Canadian Pairs Shine at Skate Canada International, Claim Top Spots

URGENT UPDATE: Two Canadian pairs have surged to the forefront of the 2025 Skate Canada International, with both teams finishing in the top three during the short program held today at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. This thrilling competition has captured the attention of skating fans as Canada showcases its talent on home ice.

Deanna Stellato-Dudek from Chicago and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, clinched second place with a score of 73.03 points. The duo was outperformed only by Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, reigning world silver medallists, who scored 77.53 points. “It’s always nice to skate at home in front of such an enthusiastic crowd,” Deschamps remarked. “We lost several points on one specific element, but we haven’t seen our routine yet,” added Stellato-Dudek.

Following closely behind, Lia Pereira of Milton, Ontario, and Trennt Michaud of Trenton, Ontario, finished third with a new personal best score of 70.66 points. “This is one of the best competitions we’ve done in the short, so we’re really excited about that,” Pereira expressed. Their impressive performance is a testament to their hard work in training and the support of local fans.

In other pairs results, Kelly Ann Laurin of Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, and Loucas Éthier of Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby, Quebec, placed sixth, scoring 59.93 points. Meanwhile, in the women’s event, Sara-Maude Dupuis of Montreal was the top Canadian finisher, achieving eighth place with a score of 60.41 points. Dupuis shared her excitement: “I feel really great. It was the first time I performed my new routine in front of a large audience, and the crowd was simply incredible.”

The competition continues today, October 31, 2025, with the rhythm dance and men’s short program scheduled for the afternoon, followed by the pair and women’s free programs in the evening. Fans eagerly await the next performances as the stakes rise and the excitement builds.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Skate Canada International unfolds! This report by The Canadian Press highlights Canada’s strong presence in the world of figure skating, demonstrating both skill and passion on the international stage.