Canadian Pairs 2018/2019 Season News and Updates

[DFO]

Really agree with you. There are quite a few great teams out there even in junior. Lots to look forward to and even a few junior teams who could consider moving senior soon.

Maybe a few could move up but not many. At least 5 of the junior teams are too young for senior pairs (the girls barely made it to qualify to ISU Jr requirement), namely:
McIntosch/Toste
Perreault/Pierro
Pouliot/Simard
Andrew/Fletcher
Panetta/Mimar

On the other hand, if the "new kids on the block" got early success in junior, this may be an incentive for the older ones to move up instead of being beaten by the "childs".

 

[DFO]

For the first summer Canadian pairs event, I was hoping for a fight between the Boys-Eddy and McIntosh/Toste for the first place in junior. With the Boys-Eddy WD, this was finally Andrew/Fletcher who won Minto, proving me wrong and impressing me.

1 Patricia Andrew / Paxton Fletcher Brant FSC/Brant FSC ON 48.59 (2) 84.04 (1) 132.63
2 Brooke McIntosh / Brandon Toste Canadian Ice Academy/Toronto CS & ON 49.52 (1) 81.14 (2) 130.66
3 Gabrielle Levesque / Pier-Alexandre Hudon CPA La Pocatière Inc./CPA La Pocatiè NS 43.40 (3) 75.54 (3) 118.94
4 Camille Perreault / Bryan Pierro Centre Jeunes Performances Plus/Ce QC 38.58 (6) 70.71 (4) 109.29
5 Marine Pouliot / Alexandre Simard CPA La Pocatière Inc./CPA La Pocatiè QC 39.67 (4) 67.37 (5) 107.04
6 Chloe Panetta / Benjamin Mimar CPA St-Michel/CPA St-Michel QC 38.69 (5) 66.07 (6) 104.76
7 Sara Jane Dana / Livio Mayr Austria/Austria 27.12 (7) 27.12
WD Cirinia Gillett / Zachary Freedman Phillipines/Phillipines
WD Olivia Boys-Eddy / Mackenzie Boys-Eddy Skate Canada Brampton-Chinguacous ON
WD Gabriella Marvaldi / Daniel Villeneuve CPA Sherbrooke/CPA Sherbrooke QC

 

[Sk8mom123]

For the first summer Canadian pairs event, I was hoping for a fight between the Boys-Eddy and McIntosh/Toste for the first place in junior. With the Boys-Eddy WD, this was finally Andrew/Fletcher who won Minto, proving me wrong and impressing me.

1 Patricia Andrew / Paxton Fletcher Brant FSC/Brant FSC ON 48.59 (2) 84.04 (1) 132.63
2 Brooke McIntosh / Brandon Toste Canadian Ice Academy/Toronto CS & ON 49.52 (1) 81.14 (2) 130.66
3 Gabrielle Levesque / Pier-Alexandre Hudon CPA La Pocatière Inc./CPA La Pocatiè NS 43.40 (3) 75.54 (3) 118.94
4 Camille Perreault / Bryan Pierro Centre Jeunes Performances Plus/Ce QC 38.58 (6) 70.71 (4) 109.29
5 Marine Pouliot / Alexandre Simard CPA La Pocatière Inc./CPA La Pocatiè QC 39.67 (4) 67.37 (5) 107.04
6 Chloe Panetta / Benjamin Mimar CPA St-Michel/CPA St-Michel QC 38.69 (5) 66.07 (6) 104.76
7 Sara Jane Dana / Livio Mayr Austria/Austria 27.12 (7) 27.12
WD Cirinia Gillett / Zachary Freedman Phillipines/Phillipines
WD Olivia Boys-Eddy / Mackenzie Boys-Eddy Skate Canada Brampton-Chinguacous ON
WD Gabriella Marvaldi / Daniel Villeneuve CPA Sherbrooke/CPA Sherbrooke QC

Anyone know why the Boys-Eddy withdrew? I was looking forward to watching them.

 

[Rock2]

Lots of people withdrew from Minto, so I guess a bunch of skaters just aren't ready.

I was kind of surprised at McIntosh and Toste. Other than a bad twist, they have many other tools. She's so tiny and doesn't look that strong to the eye but she landed BIG 3STh with ease in both programs. They also both have sbs 3S and 2A which will serve them well. Some spirit to their skating, too. There's some potential there.

I can't get excited yet by Andrew/Fletcher. They are *trying* the 3Tw but to me they don't have any elements that are particular strengths. Among the juniors they have a more mature look, while their more junior elements are fairly solid. That means they rise when everyone else fails.

I need to see a twist or a jump/throw profile that leads me to believe they can score. Not there yet.

 

[Rock2]

PS I have to say looking at the score sheets that there were quite a handful of +4 and +5 GoE in this event. I know one judge in particular was handing +5 out like candy.

I didn't see one element in any program that I watched in junior that I would give a +5 to. And you might have had to arm wrestle me over a +4.

I have this feeling that internationally you'll see judges being hesitant to go beyond +3 other than for teams with an established rep of winning medals...and then in perhaps only a year the floodgates will open and it'll be raining 4s and 5s for very average elements.

Judges, please prove me wrong!

 

[mag]

Minto judging, for the most part, seemed quite high to me. Some of the ladies were also receiving scores that I am sure they will get no where else. It is early season which usually makes for crazy scoring (both high and low,) add in a new GOE structure and it doesn’t surprise me we see some head shaking stuff. BC Summer Skate, which always had weird scoring (some crazy high and some crazy low) will probably be over the top this year.

 

[Vase]

Lots of people withdrew from Minto, so I guess a bunch of skaters just aren't ready.

I was kind of surprised at McIntosh and Toste. Other than a bad twist, they have many other tools. She's so tiny and doesn't look that strong to the eye but she landed BIG 3STh with ease in both programs. They also both have sbs 3S and 2A which will serve them well. Some spirit to their skating, too. There's some potential there.

I can't get excited yet by Andrew/Fletcher. They are *trying* the 3Tw but to me they don't have any elements that are particular strengths. Among the juniors they have a more mature look, while their more junior elements are fairly solid. That means they rise when everyone else fails.

I need to see a twist or a jump/throw profile that leads me to believe they can score. Not there yet.

With brand new programs I’m excited to see A/F as the season progresses
M/T may seem to be the favorite to some, the girls are both very young to have any big predictions early this season

 

[dramagrrl]

Edited for redundance. Sorry!

 

[Rock2]

With brand new programs I’m excited to see A/F as the season progresses
M/T may seem to be the favorite to some, the girls are both very young to have any big predictions early this season

Sort of yes, sort of no

Spring and summer is when you train your (new) elements and insert them into programs.
There are isolated occasions when you upgrade your elements (base value) during the season but that's the exception more than the rule.

Your GoE can definitely improve as the season progresses, so I'm not commenting on that. I'm just commenting on what I'm seeing is being planned, and based on that (and somewhat based on potential to do what they are doing well later on in the season), I'm not super excited about A/F relative to others. I see their international LP max being around 90 or slightly above if they do all they can do with no major mistakes. That's not horrible but not something that gets my attention, either.

 

[Vase]

Sort of yes, sort of no

Spring and summer is when you train your (new) elements and insert them into programs.
There are isolated occasions when you upgrade your elements (base value) during the season but that's the exception more than the rule.

Your GoE can definitely improve as the season progresses, so I'm not commenting on that. I'm just commenting on what I'm seeing is being planned, and based on that (and somewhat based on potential to do what they are doing well later on in the season), I'm not super excited about A/F relative to others. I see their international LP max being around 90 or slightly above if they do all they can do with no major mistakes. That's not horrible but not something that gets my attention, either.

I see what you’re saying but I at the young devoping age of the girls and both skating singles, I assume development will come throughout the season.
It’ll also be interesting to see height and growth farther into the season, as we know that plays a factor in pair girls.
I’m excited to watch both throughout the season, as I was last season.

 

[aftershocks]

Per KMT’s insta story Moore-Towers/Marinaro are skating to:

SP: Leona Lewis cover of “the first time ever I saw your face”

LP: Pink Floyd medley

This is the Roberta Flack version I remember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_UYLPSn6U
Here's Leona Lewis' stirring version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWKHMnLyQ5Q with onscreen lyrics & still photos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEGFuXGHMdY Leona Lewis live

The choreo to this I look forward to seeing -- another Julie Marcotte gem?

Lewis is strikingly beautiful, born of a Welsh mother and a Guyanese father
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Lewis

Ultimate Pink Floyd medley (Shine On You Crazy Diamond; Comfortably Numb)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev3ZkXxf4QQ

Pink Floyd playlist (starting with Comfortably Numb)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9eomNTpCw4
Pink Floyd playlist (starting with Shine On You Crazy Diamond)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UXircX3VdM&index=13&list=PL8CQIFqDrjYUVdJbkHe4--PkWZYBB3NoW

 

[puglover]

I like the sound of KMT/MM and their choices. Looking forward to seeing them.

 

[Japanfan]

This is the Roberta Flack version I remember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_UYLPSn6U

Such a beautiful and unforgettable song.

But, I can't imagine any skaters doing it justice.

 

[DFO]

For those who have missed it, here are the Junior Pairs results from the Championnat québécois d'été.
It seems it will be a rock and roll season with some (most) pairs doing great in the short or the free but rarely in the 2. Doing well one event and bad the other. After the short, Choinard/Ostiguy were in the lead but got a really, really, really bad free. Panetta/Mimar did good, especially after their weak Minto results. But in the end, it's Levesque/Hudon who won the event, even with Gabrielle falling some times. But she was good in the free with only one bad jump.

1 Gabrielle Levesque / Pier‐Alexandre Hudon St.Margarets Bay/La Pocatière NS/EQ 44.02 85.26 129.28 (3) (1)
2 Chloe Panetta / Benjamin Mimar Les Lames d'Argent/St‐Michel LV/MC 46.85 69.54 116.39 (2) (3)
3 Chloe Choinard / Mathieu Ostiguy Saint‐Léonard/St‐Césaire BA/RA 48.00 66.09 114.09 (1) (4)
4 Camille Perreault / Bryan Pierro Magog/St‐Hubert ER/RS 41.67 70.83 112.50 (4) (2)
5 Marine Pouliot / Alexandre Simard Lorraine/La Pocatière LO/EQ 31.34 62.41 93.75 (5) (5)
WD Gabriella Marvaldi / Daniel Villeneuve St‐Jean‐sur‐Richelieu/Sherbrooke RS/ER

Overall results are available at:
https://resultats.patinage.qc.ca/

Also, notice the interesting SP of Fournier/Farand in Novice and the overall result of Laurin/Éthier. Both of these novices had a better scores than jr Pouliot/Simard. I was expecting more from that young couple (Pouliot/Simard) who already got ISU Jr experience, really interesting artistically but still missing some elements, especially jumps. I guess it will come in time.

 

[Rock2]

Look out, kids. We have a new pair on the scene: #AirBandB (I'm claiming that one lol)

Brasseur and Bardei look GREAT together. First time competing so the silly mistakes happened. Even with a wonky throw landing, him landing his sbs jump on his face and her falling on footwork they got 55 in the SP! Twist and lifts will be unreal with this team.

He's a tank. All this talk of her growing, she looks tiny next to him. This is gonna work.
The only element with a long way to go is the throws. She's clearly not ready to land big throws but I think she's only 16 still (yikes), but everything else looks to be set and ready to rock.

Couldn't care less how clean the skate was. First time out, just wanna see what they got....and they got a LOT.

PS Matte/Ferland were solid first SP in senior, too. Well done, guys!

 

[Rock2]

The short for MT/M should work for them. Not sure if they are the final costumes but they look great. She doesn't seem to be in 100% shape yet which could be a function of time lost due to injury at the end of last season. If they are healthy now, they should be fine come GP time.

The First Time Ever I saw Your Face is glorious music. They are going with a more sugary pop version which suits their style. They don't have the right interpersonal chemistry to handle a more soulful version of, say, Roberta Flack, so this is appropriate for them.

I will admit I have a skating crush on Ruest/Wolfe. Twist is finally starting to come. Not there yet but it's clear they have been working on it. I think they'll finally get it this year or next. As much as I loooooove watching them, their short program is forgettable. Some duet, maybe with Alicia Keys. Very medium paced throughout and to me not much to grab on to to showcase the choreo or elements. Too bad.

 

[Moustaffask8r]

For those who have missed it, here are the Junior Pairs results from the Championnat québécois d'été.
It seems it will be a rock and roll season with some (most) pairs doing great in the short or the free but rarely in the 2. Doing well one event and bad the other. After the short, Choinard/Ostiguy were in the lead but got a really, really, really bad free. Panetta/Mimar did good, especially after their weak Minto results. But in the end, it's Levesque/Hudon who won the event, even with Gabrielle falling some times. But she was good in the free with only one bad jump.

1 Gabrielle Levesque / Pier‐Alexandre Hudon St.Margarets Bay/La Pocatière NS/EQ 44.02 85.26 129.28 (3) (1)
2 Chloe Panetta / Benjamin Mimar Les Lames d'Argent/St‐Michel LV/MC 46.85 69.54 116.39 (2) (3)
3 Chloe Choinard / Mathieu Ostiguy Saint‐Léonard/St‐Césaire BA/RA 48.00 66.09 114.09 (1) (4)
4 Camille Perreault / Bryan Pierro Magog/St‐Hubert ER/RS 41.67 70.83 112.50 (4) (2)
5 Marine Pouliot / Alexandre Simard Lorraine/La Pocatière LO/EQ 31.34 62.41 93.75 (5) (5)
WD Gabriella Marvaldi / Daniel Villeneuve St‐Jean‐sur‐Richelieu/Sherbrooke RS/ER

Overall results are available at:
https://resultats.patinage.qc.ca/

Also, notice the interesting SP of Fournier/Farand in Novice and the overall result of Laurin/Éthier. Both of these novices had a better scores than jr Pouliot/Simard. I was expecting more from that young couple (Pouliot/Simard) who already got ISU Jr experience, really interesting artistically but still missing some elements, especially jumps. I guess it will come in time.

Simard jumping technique is lacking and Pouliot, not as strong as a single skater as I would expect. Maybe she grew and she's having a hard time adjusting...

 

[Sk8mom123]

For those who have missed it, here are the Junior Pairs results from the Championnat québécois d'été.
It seems it will be a rock and roll season with some (most) pairs doing great in the short or the free but rarely in the 2. Doing well one event and bad the other. After the short, Choinard/Ostiguy were in the lead but got a really, really, really bad free. Panetta/Mimar did good, especially after their weak Minto results. But in the end, it's Levesque/Hudon who won the event, even with Gabrielle falling some times. But she was good in the free with only one bad jump.

1 Gabrielle Levesque / Pier‐Alexandre Hudon St.Margarets Bay/La Pocatière NS/EQ 44.02 85.26 129.28 (3) (1)
2 Chloe Panetta / Benjamin Mimar Les Lames d'Argent/St‐Michel LV/MC 46.85 69.54 116.39 (2) (3)
3 Chloe Choinard / Mathieu Ostiguy Saint‐Léonard/St‐Césaire BA/RA 48.00 66.09 114.09 (1) (4)
4 Camille Perreault / Bryan Pierro Magog/St‐Hubert ER/RS 41.67 70.83 112.50 (4) (2)
5 Marine Pouliot / Alexandre Simard Lorraine/La Pocatière LO/EQ 31.34 62.41 93.75 (5) (5)
WD Gabriella Marvaldi / Daniel Villeneuve St‐Jean‐sur‐Richelieu/Sherbrooke RS/ER

Overall results are available at:
https://resultats.patinage.qc.ca/

Also, notice the interesting SP of Fournier/Farand in Novice and the overall result of Laurin/Éthier. Both of these novices had a better scores than jr Pouliot/Simard. I was expecting more from that young couple (Pouliot/Simard) who already got ISU Jr experience, really interesting artistically but still missing some elements, especially jumps. I guess it will come in time.

Enjoyed watching this event. Levesque/Hudon has a good long and Panetta/Mimar look good together. Choinard/Ostiguy has a great warm up. So disappointing for them. Hopefully they turn it around. I think they are capable if she can get over the nerves.

 

[Sk8mom123]

Look out, kids. We have a new pair on the scene: #AirBandB (I'm claiming that one lol)

Brasseur and Bardei look GREAT together. First time competing so the silly mistakes happened. Even with a wonky throw landing, him landing his sbs jump on his face and her falling on footwork they got 55 in the SP! Twist and lifts will be unreal with this team.

He's a tank. All this talk of her growing, she looks tiny next to him. This is gonna work.
The only element with a long way to go is the throws. She's clearly not ready to land big throws but I think she's only 16 still (yikes), but everything else looks to be set and ready to rock.

Couldn't care less how clean the skate was. First time out, just wanna see what they got....and they got a LOT.

PS Matte/Ferland were solid first SP in senior, too. Well done, guys!

Yes Brasseur and Bardi look out! They will be amazing

 

[Catherine M]

So I don't want to get ahead of myself, but what the hell, I'll join the bandwagon for Brasseur & Bardei as I think Justine looks AMAZING and well if Mark can rotate his sbs jumps, Canada could have a very special team developing.

Edit to add that 20 years ago in August 1998, Sale & Pelletier skated for the first time at Quebec summer skate and there was tons of buzz about them so now we have Brasseur & Bardei doing the same. No idea what the future will bring for Justine & Mark but I know for one I'll be very interested in seeing their development under Richard Gauthier and his team.

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

Junior : I have always liked the flow and speed of Levesque/Hudon. Panetta and Mimar are getting used to each other. He is quite a tall guy, 6’3”! Chloe’s jumps were not peak form this week.
Too bad for Choinard/Ostiguy. She has really improved her presentation and their packing is there. Their content is up there : two throw triples, two sbs triples. Chloe can do 5ese jumps easily, she just seems too struggle with the pressure in cimoetiton, doubting herself.
Good job of Perreault/Pierro, strong jumps, good unison. He needs to build up to get the harder pair elements.

Still trying to look for the senior pair online. It is such a mess finding the events on daily motion...

 

[barbarafan]

For those who have missed it, here are the Junior Pairs results from the Championnat québécois d'été.
It seems it will be a rock and roll season with some (most) pairs doing great in the short or the free but rarely in the 2. Doing well one event and bad the other. After the short, Choinard/Ostiguy were in the lead but got a really, really, really bad free. Panetta/Mimar did good, especially after their weak Minto results. But in the end, it's Levesque/Hudon who won the event, even with Gabrielle falling some times. But she was good in the free with only one bad jump.

1 Gabrielle Levesque / Pier‐Alexandre Hudon St.Margarets Bay/La Pocatière NS/EQ 44.02 85.26 129.28 (3) (1)
2 Chloe Panetta / Benjamin Mimar Les Lames d'Argent/St‐Michel LV/MC 46.85 69.54 116.39 (2) (3)
3 Chloe Choinard / Mathieu Ostiguy Saint‐Léonard/St‐Césaire BA/RA 48.00 66.09 114.09 (1) (4)
4 Camille Perreault / Bryan Pierro Magog/St‐Hubert ER/RS 41.67 70.83 112.50 (4) (2)
5 Marine Pouliot / Alexandre Simard Lorraine/La Pocatière LO/EQ 31.34 62.41 93.75 (5) (5)
WD Gabriella Marvaldi / Daniel Villeneuve St‐Jean‐sur‐Richelieu/Sherbrooke RS/ER

Overall results are available at:
https://resultats.patinage.qc.ca/

Also, notice the interesting SP of Fournier/Farand in Novice and the overall result of Laurin/Éthier. Both of these novices had a better scores than jr Pouliot/Simard. I was expecting more from that young couple (Pouliot/Simard) who already got ISU Jr experience, really interesting artistically but still missing some elements, especially jumps. I guess it will come in time.

They are not doing the same jumps this yr and do not have them yet...2 yrs from juvenile to junior- big jump..I hope she gets them as they both do beautiful programs.

 

[Rock2]

So I don't want to get ahead of myself, but what the hell, I'll join the bandwagon for Brasseur & Bardei as I think Justine looks AMAZING and well if Mark can rotate his sbs jumps, Canada could have a very special team developing.

Edit to add that 20 years ago in August 1998, Sale & Pelletier skated for the first time at Quebec summer skate and there was tons of buzz about them so now we have Brasseur & Bardei doing the same. No idea what the future will bring for Justine & Mark but I know for one I'll be very interested in seeing their development under Richard Gauthier and his team.

I think they'll eventually have a 3Tw4 with GOE which will be over 8 points, possibly. That's a big number to start a program.

IIRC Mark can jump. I remember watching videos of him on JGP and he routinely landed triples. I think he just got forward today and the fall was ugly but I don't think it's a concern.

As I said the only element that bothered me was the throw. Shades of Lloyd throwing Isabelle...keeping it real small so that she could fight for the landing. Let's see how that develops.

 

[supergirl573]

The short for MT/M should work for them. Not sure if they are the final costumes but they look great. She doesn't seem to be in 100% shape yet which could be a function of time lost due to injury at the end of last season. If they are healthy now, they should be fine come GP time.

I liked it a lot. Michael is looking a lot less stiff. KMT is coming back from an injury, but I'm sure she will survive on pure willpower and perk alone.

 

[Colonel Green]

Both of the Grand Prix-bound pairs withdrew from the FS. The remaining two looked about as rough as you'd expect pairs teams performing at 8:45 in the morning to look (whose idea was that?).

However, Brasseur and Bardei's twist from yesterday was clearly not a fluke. It looked even better today.

 

[barbarafan]

Both of the Grand Prix-bound pairs withdrew from the FS. The remaining two looked about as rough as you'd expect pairs teams performing at 8:45 in the morning to look (whose idea was that?).

However, Brasseur and Bardei's twist from yesterday was clearly not a fluke. It looked even better today.

I really like their lines and expression as well. I missed this am's competition so I will wait for the protocols later to see what they did. Judging from yesterday's competition and the fact that Julianne and Charlie split they are looking good for podium this year. Yay!!

 

[Colonel Green]

I really like their lines and expression as well. I missed this am's competition so I will wait for the protocols later to see what they did. Judging from yesterday's competition and the fact that Julianne and Charlie split they are looking good for podium this year. Yay!!

The podium at Nationals is likely to be:

1. KMT/Marinaro (virtually a lock)
2/3. Walsh/Michaud and Ruest/Wolfe, in whatever order.

Brasseur/Bardei have one great element already, and a lot of work to do on the others.

 

[Rock2]

The podium at Nationals is likely to be:

1. KMT/Marinaro (virtually a lock)
2/3. Walsh/Michaud and Ruest/Wolfe, in whatever order.

Brasseur/Bardei have one great element already, and a lot of work to do on the others.

Being together only 9 months they have a lot of work to do on all elements. Having said that they are set up to get a good TES number already. Their twist will soon score the highest in Canada and I'm told all their lifts are unreal. That's 4 great elements.

They are also capable of doing sbs 3T and 3S along with throw 3S and 3Z. The sbs jumps are likely to be better than the throws at first, and should be fairly consistent once they are comfortable competing.

I can see this team quickly becoming seen as the second best team in Canada, however it will likely take a few years to realize this potential being a new team that will have to learn to perform in big events under pressure.

(Caveat: the entire landscape can change if Julianne, Charlie and/or Luba dial back in)

 

[honey]

Being together only 9 months they have a lot of work to do on all elements. Having said that they are set up to get a good TES number already. Their twist will soon score the highest in Canada and I'm told all their lifts are unreal. That's 4 great elements.

There were issues on two of the three lifts today. And the first lift was also somewhat laboured. I’m sure they’re capable of great lifts, but the lift in the short and the one they did execute properly today didn’t exactly knock my socks off. It’s so early in their development though that I will just chalk it up to stamina and newness right now.

I was happy to see the throws both looked bigger today than in the sp. The throw sal I think will be especially nice with a little more time.

They got the sbs 3S done today. I have hope that he can jump.

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

There were issues on two of the three lifts today. And the first lift was also somewhat laboured. I’m sure they’re capable of great lifts, but the lift in the short and the one they did execute properly today didn’t exactly knock my socks off. It’s so early in their development though that I will just chalk it up to stamina and newness right now.

I was happy to see the throws both looked bigger today than in the sp. The throw sal I think will be especially nice with a little more time.

They got the sbs 3S done today. I have hope that he can jump.

Add to that knowing each other under the spotlights of competitions. That’s one thing doing great elements in practice and one thing finding the right timing to do them in competition. If one of the skaters is more hyper under stress, than can throw off the timing needed to get the lifts done.

I am quite confident in this team!