Canadian figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps secured their consecutive victory at Skate Canada International in Saskatoon over the weekend. The pair thrilled the home crowd at SaskTel Centre as they rallied from behind to claim the gold medal, outscoring their German competitors, Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps tallied 213.40 total points, while Hase and Volodin earned 207.18 points.
In the pairs competition, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea of the United States finished in third place with 199.11 points. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, who were in second position after the short program on Friday, made a remarkable comeback with a winning free skate performance that garnered them 140.37 points.
The German pair, Hase and Volodin, experienced setbacks with falls during their free skate, impacting their overall score. Canadian pairs Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud claimed fourth place, followed by Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier in fifth.
This victory marks the first Grand Prix win of the season for Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, the reigning world champions who previously clinched silver at the Grand Prix of France. Stellato-Dudek expressed their satisfaction with the result, emphasizing the continuous drive for improvement ahead of the Olympics.
In the women’s competition, Mone Chiba of Japan triumphed over American standout Isabeau Levito with a flawless free skate performance. Chiba edged out Levito with a season-best score of 217.23 points, securing her first Grand Prix gold medal after finishing as a runner-up in her previous assignments.
The ice dance event saw Canadian duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier take the lead following the rhythm dance. The pair, aiming for their sixth consecutive Skate Canada title, impressed with a score of 85.38 points. Gilles and Poirier showcased a strong performance, setting the stage for the free dance program scheduled on Sunday.
American world champion Ilia Malinin dominated the men’s competition, establishing a significant lead with 104.84 points in the short program. Malinin, known for his exceptional quad jumps, has maintained an unbeaten streak since 2023, and is poised for further success in the free skate event on Sunday.
The remaining events, including the men’s free skate and the ice dance free dance, are set to conclude on Sunday at Skate Canada International. Fans can follow the action live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
