2026 Canadian Nationals: General Info and Pregame Chat

[soccerjc77]

I put Gabrielle Daleman in first for winning national. It was a difficult decision for me to choose between Maddie, Gabrielle, and Sara-Maude. But I've decided that Gabrielle is the one I'd like to see at the Olympics because her programs captivate me, and she's exciting to watch skate with her speed and flow in her jumps—it's magnificent when she's confident! I would be very happy to see her at the Olympics in the same group as Adelia Petrosian; I think her Roxanne tango is a very good choice of music for her. I love her final position close to the judges; it's my favorite final program position this year—it's sexy, fierce, and magnificent.

 

[soccerjc77]

And, one option I find interesting would be if Gabrielle Daleman finished her career at the Olympic Games and Maddie or Sara-Maude went to the World Championships. That would be my ideal prediction.

 

[4everchan]

The chances of Skate Canada splitting Olympics and worlds are big.

In women, unless Maddie is the clear winner, I have a feeling they will give a consolation prize to one skater. It could be in the style of " we chose Maddie for the Olympics because of Body of work over the last two years, but you are getting worlds:

In men, if it's very very tight, I can see Skate Canada splitting assignments between Roman and Stephen as well.

In pairs and dance, Piper and Paul and Deanna and Max may not go to worlds. In that case, assignments would be split again.

So, in that sense, I hope skaters give their best and perform their best. Even when there is only one spot apparent, there may be an option for worlds.

 

[RatedPG]

The chances of Skate Canada splitting Olympics and worlds are big.

In women, unless Maddie is the clear winner, I have a feeling they will give a consolation prize to one skater. It could be in the style of " we chose Maddie for the Olympics because of Body of work over the last two years, but you are getting worlds:

In men, if it's very very tight, I can see Skate Canada splitting assignments between Roman and Stephen as well.

In pairs and dance, Piper and Paul and Deanna and Max may not go to worlds. In that case, assignments would be split again.

So, in that sense, I hope skaters give their best and perform their best. Even when there is only one spot apparent, there may be an option for worlds.

Lots of interesting decisions to be made.

Already we have Ava and Yohnathan assigned to 4CC. They are our 4th best Senior Pairs team. So, this means Skate Canada is aware of one of the top three teams not wanting to compete at 4CC. I think this is Deanna and Maxime.

For Women, if Maddie podiums and is selected to go to the Olympics, I think splitting and giving it to the winner would be fair.

For Men, if Stephen wins, my only worry would be if Skate Canada gives it to Roman we wouldn’t finish in the top ten. Although he has been skating really well and the Worlds team may be somewhat depleted, I have more confidence in Stephen giving us two spots for the next season.

In Pairs, without Deanna and Max, I will have to pray for one of our two pairs teams to finish in the top ten.

In Dance, without P&P, I’m confident LaLa will place in the top ten. However, we may lose a spot from three spots to two spots.

So, a lot of interesting decisions to be made between the athletes, coaches and Skate Canada committee.

I’m just excited to watch the actual competition.

 

[skatingguy]

Already we have Ava and Yohnathan assigned to 4CC. They are our 4th best Senior Pairs team. So, this means Skate Canada is aware of one of the top three teams not wanting to compete at 4CC. I think this is Deanna and Maxime.

None of the skaters selected for the Olympic team will be going to Four Continents.

 

[4everchan]

Lots of interesting decisions to be made.


For Men, if Stephen wins, my only worry would be if Skate Canada gives it to Roman we wouldn’t finish in the top ten. Although he has been skating really well and the Worlds team may be somewhat depleted, I have more confidence in Stephen giving us two spots for the next season.

I would prefer Gogo all the way. Let's give him a chance. Roman has had many chances. Of course, he needs to earn it but if he does, Gogo would be my choice for both.

In Pairs, without Deanna and Max, I will have to pray for one of our two pairs teams to finish in the top ten.

think Lia and Trennt would do so. Last year was weird... this year, they have shown a lot of improvement but it hasn't translated in competition. I remain confident that the work they did will be sufficient for a top then. In any case, Canada still has two spots and getting a third one would be hard at this point so we are aiming at top 12 mostly.

In Dance, without P&P, I’m confident LaLa will place in the top ten. However, we may lose a spot from three spots to two spots.

Lala, at their worst last year were 7th. Not only would Piper and Paul be out of worlds, if they choose to do so... but I suspect that at least two other teams wouldn't go : the Italians and Chock and Bates. So 7-3 =4 4 Who knows what could really happen. In the same vein, if Lala did place that high, a third spot may be kept though most likely not. However, if Canada loses their third spot, in some ways, it will be because we don't really need it. As much as I like our teams, if Piper and Paul retire next year, and perhaps even Marie-Jade and Romain, we certainly would be okay with just the two spots.

So, a lot of interesting decisions to be made between the athletes, coaches and Skate Canada committee.

I’m just excited to watch the actual competition.

 

[RatedPG]

The one thing I’m hopeful for the next Olympic cycle, is for LaLa to be a podium contender. They are my favourite dance team. Worlds is going to be a huge opportunity for them.

My faves are essentially all our #2 best athletes/teams:

SMD, Romsky, Lia/Trentt and LaLa

So, I will be rooting for upsets next week

 

[NanaPat]

None of the skaters selected for the Olympic team will be going to Four Continents.

Probably not Olympic team first alternates either.

 

[4everchan]

Probably not Olympic team first alternates either.

maybe in pairs. otherwise, we may be sending only one team to 4CC this year.

 

[saine]

I don't think they'll keep the first alternates out of 4CC. Soucisse/Firus, Lauriault/Le Gac and Sales/Wamsteeker competed at 2022 4CC after finishing 4th, 5th and 6th at Nationals respectively. It would be a hard sell to skaters to be first alternate if it meant not even getting 4CC.

 

[4everchan]

I don't think they'll keep the first alternates out of 4CC. Soucisse/Firus, Lauriault/Le Gac and Sales/Wamsteeker competed at 2022 4CC after finishing 4th, 5th and 6th at Nationals respectively. It would be a hard sell to skaters to be first alternate if it meant not even getting 4CC.

I think they will could do it for singles... but probably not for pairs/ dance.

When you only have one spot, you need your alternate to be fit and ready to go... cannot risk it much.

With dance, it's never a problem because really, if one of the top three teams is not fit, they still have options. In pairs, well, considering that we are most likely to have Kelly Ann and Loucas as alternates, I am sure they will send them because they haven't competed much at all this season due to injury and they may end up having to go to worlds so they need the extra competition.

I would be very surprised if Gogo or Romsky ended up at 4CC if they are the alternate to one another... same with Maddie/SMD.

 

[labgoat]

I am struggling with where I want to place the following - Maddie vs SMD vs. Gaby ( on paper this looks good, but Gaby is fast and leaves a bigger impression, SMD has the big trick, but how consistent is it, also she feels slow and projects less than Gaby. Wesley Chiu is back from injury and has a bigger bag of tricks than Keegan. I think Aleksa is steady enough for slot 5 although I like Matthew more. Too big a SB for me to go Grayson, Antony over Aleksa. The judges have held Fabbri & Ayer back a bit, I really like Henson & Lickers - same camp, but chosen less by SC for assignments internationally. Love Roman but the numbers are not in his favor over Gogo. I wish he could have had a better OG experience than his first really stressful one. Jaz & Kieran had so many mistakes at Junior level, I cannot put them in my top 5 as seniors.

 

[saine]

I think they will could do it for singles... but probably not for pairs/ dance.

When you only have one spot, you need your alternate to be fit and ready to go... cannot risk it much.

With dance, it's never a problem because really, if one of the top three teams is not fit, they still have options. In pairs, well, considering that we are most likely to have Kelly Ann and Loucas as alternates, I am sure they will send them because they haven't competed much at all this season due to injury and they may end up having to go to worlds so they need the extra competition.

I would be very surprised if Gogo or Romsky ended up at 4CC if they are the alternate to one another... same with Maddie/SMD.

I don't see that happening with singles either. Kazuki Tomono is the first alternate for the Olympics and he's assigned to 4CC, even if Rinka wasn't assigned to 4CC and is the first alternate for the Olympics. If I'm Roman or Sara-Maude where I've had success in the season like winning a Challenger and am passed over for 4CC because I'm supposed to be an alternate for the Olympics, I'd be bitter.

 

[RatedPG]

I don't see that happening with singles either. Kazuki Tomono is the first alternate for the Olympics and he's assigned to 4CC, even if Rinka wasn't assigned to 4CC and is the first alternate for the Olympics. If I'm Roman or Sara-Maude where I've had success in the season like winning a Challenger and am passed over for 4CC because I'm supposed to be an alternate for the Olympics, I'd be bitter.

I agree.

If Roman and SMD are the alternates, why would I give up the chance to compete at 4CC?

Chances are super low Maddie or Stephen will give up the Olympic spots. Why would I not compete at 4CC just in case (less than 1%), the top pick gives up their spot. Also, they can compete at 4CC and still compete at the Olympics, at the last minute, if I’m not mistaken.

 

[saine]

Maddie vs SMD vs. Gaby ( on paper this looks good, but Gaby is fast and leaves a bigger impression, SMD has the big trick, but how consistent is it, also she feels slow and projects less than Gaby.

Gabby vs SMD is where I'm waffling. It's the free for me since they have similar layouts in the short. Gabby has been going for a 3Lz-3T. It was clean at Challenge, but then she had issues with the other jumps. It isn't helping that this is the one of the match-ups I'm invested in, so I'm hoping to not jinx anyone

 

[labgoat]

Gabby vs SMD is where I'm waffling. It's the free for me since they have similar layouts in the short. Gabby has been going for a 3Lz-3T. It was clean at Challenge, but then she had issues with the other jumps. It isn't helping that this is the one of the match-ups I'm invested in, so I'm hoping to not jinx anyone

Both women are capable technically - I think it is going to come down to who can handle the pressure better and how Maddie scores. If Maddie doesn't do well - who should we trust more for the team event...

 

[4everchan]

I don't see that happening with singles either. Kazuki Tomono is the first alternate for the Olympics and he's assigned to 4CC, even if Rinka wasn't assigned to 4CC and is the first alternate for the Olympics. If I'm Roman or Sara-Maude where I've had success in the season like winning a Challenger and am passed over for 4CC because I'm supposed to be an alternate for the Olympics, I'd be bitter.

You guys raise valid points. I'm thinking more in terms of the team event where Canada has a better chance of winning a medal than in singles. So if I were the boss, I'd want to make sure I bring a good team... We saw what happened last time when our male alternate for the team, though he was on site, wasn't ready to compete

 

[4everchan]

Also if I were the boss, I'd give the alternate worlds as a rewards for missing 4cc

 

[labgoat]

How many spots for 4CC pairs does CAN have? How many teams have their minimums?

 

[FlossieH]

How many spots for 4CC pairs does CAN have? How many teams have their minimums?

All eligible countries get 3 spots for each event at 4CC. There aren't any quotas like at Euros and Worlds.