2025–26 Canadian Ice Dance: News and Updates

[Karen-W]

FWIW - here are the Canadian dance teams on this season's SB list -

3 - Gilles/Poirier 217.74
12 - Lajoie/Lagha 199.80
13 - Lauriault/le Gac 197.90
26 - Fabbri/Ayer 183.49
48 - Hensen/Lickers 164.56 ETA to mark them off now that they've split
51 - Veillon/Brandys 161.83 (j)
65 - Anderson/Dawson 150.77 (j)
75 - Homick/Buelow 143.56 (j)
82 - Cincon-Debout/Celestino 141.61 (j)
96 - Fournier/Zhu 134.00
118 - Carandiuc/Carandiuc 122.05 (j)
131 - Kalaganis/Deveau 112.84 (j)

Teams sent out to non-Challengers/GPs -
Gauthier/Thieren - 162.67 (Budapest Trophy)
Nguyen/Giang - 155.19 (IceChallenge Graz)
Robinson/Portz - 163.00 (Bavarian Open)

 

[skateblessing]

They really do have a very clear pathway at the moment.

FWIW, they may be enjoyable but they're mired in the 40s on the SB list so I don't think they have much respect from international panels. I have to agree with @angi that they (and any other existing Canadian team) would have a difficult time making the FD at Worlds.

Well at least they might get GP Canada host spot?

 

[Karen-W]

Well at least they might get GP Canada host spot?

Maybe? Or Skate Canada will give it to Veillon/Brandys since they didn't medal at Jr Worlds & they're too far down the WS & SB lists to get one otherwise.

 

[skateblessing]

Maybe? Or Skate Canada will give it to Veillon/Brandys since they didn't medal at Jr Worlds & they're too far down the WS & SB lists to get one otherwise.

But would SC use host spot on both L/L and L/LG? Wouldn´t they want to maximize their entries in other events and use mainly host spot for other teams? I mean I guess L/L should be there for ticket sale.

 

[clairecloutier]

Very surprised to see Fabbri/Ayer split! I wasn't expecting that at all.

At Worlds in the mixed zone, the LeGacs said they haven't decided their future yet. They might retire and move into coaching, or they might keep going. They did say that, having just recently switched to I.AM London, they feel they still have more to learn there. So we'll have to wait and see what happens.

 

[Karen-W]

But would SC use host spot on both L/L and L/LG? Wouldn´t they want to maximize their entries in other events and use mainly host spot for other teams? I mean I guess L/L should be there for ticket sale.

Hmmmm... Good point. LajLag should get SCI but I'm sure you're right that les Gacs will get 2 GPs elsewhere since they are the only other Canadian team guaranteed at least 1 GP (and I expect them to get 2 since they're in both the WS & SB Top 24).

I'm just not certain that Hensen/Lickers' score is good enough to warrant Skate Canada giving them the SCI host spot straight away on the initial assignments, especially if there are new teams that form who look promising on paper at least. Their SB isn't really all that different from Robinson/Portz's Bavarian Open score.

I can, though, see Skate Canada giving Veillon/Brandys a SCI host spot on the initial assignments since their SB is a junior score and it's barely lower than Hensen/Lickers.

Ultimately, if I were Skate Canada, I'd dole out the SCI host spots as follows:
1) Lajoie/Lagha
2) Veillon/Brandys
3) TBD - let Hensen/Lickers, Robinson/Portz, Nguyen/Giang and any other new teams battle it out for the last spot. Tell them all to be prepared to compete at LPIDI and/or Quebec Summer Championships if they want that SCI host spot.

 

[Dobre]

Maybe Bashynska's partner would like to move to Canada?

 

[manhn]

L&L should compete at SC not just for publicity - the home field advantage will hopefully better secure a spot to GPF.

 

[Karen-W]

L&L should compete at SC not just for publicity - the home field advantage will hopefully better secure a spot to GPF.

Oh, 100%! They need every advantage they can get and competing at SCI is an absolute must for them if they hope to make the GPF again.

 

[skateblessing]

Hmmmm... Good point. LajLag should get SCI but I'm sure you're right that les Gacs will get 2 GPs elsewhere since they are the only other Canadian team guaranteed at least 1 GP (and I expect them to get 2 since they're in both the WS & SB Top 24).

I'm just not certain that Hensen/Lickers' score is good enough to warrant Skate Canada giving them the SCI host spot straight away on the initial assignments, especially if there are new teams that form who look promising on paper at least. Their SB isn't really all that different from Robinson/Portz's Bavarian Open score.

I can, though, see Skate Canada giving Veillon/Brandys a SCI host spot on the initial assignments since their SB is a junior score and it's barely lower than Hensen/Lickers.

Ultimately, if I were Skate Canada, I'd dole out the SCI host spots as follows:
1) Lajoie/Lagha
2) Veillon/Brandys
3) TBD - let Hensen/Lickers, Robinson/Portz, Nguyen/Giang and any other new teams battle it out for the last spot. Tell them all to be prepared to compete at LPIDI and/or Quebec Summer Championships if they want that SCI host spot.

Oh yikes. Would they even consider giving up one of their host spots if they don´t find them worthy enough? :/

 

[Karen-W]

Oh yikes. Would they even consider giving up one of their host spots if they don´t find them worthy enough? :/

They've given up one of their host spots in pairs during this most recent Olympic quad when they didn't have enough teams, so it stands to reason they very well might give up a host spot in dance too, though probably not quite as likely.

 

[Skate Talker]

Hmmmm... Good point. LajLag should get SCI but I'm sure you're right that les Gacs will get 2 GPs elsewhere since they are the only other Canadian team guaranteed at least 1 GP (and I expect them to get 2 since they're in both the WS & SB Top 24).

Also because they bring entertainment value and don't really present a threat to upper level teams.

 

[princeton123]

FBC have deluded some people into thinking it takes teams five minutes to gel instead five years

 

[RoseRed]

They've given up one of their host spots in pairs during this most recent Olympic quad when they didn't have enough teams, so it stands to reason they very well might give up a host spot in dance too, though probably not quite as likely.

I think it's very unlikely. Even with the recent splits, there a significantly more dance teams that SC has already sent out internationally than in pairs. I can't imagine them choosing to give up a spot completely over giving it to, say, Hensen/Lickers. This past season, they gave H/L two CS events, and included them in the competition for the host spot for SC (which they never had any realistic chance of getting imo, but still shows SC's interest). To me that shows enough investment in the team that I would expect them to give them a GP spot if they had one open (as in available and other Canadian teams hadn't earned it ahead of them). I'm not saying should or will H/L automatically get a host spot. I think giving the 2nd spot to Veillon/Brandys outright, then saving the 3rd for whoever looks the best in the summer, like you suggested, would be a great plan.

Hopefully they don't prove me wrong.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Hensen/Lickers have split.

 

[marbri]

Hensen/Lickers have split.

My heart

 

[fsfann]

What's with all the splits... yikes.

 

[Tinycities]

Hensen/Lickers have split.

Ugh they were the ones I was so excited about actually being sent out with all the splits. This one really hurts.

 

[Karen-W]

Good Lord, Canadian ice dance is really taking it on the chin this week!

 

[BlueRidge]

This is getting freaky.

 

[her grace]

What's with all the splits... yikes.

If the athlete wants to continue, then it's better to have all the splits at once, so then there's the best pool of potential matches and you get better teams going forward.

 

[Rukia]

hey canada y'all doing ok up there?

 

[manhn]

Are all of these skaters gonna retire or is this a matter of musical chairs? I also wonder if some foreign skaters would consider switching to Canada. The US top 3 seems pretty much set for the upcoming quad. If FB&C stay on, same for France.

Kinda weird. When V&M returned, the retirement of teams seemed understandable. But there are openings galore now. Oh well.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

hey canada y'all doing ok up there?

We're currently drowning our sorrows in poutine, beaver tails and maple syrup.

 

[princeton123]

dance field is wide open, it’s actually kind of exciting

 

[jmtfti]

Rather more exciting when the lineup is more inspiring than it is at present...

 

[Karen-W]

Nguyen/Giang may get a home province GP assignment just by being the last team standing.

 

[marbri]

Are all of these skaters gonna retire or is this a matter of musical chairs? I also wonder if some foreign skaters would consider switching to Canada. The US top 3 seems pretty much set for the upcoming quad. If FB&C stay on, same for France.

Kinda weird. When V&M returned, the retirement of teams seemed understandable. But there are openings galore now. Oh well.

5/6 have stated they are looking for new partners. The only one who hasn't said anything on instagram is Nathan Lickers.

eta... I am getting the feeling at least one of the three have been advised they don't see much chance of advancement with the current partnership. Could be the same for more.

 

[skategal]

There has to be a domino effect happening here with skaters choosing to skate with others determining other splits.

Who will be paired together at the end of this?

 

[marbri]

It's a shame Natashya and Peter seems happy in their new partnerships because I see more potential amongst these splits with higher quality options.