Canadian Pairs Eye Medals at Skate Canada International

Two Canadian pairs are positioned for medals following the short program on Friday at Skate Canada International, part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Saskatoon. Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps hold second place with a score of 73.03, while Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud are in third place with 70.66 points. Deschamps expressed gratitude for the support of the enthusiastic crowd, saying, “It’s always nice to skate at home.” Stellato-Dudek noted that while some aspects of their routine were improved compared to the Grand Prix in France, they encountered challenges on a specific element. Pereira and Michaud achieved a personal-best performance in the short program, showcasing their training on home ice. In the pairs competition, Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin lead with a total score of 77.53. Canadian pairs Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier will enter the free program in sixth place with a score of 59.93. In the women’s event, Japan’s Mone Chiba leads with 72.29 points, followed closely by American Isabeau Levito with 71.80 points, and Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann in third place with 68.11 points. Sara-Maude Dupuis is the top Canadian in the women’s event, currently in eighth place with a score of 60.41. The competition will continue with live coverage on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET.