The post-Olympic national championships are always an eye-opener. The veterans who are returning are often well-known, and the newbies are often like … who? Now, there’s some of that, but there’s also reinventions, especially in the pairs event. We will have at least two newly-crowned Canadian champions this week, with no returning champions in pairs and dance.
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2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships predictions
Official hashtag: #CTNats23
Men Top 5 predictions
GOLD Keegan Messing
SILVER Roman Sadovsky
BRONZE Stephen Gogolev
4. Wesley Chiu
5. Corey Circelli
Of all the disciplines, this is the one with perhaps the greatest number of familiar names. Keegan Messing, who finally won the Canadian title last year, made the decision to give it at least one more season. And while he comes in as the favorite, he’s also had some inconsistent skates, with his most recent competition memory being a disastrous free skate at Grand Prix Espoo. If he’s off, Roman Sadovsky could get himself back to the top of the podium after winning the title three years ago. And after missing last year’s Nationals with COVID, Stephen Gogolev has been making some inroads this season and look to return to the podium in his first Nationals since 2019.
— Canada has two spots for the men for Worlds
Pairs Top 5 predictions
GOLD Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps
SILVER Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud
BRONZE Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar
4. Kelly Ann Laurin/Loucas Ethier
5. Emmanuelle Proft/Nicolas Nadeau
One of the standout pairs of this season, Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps, who won bronze last year, come into these Nationals as the favorites. Thought Stellato has been battling a viral illness that affected her at Grand Prix Final and has taken a toll on her stamina, she will most definitely give it her all in a quest for their first Canadian title. The intrigue will come with a couple of new pairs - Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud have already shown great promise, winning Skate Canada Challenge and taking bronze at Golden Spin, their first international event together. And Emmanuelle Proft/Nicolas Nadeau could also turn some heads. Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar, last year’s World junior bronze medalists, are also looking at a place on the podium.
— Canada has three spots for pairs for Worlds
Women Top 5 predictions
GOLD Madeline Schizas
SILVER Kaiya Ruiter
BRONZE Fiona Bombardier
4. Justine Miclette
5. Sara-Maude Dupuis
Like the men’s event, the reigning champ is the clear favorite here. But like Messing, Madeline Schizas has been prone to inconsistency this season, and will need to put down some solid performances to get herself back to the top. Chasing her are a few skaters who are making their senior debut at Canadians. Kaiya Ruiter is a skater we’ve been hearing about for a few years - she won juniors three years ago and put up some solid skating in the junior ranks last season. Fiona Bombardier, last year’s junior silver medalist, won Skate Canada Challenge coming into Nationals. And Justine Miclette, last year’s junior champion, had a good senior international debut this year with a fifth-place finish at Ice Challenge.
— Canada has one spot for the women for Worlds
Dance Top 5 predictions
GOLD Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen
SILVER Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha
BRONZE Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain le Gac
4. Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus
5. Haley Sales/Nikolas Wamsteeker
With two-time Canadian champs Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier out of Nationals after Gilles’ appendectomy, the path is clear for Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen to win their first national title. They have been the clear second dance team for Canada this season and have pulled off some great results this season, including a win over US champs Madison Chock/Evan Bates at NHK Trophy. Last year’s bronze medalists, Majorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha look poised for silver. And the fight for bronze between Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain le Gac and Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus will be exciting.
— Canada has two spots for ice dance for Worlds