There were only two teams at HPC who aren't on the GP this season: W/P and FB/S. W/P are obvious based on Nationals last year and the fact that they are only missing the GP, but are doing a CS and competing later. FB/S are a bit different, but they would clearly have been on the GP if not for the change of country rules, and have a track record that clearly puts them above a team like Sales/Wamsteeker who were there.
Um, for one, three pairs teams (MT/M, Walsh/Michaud, Ruest/Wolfe) were at Champs Camp, so obviously no. All three are assigned to CS events already.
HPC is for the National team/slash people doing the GP. Brasseur/Bardei are neither. And that's fine. They've competed all of once to this point.
And seriously, what are you on about 'protecting their favourites?'. One, I've never seen any evidence that MT/M were Skate Canada favourites. Two, as much potential as B/B have, I'd be shocked to see them win this year. They need more time to develop and get their elements in order. Skate Canada doesn't need to protect MT/M from them. And I highly doubt that attendance at HPC will make the difference at Nationals anyways.
And in terms of competing internationally, do we even know that Mark has been released by the Ukrainian Fed? I saw someone suggesting he hadn't.
