I want them to do well, but I really like Lawrence/Swiegers too.. too bad there aren't four spots..
Natasha also has a great personality on the ice. I've been watching her as a single skater at summer events in Canada for the past 3 seasons, and she caught my eye right away. She has the makings of a great pair diva, ala Volosozhar.
Sounds like they are going to do better than with their previous partners. Too bad for Natasha's previous partner though, who needs to find a new one.
It is nice to be positive but realistically a world bronze is going to be hard to beat especially if they expect or hope to be up there on the world level let alone the national level. She is still unproven internationally - well relatively speaking as well. Not to be negative but Tran and his former partner won bronze - that cursed bronze medal where so many have won and then never to be seen again I wouldn't get too excited yet. I can tell Tran was hurt by the JSF and his former partner's decision. He is trying to be positive but the jumps may be stronger supposedly the timing and flow and artistry is something that needs to develop. i am sure though Canada will embrace this team though Tran did ditch Canada for his hope of making the world's and oly's with a Japanese teammate whose nation would be easier to win a spot to world's.
I'm wondering if Purich will be ready for senior ranks. Other than a stint at NHK she hasn't had much experience. As for Tran, I can't imagine him doing better than world bronze with Narumi. It'll be very interesting to see how they hold up. You've got to imagine that they'll get a PCS boost right away with Mervin, but hopefully they bring the technical game too.
Tak/Tran were together 5 years before they won World bronze. No one is expecting Purich/Tran to reach that level of success immediately. But why say they can't reach it ever? The Russians V/T and K/S and the Germans S/S will likely retire after Sochi. Bazarova/Larionov will never be an unbeatable team because Vera is an inconsistent jumper, and none of the younger Russian pairs look all that impressive. Dylan Moscovitch will be 29 in September, so who knows how long he will continue.
As for Purich, she has skated pairs for two years, so it isn't as if she has had no experience. She was a good singles skater, and I always felt that she was by far a better skater than Arcieri and he was holding her back.
Takahashi is not that strong a skater. Mervin Tran was most of their success. Now that they have split I doubt we will hear anything about her ever again (maybe about her coming last at such and such a World or Olympic event). I am confident in time he and Purich can do just as well.