Ever since the 2018 Olympics, the state of Canadian skating has been much less certain than it was before. And it’s not the lack of talent or intrigue - rather, it’s the uncertainty of who is going to peak at that competition that makes it so unpredictable. On top of that, there have been withdrawals at this year’s Canadians that open the door up for new names to shine.
2020 Canadian Nationals predictions
Official hashtag: #CTNats20
Men Top 5 predictions
GOLD Nam Nguyen
SILVER Keegan Messing
BRONZE Roman Sadovsky
4. Nicolas Nadeau
5. Conrad Orzel
Whoever wins this competition knows that he will have the unenviable task of finishing in the top 10 at Worlds to get that second spot back for next year’s Worlds. On paper, it looks to be a battle for gold between two-time Canadian champ Nam Nguyen and two-time Canadian medalist Keegan Messing. Nguyen comes in with the better season, but Messing - favored to win here last year but faltered in the free skate - have the stronger international reputation. It should be quite the battle.
But that’s not to say that the top two are said and done. Even without reigning silver medalist Stephen Gogolev in the event, someone like Roman Sadovsky, who medaled on the Grand Prix this season, or someone like Nicolas Nadeau could make some waves and potentially pull off an upset.
Pairs Top 5 predictions
GOLD Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro
SILVER Liubov Ilyushechkina/Charlie Bilodeau
BRONZE Evelyn Walsh/Trennt Michaud
4. Deanna Stellato/Maxime Deschamps
5. Justine Brasseur/Mark Bardei
Ten years ago, Kirsten Moore-Towers won her first Canadian title, back then with Dylan Moscovitch. And this week, she is back with Michael Marinaro to win her third (and their second) title. They are very much the heavy favorites for this title. The pins-and-needles will be with the rest of the podium.
Like Moore-Towers/Marinaro, Liubov Ilyushechkina/Charlie Bilodeau both come in having won Canadian medals with their previous partners. They are in their first season together and have already seen international success. In the hunt with them will be Evelyn Walsh/Trennt Michaud, last year’s silver medalists - they have a way of peaking later in the season, so this will be another opportunity for them. Perhaps the most anticipation will be on new pair Deanna Stellato/Maxime Deschamps - Stellato has been on the US pairs scene for the past few seasons and will make her debut at Canadians with Deschamps this week.
Dance Top 5 predictions
GOLD Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier
SILVER Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus
BRONZE Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha
4. Haley Sales/Nikolas Wamsteeker
5. Molly Lanaghan/Dmitre Razgulajevs
With Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen out of Nationals because of his knee surgery, the path is very clear for Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier to win their long-awaited National title. But that’s not to say that Gilles/Poirier wouldn’t have been the favorites anyway.
And without Fournier Beaudry/Sorensen and Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje in the event, the rest of the podium is very open. It means that Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus and Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha will be favored for the podium - Lajoie/Lagha have won the junior title the past three years and come in as the current Junior World champs.
Ladies Top 5 predictions
GOLD Gabrielle Daleman
SILVER Veronik Mallet
BRONZE Alison Schumacher
4. Alicia Pineault
5. Aurora Cotop
It’s been quite a couple of seasons for Gabrielle Daleman, the two-time Canadian champion. It’s been mental health and physical injury, and now she’s coming into Nationals with pneumonia. Either way, her path to a third Canadian title will be a solid short program and then a decent free skate, which means she can afford to play it easier if she’s willing to. If she can find that right balance, that will be golden.
As for others who could be on the podium, it’s really anyone’s game. If Veronik Mallet is up to what she’s capable of, she could very well vie for gold, especially if Daleman is off her game. Alison Schumacher, seventh last year at Nationals, has shown some promise this season both on the junior level and on the senior level - she has also been wildly inconsistent (8th at a Challenge Series event internationally and then 11th at Skate Canada Challenge - both within a couple of weeks of each other). Aurora Cotop has been on the podium but was out of much of this season with an injury. And Alicia Pineault have banked some international experience under her belt.