Canadian skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who competed earlier in September, are set to compete in a competitive field at Skate Canada International this week in Halifax. (Angelika Warmuth/The Associated Press)
Skate Canada International is gearing up for an exciting weekend in Halifax, as world-renowned figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek, Maxime Deschamps, Ilia Malinin, and Kaori Sakamoto take the spotlight. The event marks the second Grand Prix stop of the year and promises thrilling performances as the pre-Olympic figure skating season heats up. From defending champions to rising stars, here are five key things to keep in mind before the competition kicks off.
Returning Champions
Ice dance duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, fresh off a silver win at the world championships in Montreal, are back to wow the crowd. The dynamic Canadian pair has a stellar track record at Skate Canada, claiming first place for four consecutive years (with the 2020 event canceled). They’ll be aiming for their fifth consecutive win this weekend, hoping it serves as a stepping stone toward their ultimate goal: winning their first world championship title in Boston next March.
However, their primary rivals, Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the United States, will not be competing this year. Instead, Gilles and Poirier may face stiff competition from fellow Canadians Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha. Though Lajoie and Lagha had to withdraw from a previous event due to injury, they are set to make their return in Halifax.
Gold Medal Defenders
Canada’s reigning world champions, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, are also eager to defend their title. Their remarkable story continues to inspire — Stellato-Dudek, a former U.S. singles skater, returned to the sport after a 15-year break, partnering with Deschamps in 2019. The pair made history by earning Canada’s first world pairs title since 2018.
Though Stellato-Dudek is still in the process of acquiring Canadian citizenship, her recent comments suggest progress is being made. This weekend, the pair will face strong competition from Germany’s Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel, ranked sixth in the world.
Star Performances
Two more big names at the event are men’s world champion Ilia Malinin from the U.S. and Japan’s women’s champion Kaori Sakamoto. Malinin, known as the "Quad God," continues to push the boundaries of figure skating. After delivering a six-quad performance in Montreal last year, he returned to Canada following a victory at Skate America last weekend. With his remarkable talent, Malinin is seen as a favorite for gold at the 2026 Olympics. And in a fun twist, he's bringing back somersault-type jumps, including the crowd-favorite backflip, which is no longer penalized by skating officials.
Meanwhile, Sakamoto is hoping to secure her fourth consecutive world title, a feat last achieved by U.S. skater Carol Heiss between 1956 and 1960.
Canada’s Singles Hopes
While Canadian skaters may dominate in pairs and ice dance, their singles performances have struggled in recent years. The country hasn't won a world singles medal since Kaetlyn Osmond’s victory in 2018. This weekend, Canada’s best hopes in the women’s competition rest with Madeline Schizas and 17-year-old Kaiya Ruiter. In the men’s category, 2022 Olympian Roman Sadovsky will compete alongside youngsters Aleksa Rakic and Stephen Gogolev.
What’s at Stake
The Grand Prix series is figure skating’s premier event, featuring six competitions leading up to the final in December. Skate Canada will start Friday night with the pairs and women's short programs, continuing over the weekend with rhythm dance and men's short programs. By Sunday afternoon, the event will culminate with the men’s free program and the free dance, determining who advances to the Grand Prix final in France.
