Canadian pairs figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps secured their consecutive victory at Skate Canada International in Saskatoon. The duo thrilled the local crowd at SaskTel Centre by rallying from behind to claim the gold medal, surpassing German competitors Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps accumulated a total of 213.40 points, outscoring Hase and Volodin who earned 207.18 points. The United States’ Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea finished third with 199.11 points.
Initially trailing the Germans by 4.50 points after the short program on Friday, the Canadian pair delivered a stellar free skate program, earning 140.37 points. Hase and Volodin, the reigning Grand Prix Final champions and world silver medalists, faced challenges with falls during their free skate routine, affecting their performance.
In the women’s event, Mone Chiba of Japan clinched the title by executing a near-flawless free skate, outshining American standout Isabeau Levito. Chiba, the 20-year-old world bronze medalist, showcased a captivating performance to secure a season-best score of 217.23 points, earning her first Grand Prix gold medal. Ami Nakai, the winner of the Grand Prix de France, finished third with 203.09 points.
Canadian ice dance pair Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier took the lead after the rhythm dance segment, scoring 85.38 points in their Grand Prix season debut. The duo is aiming for their sixth consecutive Skate Canada title and is set to compete in the free dance program on Sunday.
Meanwhile, American skater Ilia Malinin dominated the men’s competition with 104.84 points in the short program, establishing a significant lead over his rivals. The “Quad God” is known for his exceptional performances and is a strong contender for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympic Games.
The men’s free skate and ice dance events will conclude on Sunday, with live coverage available for viewers. Fans can follow the competition on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.