Canadian Pairs 2017/2018 Season News and Updates

[honey]

Yes.
Too lazy to fact check but I think he was a novice medalist at one point. Something about that level.
He's incredibly mobile as a hockey player, and credits his figure skating background for this skill.

Skinner was the juvenile bronze medalist in 2004.

 

[nimi]

I believe Dylan & Lubov are passing on the World Championships - it has been posted on here somewhere but I don't remember what thread I was reading now.

It's official: Ruest/Wolfe are going instead of I/M -- although I/M are still on the list as alternates

http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat03108712.htm

I was hoping we'd be seeing I/M one last time in comp but I'm sure they have their reasons

 

[coppertop1]

So with D/R and I/M out, Canada will likely be down to two berths

 

[CassAgain]

I think it's a toss-up, but Canada only needs two spots at the moment anyway.

 

[clairecloutier]

So with D/R and I/M out, Canada will likely be down to two berths

Yeah, I think it will be tough for MT/M and S/B to get what they need for 3 spots. Not out of the question, for sure, but not easy either. It helps that Stolbova/Klimov are out. But I think it's likely that both Italian pairs will probably do well, skating at home, and that makes the path harder. We'll see.

 

[barbarafan]

It's official: Ruest/Wolfe are going instead of I/M -- although I/M are still on the list as alternates

http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat03108712.htm

I was hoping we'd be seeing I/M one last time in comp but I'm sure they have their reasons

Oh no.....I was so looking forward to World's to see them. I hope it does not mean the injury recovery is not going well.

 

[Ohyes]

Ready for S/B's era with D/R, S/M and few others retiring it's their time to rise up as one of the top contenders for 2022.

 

[coppertop1]

Oh no.....I was so looking forward to World's to see them. I hope it does not mean the injury recovery is not going well.

They're just couldn't get it going this season

 

[Rock2]

Ready for S/B's era with D/R, S/M and few others retiring it's their time to rise up as one of the top contenders for 2022.

If Aljona has her way she's skating in Beijing in 2022.

But yeah, bring on S/B!

 

[Rock2]

Sad for I/M but with the season they had, I can see them being ready to move on. Injuries and/or new opportunities to explore could also be a factor.

I'm not ready to say Canada can't keep 3 spots but yes will be tough. Possible though.
Other than Y/Z's freefall in the long the other pairs really overperformed while CAN2 and CAN3 made mistakes in the SP, keeping them down and forcing them into earlier groups for the long.

Fatigue from the top 8 will be an interesting factor in terms of prep as well. I'm not expecting Olympic quality from everyone.

With clean shorts, both MT/M and S/B will be in the 70 range and could both be in 2nd to last group with only a little bit of help via mistakes from others.
Skating later and thanks to a growing catalogue of good longs, you will see their PCS trend upwards. Both can approach or hit the 140 range skating the way they do, and tidying up some jump elements that have been a bit sloppy.

Yes they have to both have whistle clean shorts and strong longs, but I'm not ready to give up yet. Both teams trending upward.

 

[Rock2]

I think it's a toss-up, but Canada only needs two spots at the moment anyway.

Kinda sorta.

I expect R/W to work hard to get the 3Tw back over the summer. They have pulled some really good scores in B internationals before, so they to me are on the verge of breaking out. Highly watchable team, gelling as a pair. Good programs needed.

I would say most of us are pretty meh about Walsh/Michaud but they have the ability to be pretty consistent. Despite the lack of size difference the 3Tw is coming along. They need a serious upgrade in packagingj/programming to get noticed as they kick off their senior career next summer/fall. From what I know they will be training over the summer with a view to making the world team. Don't discount them just yet.

 

[jlmart]

Brasseur/Bardei will be making their debut this fall. He will be eligible for international competition by then. It will be interesting to see how they are doing. They look good in photos.

 

[IloveFS]

I think it's a toss-up, but Canada only needs two spots at the moment anyway.

No, Canada should try to keep the three spots if possible. We will see what happens!!!! Hopefully, the novice teams that showed so much promise at Nationals will continue to develop and it won't be long before Canada has another competitive pairs team

 

[Erin]

No, Canada should try to keep the three spots if possible. We will see what happens!!!!

Well obviously they should try. But if it doesn't happen, it won't be nearly as upsetting as if it hadn't happened at last year's Worlds, when we knew there would be four really talented teams fighting for, at best, three spots, and it would be really sad if it were only two. Canada is likely going to be in a situation where three spots is nice to have but if we only have two, the team sitting at home isn't someone with the potential to finish in the top 10 on a good day.

 

[Catherine M]

I think Canadian pairs should look pretty good next season in seniors:

Julianne/Charlie
M-T/M
Ruest/Wolfe
Sydney/Max
Brasseur/Bardei, yes we've never seen them but they both looked decent in their last partnership
Walsh/Michaud, probably my favorite of the up and coming teams

Then we have the aged out juniors, Matte & Ferland & Choinard & Ostiguy

So that's 8 teams right there that have international experience and hopefully will be keeping up with other countries.

 

[screech]

This came across my Facebook feed today. Does anyone know if he perhaps started out in figure skating?

According to his Wikipedia, he won bronze in juvenile at the 2004 Canadians, but shortly thereafter decided to focus on hockey.

I googled it when I saw it, because I thought his technique was pretty good for just a hockey player. He must have kept his skills up somehow, because it's been over a decade since he switched his focus.

 

[chapis]

omg, this!!!
https://allaboutfigureskaters.tumblr.com/post/171419704173/balletfever89-life-is-no-brief-candle-for

 

[skatingguy]

The Jeff Blair Show
The valleys were all worth it for Eric Radford
March 01 2018
The Olympic gold & bronze medallist talks to Jeff Blair & Ashley Docking about his Pyeongchang experience, figure skaters being recruited to help hockey players, his path to the Winter Games, and the impact he hopes to have post-career.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/jeff-blair-show/valleys-worth-eric-radford/

 

[Rock2]

I think Canadian pairs should look pretty good next season in seniors:

Julianne/Charlie
M-T/M
Ruest/Wolfe
Sydney/Max
Brasseur/Bardei, yes we've never seen them but they both looked decent in their last partnership
Walsh/Michaud, probably my favorite of the up and coming teams

Then we have the aged out juniors, Matte & Ferland & Choinard & Ostiguy

So that's 8 teams right there that have international experience and hopefully will be keeping up with other countries.

I think there are other individuals out there who might not have completely given up skating and might be open to finding a partner if the right fit comes. I think Chudak is back to training and I'd like to see Boudreau-Audet skate for Canada. Perhaps someone like Purich comes back to life yet again....

I sincerly hope Choinard and Ostiguy develop real well over the summer. They have such a long way to go; they need to make big strides having aged out of junior. They don't even yet look like a solid junior team yet they have to compete in senior. Crossing my fingers.

I have been disappointed with Matte and Ferland. Lots of personality but if you don't have big tricks you have to be consistent with what you do. They can't seem to get anywhere close to a clean program. Don't know what their plans are but I'd be surprised if they continue. I haven't seen any progression from them in two years, it seems.

 

[crazy2skate]

I am so looking forward to watching S/B in the next 4 years...they are the future of Canadian pair!, KMT/M, if she continues with Mike I can not see them making the jump in the standings.
I look forward to seeing Brasseur/Bardei, she has such a presence on the ice and we know she can do the pair stuff, she has the package! W/M this team is improving but I do not believe they will keep up. Walsh can keep trying but her height will continue to hinder her. Walsh does not have the presence on the ice like most pair girls.
Skate Canada has some building to do and needs to get the right girls with the right boys. What is happening in the pair world is catching up with them. The future is sparse when it comes to pair teams and skill level is questionable.

Noticed on Ice Partner Search Steve Lapointe is looking for a new partner. I wonder who will scoop up Chloe...she is a girl with A LOT of potential and she is still young!

 

[DFO]

Noticed on Ice Partner Search Steve Lapointe is looking for a new partner. I wonder who will scoop up Chloe...she is a girl with A LOT of potential and she is still young!

If I got it right, they had no choice. Steven is too old for Junior and I guess Chloé is too young for senior... I'm sorry to see them splitting cause after 2 years together they were a nice match. They won the Novice title 2 years ago and did well in Jr last year, even doing one international event (didnot goes well, but that's a great Learning experience). I wish them both good luck.

 

[jlmart]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what/when the first domestic competition of the 2018/19 season is?

 

[Sylvia]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what/when the first domestic competition of the 2018/19 season is?

First major one for pairs, often including Canadian teams, is Skate Detroit, July 17-21, 2018.

Minto SC has bid to host a "Skate Ontario Sectional Series Event" to be held July 26-29, 2018: http://summerskate.mintoskatingclub.com

 

[jlmart]

Thank you Sylvia.

 

[blademate]

Looks like Purich has teamed up with Matthew den Boer, 4th in Junior Pairs at Canadians in 2017.

 

[Sylvia]

... I'd like to see Boudreau-Audet skate for Canada.

Posted by @levineismine in the Japanese news thread just now:

Francis Boudreau-Audet announced he is no longer representing Japan
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf3wEcMFtvS/?hl=it&taken-by=frankbouds

(we assume he's skating again for Canada?)

ETA: Suto/Boudreau-Audet's last international competition together for Japan was NHK Trophy (November 11, 2017).

 

[Rock2]

Well, then.
The plot thickens.

Boudreau-Audet must have gotten a good deal from Japan while options in Canada were limited. Things must have changed on one or more fronts.

He's tall, well-coached and has at least 2 triples. Hopefully he found a partner, which wouldn't surprise me as there a lot of skaters right in Quebec. I wonder how tall the Decelles sisters are?....hmmm....

 

[Erin]

Interesting news re Boudreau-Audet. I'm very curious to see who his partner is.

That's two Canadians skating for other countries that Skate Canada is getting next season, it's an interesting coincidence.

 

[marigold]

Interesting news re Boudreau-Audet. I'm very curious to see who his partner is.

That's two Canadians skating for other countries that Skate Canada is getting next season, it's an interesting coincidence.

I'm hoping for Lubov!

 

[Cant Skate]

Looks like Purich has teamed up with Matthew den Boer, 4th in Junior Pairs at Canadians in 2017.

I saw that too but it could just be a try out. I wouldn't count on that anyways...her intagram story today shows her in a hospital bed with her leg all trussed up so....