Ekaterina Gordeeva performs during the “Ekaterina Gordeeva — From the Heart” show Dec. 30 in Lake Placid. Photo — Christie Sausa

LAKE PLACID – When Ekaterina Gordeeva was asked what former husband Sergei Grinkov would have liked most about the “Ekaterina Gordeeva – From the Heart” show in Lake Placid on Dec. 30, she unhesitatingly replied, “everything, friends!”

There was an abundance of loving friends both on and off the ice celebrating their friendship and remembering Grinkov. As demonstrated by the anecdotes, remembrances, a poignant toast given by long-time family friend Scott Hamilton and Sergei’s daughter, Daria, and the successive standing ovations from the loyal and spirited audience, Grinkov has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the sport and on millions of lives.

There were new friends present as well, like 2014 Olympic ice dancing gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and three-time world champion and 2014 Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan. Rounding out the program were several young elite skaters from around the world who no doubt aspire to reach the heights Gordeeva and Grinkov achieved in their careers.

Considered one of the best Russian pairs teams since part-time Lake Placid residents and Russian pairs legends Ludmila and Oleg Protopopov, Gordeeva and Grinkov – or “G & G” as they were known by their fans – were celebrated for their technique, charisma and elegance.

What made Gordeeva and Grinkov so amazing is difficult to explain in words, but viewers could feel it when watching them skate. When Sergei lifted beautiful Ekaterina above his head, it was as if she were flying. When they were on the ice, they moved as one, and there was hardly any sound from their blades connecting with the ice.

Photo — Christie Sausa Daria Grinkova presents Elizaveta Kulik with a rose during the finale of the “Ekaterina Gordeeva — From the Heart” show Dec. 30 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid. Photo — Christie Sausa

What made Gordeeva and Grinkov most unique was their chemistry with each other as they became one of the most romantic and beloved pairs teams of all time.

“I mean when you hear their name you think the word perfection so much, but they really were as one out there as a pairs team, and I think the connection they had just personally on and off the ice came through in their skating,” Kristi Yamaguchi said. “I think technically, but also emotionally, they were so incredible as a team and as professionals. The love story was epic really.”

Hamilton warmly described Gordeeva and Grinkov in three words.

“Excellence. Beauty. Romance,” Hamilton said. “They set the bar high for every pair team that skated after them.”

It was one of the greatest tragedies in the sport when in November 1995, while training with coach Marina Zueva and partner and wife Ekaterina “Katia” Goordeeva in Lake Placid for the Stars on Ice tour’s traditional opening show, Grinkov collapsed in the US rink of the Olympic Center.

Initial reports suggested that he suddenly collapsed, but later reports stated that he “dropped to the ice gently,” sitting down after feeling dizzy. He passed away a little over an hour later after being transported to the Adirondack Medical Center nearby. Cause of death was found to be a heart attack.

Grinkov was only 28 years old. For a champion skater and friend to so many, to die so suddenly was a shock for the cast, and the show was postponed.

Gordeeva wrote the best selling book “My Sergei” about her relationship with Grinkov, and went on to continue performing, even appearing on the Canadian reality show “Battle of the Blades,” skating with hockey player Valeri Bure and winning the competition.

With this 20th anniversary show in Lake Placid, Gordeeva hoped to celebrate her friendship with other veteran Stars on Ice skaters who were there during the tragedy, while also honoring Grinkov’s memory.

The show opened to the strains of “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor” by Sergei Rachmaninov, a composer of music Gordeeva noted she and Sergei skated to many times in their career.

The entire cast congregated around Katia, their movements folding and unfolding to present her, while purple lighting pooled over the skaters clad in various shades of red.

Lasers danced over the ice surface while Katia glided smoothly around the ice, stopping at various points to welcome the VIP guests clustered around the edge of the rink at round tables.

The other skaters made their entrances-Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Paul Wylie, Yuka Sato – and one could feel the energy in the arena. The opening number was choreographed by Sandra Bezic, a long-time Stars on Ice choreographer, and the entire show felt like classic Stars on Ice. For long time skating fans, this was a welcome feeling indeed.

In between introductions and anecdotes from Daria and Hamilton, the skaters did what they did best: performing to a mixture of classical and contemporary music, they held the audience enthralled.

Sato, known for her peaceful, classical skating style, performed elegantly to Michael Kamen’s “On the Ice,” and one could hear a pin drop in the arena as she skated.

Wylie’s choice of “Here’s to Life” by Glenn Frey seemed perfect for the show, celebrating life and encouraging all to live life to the fullest. His heartfelt skate earned a standing ovation.

Wylie suffered a heart attack last year, so the meaning of the program was especially poignant in the context of his experience and the tribute to Sergei.

Yamaguchi performed playfully to “If It’s Magic,” by Stevie Wonder, and was joined by Gordeeva, Hamilton and Wylie who cheered her on and encouraged her while she was skating. At the end of the performance, they all embraced, big smiles on their faces.

Of course, fans were thrilled to see Hamilton return to Lake Placid. He had not emceed a show since the 2013 Stars on Ice show, and his skillful emceeing alongside Daria added gravitas to the show’s already prestigious cast.

Davis and White performed to Florence and the Machine’s “Dog Days are Over,” in a dance-inspired routine choreographed by Dancing with the Stars’ Sharna Burgess.

Chan skated with power and elan to “Dear Prudence/Blackbird,” by the Beatles. Both are obviously considered some of the best new performers, and younger skating fans were no doubt thrilled to see them skate alongside classic Stars on Ice professionals.

The “rising stars,” as they were billed in the program, were mostly of Russian ancestry. They included pairs skaters representing Canada, Lubov Iliushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch, 2015 US Junior men’s champion Andrew Torgashev, 2016 Russian national silver medalists Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov and 2015 US International Figure Skating Classic gold medalist Daniel Samohin of Israel.

Gordeeva skated in three solo programs and several group numbers, including a pairs routine with 2002 Olympic pairs champion David Pelletier. She was joined by family on the ice; in addition to Daria emceeing and joining in the finale, 1998 Olympic men’s champion Ilia Kulik, Gordeeva’s second husband and father of her child Elizaveta, skated powerfully to “Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra” with his characteristic skill and athleticism.

Gordeeva’s youngest daughter, Elizaveta, skated gracefully to an instrumental version of the song “A Thousand Years.” Her performance effortlessly led to the finale, which was the original version of the song by Christina Perri.

During the finale, Daria distributed roses to each cast member, joining them for a final bow.

“Everyone together. Old friends, new friends, all of you,” Daria said. “I think this is exactly how my dad would have wanted it to be.”