Two Canadian pairs claimed medal positions following the short program on Friday at Skate Canada International in Saskatoon, an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event. Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps secured second place with a score of 73.03, while Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud landed in third place with a score of 70.66. Deschamps expressed joy in performing in front of the enthusiastic home crowd, noting improvements in their routine compared to a previous Grand Prix event in France. Stellato-Dudek acknowledged some shortcomings in their performance but reserved final judgment until they reviewed their routine.
Pereira and Michaud achieved a personal best in the short program, pleased with their performance on home ice. Meanwhile, Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin led the pairs competition with a top score of 77.53. Canadian pair Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier will enter the free program in sixth place.
In the women’s event, Japan’s Mone Chiba held a narrow lead over American Isabeau Levito, with Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann in third place. Sara-Maude Dupuis emerged as the top Canadian in eighth place, expressing satisfaction with her performance and the support from the audience.
The coverage of Skate Canada International will resume on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET. For more information on the broadcast schedule, visit the CBC Sports website.