Canadian pairs figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps secured their consecutive victory at the Skate Canada International in Saskatoon on Saturday. The duo thrilled the home crowd at SaskTel Centre by clinching the gold medal, outperforming their German counterparts Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps tallied a total of 213.40 points, surpassing Hase and Volodin’s score of 207.18.
In the competition, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea from the United States claimed the third spot with 199.11 points. Despite being in second place after the short program on Friday, trailing the Germans by 4.50 points, the Canadian pair showcased an impressive performance in the free skate program, scoring 140.37 points.
Hase and Volodin, the reigning Grand Prix Final champions and world silver medalists, faced challenges with falls during their free skate, impacting their overall performance. The Canadian pairs Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud secured the fourth position with 186.54 points, while Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier followed closely in fifth place with 168.24 points.
For Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, the victory marked their first Grand Prix win of the season, following their silver medal at the Grand Prix of France earlier. Stellato-Dudek expressed their happiness with the win and emphasized the need for continuous improvement ahead of the Olympics, stating, “We want to compete in as many events as possible to iron out all the little details before the Olympics.”
In the women’s competition, Mone Chiba of Japan triumphed over American standout Isabeau Levito with a stellar free skate performance. Chiba, the 20-year-old world bronze medalist, delivered a flawless performance set to traditional Hungarian music, “Csardas,” earning a season-best score of 217.23 points and securing her first Grand Prix gold medal.
Ami Nakai, the winner of the Grand Prix de France, claimed the third spot with 203.09 points. The Canadian representatives Madeline Schizas, Sara-Maude Dupuis, and Uliana Shiryaeva finished in the 9th, 11th, and 12th positions, respectively.
The ice dance event saw Canadian duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier taking the lead after the rhythm dance segment, scoring 85.38 points. The seasoned pair expressed their satisfaction with their performance and excitement for future improvements. Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, the silver medalists from the previous year, currently hold the fourth position.
Gilles and Poirier, aiming for their sixth consecutive Skate Canada title, showcased their prowess and are considered strong contenders for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympic Games in February. The free dance program is scheduled for Sunday, with live coverage available online.
In the men’s competition, American world champion Ilia Malinin dominated the short program, securing a substantial lead with 104.84 points. Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev emerged as the top Canadian in seventh place, while Aleksa Rakic from Burnaby, B.C., trailed in the 12th position.
Malinin, also known as the “Quad God,” remains undefeated since November 2023, and his exceptional performance in the season-opening Grand Prix of France solidified his reputation. The men’s free skate event is set to take place on Sunday.
The Skate Canada International event continues, with the men’s title and ice dance events to be decided on Sunday, offering thrilling performances and intense competition.
