2025–26 Canadian Ice Dance: News and Updates

[skateycat]

Jackie Wong has suggested "LaKers" for the portmanteau.

Makes me think of Nathan Lickers. Please let Nathan get a new partner - I just found him last season!

 

[Tinycities]

I guess that may answer the question of what Marjorie is currently doing in France?

Also why Hannah Lim was also posting in France. JLB does that program with Nathan Chen.

 

[marshallpond]

JLB does that program with Nathan Chen.

Nathan CHEN, Samuel CHOUINARD, Jean-Luc BAKER et Cody HAY

 

[deegee]

I guess the Lajoie and Baker partnership is Instagram official?

Jean-Luc Baker on Instagram: "💫 6•1•26 💫 Music & Video: @oayd.video"

172 likes, 10 comments - jeanlucbaker on June 1, 2026: "💫 6•1•26 💫 Music & Video: @oayd.video".

www.instagram.com

someone in the comments has already dubbed them "bakerie"

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Skate Canada will have all the ex-partner rivalries with Bashynska/Perron vs Urban/Beaumont continuing too. The former LaLas are already winning the catchy portmaneau contest though.

I bet someone at Skate Canada is already working on some "Heated Exes Rivalries" social media campaigns.

 

[fan]

I bet someone at Skate Canada is already working on some "Heated Exes Rivalries" social media campaigns.

Pfft. You’re giving them faaaaaar too much credit

 

[PRlady]

Dumb question, but are we all assuming Kaitlin is fine with this? It’s not a Gaby situation, that’s for sure.

ETA: actually, I’m not sure of that either.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I think most people are assuming that Kaitlin coming back wasn’t in the cards, and she seems like she’s enjoying what she’s doing. But we’ll never know what Kaitlin thinks unless she chooses to share.

 

[Dobre]

I don't imagine that Skate Canada would be sending its blessings if they didn't know Jean-Luc would be released.

I will point out that he is a 4CC gold medalist and GPF finalist so it's not the same to compare him with Stellato prior to her last release (her best international finish had been a 5th at 4CCs). (Actually, I can't think of a comparable resume for any athlete that USFS has let go?) We really should acknowledge how rare this is. It is fortunate for Lajoie that he's been out a while and that USFS seems to have eased up its timeline relative to the past.

I'm glad she will have a decent partner. It stinks that most top ladies cannot get one that is comparable. I imagine the "look" on the ice will take getting used too. (He's an inch shorter than Lagha). And, yes, I would hope they would lean more toward entertaining programs; though I always thought we should see that for Hawayek & Baker as their exhibitions were always the best received material they performed, but no . . .

Anyway, if he wishes to continue, he should. And I don't imagine they'd embark on this partnership if they weren't looking at at least a four-year timeline so even if they needed more time for a release or to get ready, the time exists. Not likely the decade it generally takes for a team to reach its maximum potential; but to build a team, yes.

 

[my little pony]

I hope it works out for everyone since it feels like we willed it to happen, like someone cast a spell over their fan fiction.

 

[mtnskater]

Baker is 32 years old, and according to his Wikipedia page has suffered at least 3 concussions during training with Hawayek. I sure hope he won’t have any more concussions I thinks it’s fair for USFS to release him at this point. And I’ll be excited to see him back and to watch how he and Marjorie progress. Always loved Hawayek and Baker so I have a feeling I will really enjoy this new pairing. The new dance season is looking to be pretty exciting.

 

[Matryeshka]

Even by the standards of a post-Oly season, these breakups and pairings are


It's like they all caught American Pairs Syndrome at the Olympics

 

[Taso]

Even by the standards of a post-Oly season, these breakups and pairings are


It's like they all caught American Pairs Syndrome at the Olympics

(It's like they all think they are F-B/C, too...)

 

[Parsley Sage]

Piper watches and reacts to their Olympic free skate

Piper Gilles watches and reacts to bronze medal Olympic performance

Watch Canadian Olympic figure skater Piper Gilles watch and react to the Olympic performance that secured her and partner Paul Poirier their Olympic bronze m...

www.youtube.com

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Carole Lane posted that Piper Gilles will be joining the coaching team at Ice Dance Elite.

Carol Lane on Instagram: "IDE are super excited to announce that Olympic bronze medalist Piper Gilles will be joining our coaching team. Piper brings a fresh energy along with her years of experience as an Olympian and World competitor, and we can’t

307 likes, 12 comments - carollaneonice on June 7, 2026: "IDE are super excited to announce that Olympic bronze medalist Piper Gilles will be joining our coaching team. Piper brings a fresh energy along with her years of experience as an Olympian and World competitor, and we can’t wait to work...

www.instagram.com

I would suspect this leans towards retirement.

 

[just tuned in]

Carole Lane posted that Piper Gilles will be joining the coaching team at Ice Dance Elite.

I would suspect this leans towards retirement.

Even if GilPoir were not ready to retire (which I am sure that Paul is), the specter of LaBak has to weigh.

 

[Taso]

Even if GilPoir were not ready to retire (which I am sure that Paul is), the specter of LaBak has to weigh.

It would, but they'd have at least a season before they could be a threat

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

It would, but they'd have at least a season before they could be a threat

It doesn’t happen often but, once in a while, a new newly formed ice dance team ends up being a podium threat. I believe this happened rather recently.

 

[Dobre]

My guess is, that at this point in their careers, it was probably as much as any federation could ask just to keep Gilles & Poirier in for Worlds after the Olympics. They went 2-4 years longer than telegraphed four years ago.

 

[Private Citizen]

It’s a shame for G&P to retire without a world title. I wonder if this telegraphs that FB&C are skating next season? There’s no guarantee that another team wouldn’t pass G&P, as they’ve lost to F&G and lost marks / imputed ordinals to Z&K, but I’d still have liked their odds in a field without FB&C. Their Olympic free dance was mesmerising in person, and there was a good case for them to have won the free dance.

 

[Karen-W]

It’s a shame for G&P to retire without a world title. I wonder if this telegraphs that FB&C are skating next season? There’s no guarantee that another team wouldn’t pass G&P, as they’ve lost to F&G and lost marks / imputed ordinals to Z&K, but I’d still have liked their odds in a field without FB&C. Their Olympic free dance was mesmerising in person, and there was a good case for them to have won the free dance.

I don't think it telegraphs anything with regard to FBCiz. As you note, they've already lost to FearGib in the last quad and there are other teams continuing to rise.

 

[Alilou]

Even if GilPoir were not ready to retire (which I am sure that Paul is), the specter of LaBak Bakerie has to weigh.

Fixed it for you

 

[Theatregirl1122]

While I think Lajoie and Baker could be good, I can’t imagine anyone is assuming they would overtake Piper and Paul in a few months.

Piper and Paul were amazing in the Olympics free dance, but the signs that they are starting to be tired have been there. I was shocked they went to worlds, because they seemed ready to be done.

 

[skategal]

While I think Lajoie and Baker could be good, I can’t imagine anyone is assuming they would overtake Piper and Paul in a few months.

Piper and Paul were amazing in the Olympics free dance, but the signs that they are starting to be tired have been there. I was shocked they went to worlds, because they seemed ready to be done.

I was surprised too but now I’m wondering if they knew other teams were splitting post-Worlds and they wanted to give Canada 3 spots one more time.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I was surprised too but now I’m wondering if they knew other teams were splitting post-Worlds and they wanted to give Canada 3 spots one more time.

I assumed it was about helping out with spots, even if they didn’t know other teams were splitting.

 

[puglover]

Sad as I am to face the facts and acknowledge that Piper and Paul are leaving the competitive ranks, I am so happy for them. They faced some significant challenges in their careers together and rose above them to leave their mark. I recall Paul's ankle injury and of course Piper's cancer diagnosis as two very possibly career ending events that they rose above. I will always respect how original they were with their movement and programs. They also found a way to project very genuine love and affection between a man and a woman while not using a romantic/sexual connection. I believe Piper will be a fantastic coach and any skaters who work with her will be very fortunate.

 

[Taso]

It doesn’t happen often but, once in a while, a new newly formed ice dance team ends up being a podium threat. I believe this happened rather recently.

Well yes, I certainly am aware of F-B/Ciz. And I am also cognizant of the fact that neither Baker not Lajoie have anywhere close to the competitive record of Cizeron.

 

[marshallpond]

Saw pics of Marjorie on the ice with Jean Luc in Courchevel, together with the other True Step instructors (Nathan Chen, Sam Chounard). Marjorie posted in her Insta story a pic of the Courchevel rink

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Well yes, I certainly am aware of F-B/Ciz. And I am also cognizant of the fact that neither Baker not Lajoie have anywhere close to the competitive record of Cizeron.

Oh for sure. And really, we have very little to go to on when it comes to what ML/JLB will look like when they compete in the upcoming season. However, Krylova and Ovsyannikov were 5th at Worlds in 1995 (1 spot below B&K and 1 above A&P) after less than a year together, and had Moniotte/Lavanchy and Rahkamo/Kokko not stayed in an extra year, K&O might have been bronze medallists in '95. Both Lajoie and Baker were world junior champions. Baker was a 4CCs champion and worlds top 8 and Lajoie's was a worlds top 5 (should have been higher), so with retirements and with the addition of the golden waltz pattern, there's a teeny tiny chance that they could place fairly highly at 2027 worlds. But it's equally possible that their styles might not gel, they could have not great programs and Jean-Luc might be too rusty after several seasons away from competition.

 

[chewy]

Piper watches and reacts to their Olympic free skate

Piper Gilles watches and reacts to bronze medal Olympic performance

Watch Canadian Olympic figure skater Piper Gilles watch and react to the Olympic performance that secured her and partner Paul Poirier their Olympic bronze m...

www.youtube.com

I don't have premium Youtube and the interrupting ads were awful so I found it on CBC. They have ads but at the beginning only and then the whole piece flows. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7222245. I really love skater reaction videos.