa and other world-class skaters perform up close and personal in the intimacy and comfort of the Tenley E. Albright Performance Center.”
Additionally, the Ice Chips benefit show will feature Olympian and 2026 U.S. bronze medalist, Max im Naumov; Olympians and 2026 U.S. pewter medalists (fourth place), Emily Chan and Spencer Howe; Olympian and 2026 European silver medalist Aleksandr Selevko; two-time U.S. pairs champions, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov; and 2025 Four Continents bronze medalist, Jimmy Ma.
Abele noted Liu’s remarks after winning her Olympic gold medal; what matters most to the athlete is not winning, but her love of skating.
“That’s truly the spirit in which I train with my friends at the Skating Club of Boston. I’m so excited that Alysa will be the special guest at our show, along with Maxim and other extraordinary skaters. They are all really inspiring to me,” said Abele.
Tickets and more information on the benefit show , can be found at www.icechips.org.
This news item, published Feb. 20, 2026, was written using information provided by the Skating Club of Boston.
