Who will make Canada's World team next season?

[temperboy28]

Does anybody have any guesses what Canada's World team might look like next year. Here are the questions I see for each event:

Women-almost for sure Rochette goes back to Worlds, but will she go back as Canada's National Champion, or will this be the season Leung takes away her National title. On the other hand, will Mira even be able to hang on for 2nd place, or will she herself be overtaken by anyone of Phaneuf, Samson, or Hawker. So Rochette could be 1st or 2nd, Leung could be anywhere from 1st to out of the top 2 and off the team, and Phaneuf, Hawker, Samson could be at best 2nd and make it to Worlds. Personally I think nothing changes, Rochette wins Canadians again, Leung finishes 2nd again to go to Worlds again.

Men-almost for sure Buttle goes to Worlds, just like Rochette. The only one with a chance to upset him if Mabee, depending on his improvement over the next season. Does Buttle go to Worlds as National Champion again, or does he go to Worlds after being 2nd behind Mabee at Canadians. Mabee could end up going after beating Buttle for the Canadian title, or he could go as the 2nd place guy from Canadians again, but he also could be beaten out for the 2nd spot by one of Chan, Sawyer, or Reynolds(forget Sandhu, his PCS and other marks will drop even more next year, unless he skates light out he has seen his last ever Worlds). So best case scenario for Buttle is going as Canadian Champion again, worst case is going as 2nd place from Nationals. Mabee best case would be going as Canadian Champion, he could go as 2nd place from Nationals again, or he could end up missing altogether. Sawyer, Chan, and Reynolds best case is getting that 2nd spot to Worlds from Nationals. I am going to guess nothing changes, except Sandhu drops to about 6th if he skates.
Buttle wins again, Mabee beats out the others for the 2nd spot to Worlds. Sawyer maybe drops below Chan and/or Reynolds too.

Pairs-I am guessing Marcoux/Buntin and Wakamatsu/Fecteau will not be back. Dube/Davison are in a class of their own now, barring anymore unforseen accidents and injuries. Langlois/Hay are favorites clearly for 2nd, but there is still a chance they finish below that in 3rd or even 4th. Putnam/Wirtz probably are the favorites for the 3rd spot to Worlds, but also could finish 2nd over Langlois/Hay, or also finish 4th or 5th and not make it. I am going to go with the expected order of Dube/Davison, Langlois/Hay, and Putnam/Wirtz in that order.

Dance-I am guessing Dubreuil/Lauzon will be back. Even so their defence of the National title wont be a cinch. Moir/Virtue will be legitimate contenders for the National title next season, even with Dubreuil/Lauzon back. I am going to predict Dubreuil/Lauzon to come out ahead in that battle in a squeeker though.
Weaver/Poje are pretty much locks to be 3rd again, they showed so much promise so young, being together such a short time. Hopefully they move up alot in the World next season, but it would be way too far to come close to the other 2 by next season.

 

[iloveaxel]

In ladies, Joannie will definitely go.I predict Mira Leung will likely be 'politically' maneuvered out of top two even if she improves a lot and skates well. Mira Leung just has too many enemies, and her bad performance at 2007 worlds finally gave her enemies some excuse to get rid of her. I predict some intensive under-the-table political manipulation to prop up Mira' rivals, especially Phaneuf.
Phaneuf will likely go to the next worlds helped by judges at Nationals. With limited triple jumps, however, she will get crushed at international scene. Canadians like to experiment these sort of stuff, and the end result won't be pretty.

Nothing interesting about men.

In pairs, D&D will definitely get the nod, but I think Langlois/Hay will improve a lot to be a clear second. This team's consistency has improved significantly. I like what I saw so far, and believe they will bring some positive surprises. No sure why you are so high on Putnam/Wirtz. They are a such very sloppy team with no consistency. I don't expect them even to compete, let alone #3.

 

[temperboy28]

In ladies, Joannie will definitely go.I predict Mira Leung will likely be 'politically' maneuvered out of top two even if she improves a lot and skates well. Mira Leung just has too many enemies, and her bad performance at 2007 worlds finally gave her enemies some excuse to get rid of her. I predict some intensive under-the-table political manipulation to prop up Mira' rivals, especially Phaneuf.
Phaneuf will likely go to the next worlds helped by judges at Nationals. With limited triple jumps, however, she will get crushed at international scene. Canadians like to experiment these sort of stuff, and the end result won't be pretty.

Nothing interesting about men.

In pairs, D&D will definitely get the nod, but I think Langlois/Hay will improve a lot to be a clear second. This team's consistency has improved significantly. I like what I saw so far, and believe they will bring some positive surprises. No sure why you are so high on Putnam/Wirtz. They are a such very sloppy team with no consistency. I don't expect them even to compete, let alone #3.

I am not high on Putnam/Wirtz, but they have been knocking on the door awhile, and if Marcoux/Buntin and Wakamatsu/Fecteau are both gone, as I expect they both will be, I am not sure why there isnt a good shot they get the 3rd spot if they have a semi-decent competition. I am not sure who would beat them out for it, do you have any teams in mind?

I was very pleased with Langlois/Hay's progress this season, particularly at Worlds. I thought they were screwed in the scores too, but hopefully with more experience that will help their scores, they are still paying their dues and the more consistent they are that will help since judges start to respect you when you produce event after event. The free skate made it even more clear when the other 2 higher ranked Canadian pairs made a couple big errors each, and still scored so much higher.

I would hate to think the CSA has it in for Mira so much they would look to toss her on the thrash pile, because she had her first bad competition in a couple years almost. Her skating is not everyone cups of tea, but she is Canada's most consistent skater. I would rather send a skater you can count on to land 6
clean triples 80% of the time, then a skater who can barely do anything harder then a triple salchow or triple toe like Phaneuf. International judges dont like Phaneuf at this point, werent her PCS at Four Continents for an "ok"(for her) performance no higher then Leung's PCS at Worlds for one of her worst free skates ever? The PCS is supposed to be Phaneuf's strength too, it certainly isnt her elements that is for sure. In 2005 judges liked Phaneuf's skating alot and she still bombed enough to be out of the top 20 at Worlds, what would she do now as a much detioriated skater, who international judges no longer are impressed by.

 

[slutskayafan21]

For the women it will be Rochette and Hawker. Mira Leung will drop to 4th in Canada below Rochette, and 2 out of the 3 of Hawker, Phaneuf, and Samson. That is my early call.

For the men it will be Buttle and Mabee. Reyonds and Chan could beat Mabee for the 2nd spot though, I dont think Sawyer can. I like Shawn but I think he has already seen his last World or Olympic team, the fact he cant do a solid or clean triple axel, that is not two footed or cheated, is well known now, and it affect how the judges score him in pretty much all areas-PCS big time, GOE on other elements too. Sandhu is toast, but I predict he will return to try, and will fail to make it, or even come that close.

For the pairs it will be Dube/Davison first, Langlois/Hay second. I dont think Putnam/Wirtz will get 3rd even if it seems wide open. If they still havent made it to Worlds after all this time it just isnt happening. I dont know who gets that 3rd spot, but it wont be them.

The dance, I predict Dubreuil/Lauzon wont be back. I see Moir/Virtue winning their first Canadian title with ease, Weaver/Poje second with ease, third wide open.

 

[krenseby]

Re: Phaneuf

I am not that familar with Canadian skating, so a question for those of you in the know: Does Phaneuf have a good chance of making the top 15 at Worlds? Would sending her to Worlds instead of Leung give Canada a better team?

 

[iloveaxel]

I am not that familar with Canadian skating, so a question for those of you in the know: Does Phaneuf have a good chance of making the top 15 at Worlds? Would sending her to Worlds instead of Leung give Canada a better team?

She was 15th at 4cc. Go figure. She would not be able to advance to the free skate at worlds with only a 3sal and 3toe left.

 

[nadster]

I predict that Phaneuf will get back her triples this summer barring any injury problems. This coming summer will be a full one for her ( including competing at the summer competition in Quebec). She had no summer training time last year which is when skaters make their technical gains.

I think Hawker , Samson or Duhamel could beat Mira next year. I don't think all of them will but they have the potential.

In pairs there is a rumour that Duhamel might team up with Dylan Moscovitch as Dylan's sister Kyra is getting too tall for Dylan. Besides Kyra's jumps are way behind standard for the senior level. If this rumour is true this couple could be a factor. Dylan can lift far better than Ryan Arnold ( Duhamel's former partner) ever could and side by side triple lutzes ( as well as triple twist ) are definitely possible if these two get together. Dylan's skating skills are also better than Ryan's.

The one definite fact is that Duhamel is looking for a partner. If she teams up with Dylan it could definitely shake up things.

In men, I predict a downward spiral for both Sawyer and Sandhu. SC will be more interested in pushing the much younger Chan and Reynolds. Sawyer shows no signs of gaining consistency on the jumps and Sandhu's overall skating skills has gone down drastically. I think both Buttle and Mabee will finish 1-2 in some order at Canadians next year.

 

[chuckm]

IF (and it's a big if) Phaneuf gets her triples back, Mira Leung will be off the World team. IMO, that would be a good thing for Mira. She needs to understand that Mama Leung's view of Mira's skating is way out of touch with reality, and much improvement is needed for Mira to be competitive on the world scene. As long as she gets to go to Worlds year after year, she will never be motivated to improve.

 

[hockeyfan228]

If Matthews/Gislason skate for Canada, then they have a very good chance of beating Weaver/Poje. If Dubreuil/Lauzon retire, I don't see three spots for Canada in 2009 for dance, as much as I would love to see a V/M, M/G, W/P team.

Three for Pairs isn't necessarily predictable, if Marcoux/Buntin don't compete, because Canada will need at least 6+7 or 5+8 to qualify three, with Pang/Tong, Savchenko/Szolkowy, Zhang/Zhang, and Volosozhar/Morozov solidly the leaders, Inoue/Baldwin still not announcing retirement, and a healthy Kawaguchi/Smirnov with another year of Moskvina training being strong competition for Langlois/Hay. Another year of Murkhortova/Trankov under Vassiliev could bring them up another few spots, vying for 7th-8th.

I understand the push for the young Canadian men (Chan/Reynolds) for Vancouver, but until Chan gets his jumps down, I don't know why he'd rank higher than a relatively clean Sawyer, at least not next year, which would make it tight for 2010. (I'm hoping that Chan does get his jumps down.) But for next year, only 1-2 matter, and I would not be surprised to see them be Buttle/Mabee.

Until another Canadian woman can stand on her feet and complete at least four different triples, I don't think Leung is going anywhere.

From a fluff point of view, TV loves the late, beloved, iconic coach angle (Chan), the dynasty story (Wirtz), the returning medallist can-he-regain-his-form story (Buttle), the return with another partner story (Langlois), and the recovery from telegenic serious injury that-we-can-repeat-over-and-over (Dube). If Morgan Matthews is in the mix, there will be the reverse Belbin angle for ice dance.

 

[scs]

I'm thrilled to hear that Megan Duhamel is looking for another partner; I think that her future is brighter in pairs than singles. I am surprised to hear that the Moskovitch's may no longer be together, given they have skated together this long without being able to qualify for any international events.

 

[mike79]

I am not that familar with Canadian skating, so a question for those of you in the know: Does Phaneuf have a good chance of making the top 15 at Worlds? Would sending her to Worlds instead of Leung give Canada a better team?

If Phaneuf can get her triples consistent again she can easily attain top 15and top 10. She will however, have to get them back. iloveaxel loves to hate Phaneuf so won't tell you that Phaneuf is coming off of a serious injury and growth spurt.

 

[swizzletwizzle]

My opinion:

Ladies: Joannie Rochette
Mira Leung (maybe?)

Men: Jeffrey Buttle
Christopher Mabee
Patrick Chan

Pairs: Dube/Davison
Marcoux/Buntin (assuming they stay together)
Langlois/Hay

Dance: Dubrieul/Lauzon (if they don't retire)
Virtue/Moir
Weaver/Poje (if Matthews/Gislason don't skate for Canada)

 

[Ladskater]

In ladies, Joannie will definitely go.I predict Mira Leung will likely be 'politically' maneuvered out of top two even if she improves a lot and skates well. Mira Leung just has too many enemies, and her bad performance at 2007 worlds finally gave her enemies some excuse to get rid of her. I predict some intensive under-the-table political manipulation to prop up Mira' rivals, especially Phaneuf.
Phaneuf will likely go to the next worlds helped by judges at Nationals. With limited triple jumps, however, she will get crushed at international scene. Canadians like to experiment these sort of stuff, and the end result won't be pretty.

Nothing interesting about men.

In pairs, D&D will definitely get the nod, but I think Langlois/Hay will improve a lot to be a clear second. This team's consistency has improved significantly. I like what I saw so far, and believe they will bring some positive surprises. No sure why you are so high on Putnam/Wirtz. They are a such very sloppy team with no consistency. I don't expect them even to compete, let alone #3.

"Nothing interestesting about men." Since when? Canada has a long history of great male skaters. Besides Jeff Buttle, there is Chris Mabee, Shawn Sawyer and Patrick Chan. There are a couple of good jumpers "waiting in the wings" as well. Our male skaters are always strong. So you might want to rethink this one....

 

[temperboy28]

"Nothing interestesting about men." Since when? Canada has a long history of great male skaters. Besides Jeff Buttle, there is Chris Mabee, Shawn Sawyer and Patrick Chan. There are a couple of good jumpers "waiting in the wings" as well. Our male skaters are always strong. So you might want to rethink this one....

They are a good group but none of that group is top 5 caliber at the World level at this point, and only 1 of that group is even top 10 caliber at this point. Buttle just does not have the jumps to be in the top 5 at the World level anymore, even if the rest of his skating is wonderful. The level of the others is not the same as when he won his World and Olympic medal in 2005 and 2006. He has already reached his jumping peak IMO, and that peak is not high enough. He is still a top 10 skater, but not a top 5.

Mabee will need to improve to be a top 10 skater at the World level, and I doubt he is ever top 5. He is not that young compared to others, most of the top guy are a bit younger then he is. He has very good jump technique, but he doesnt have the package as a skater to ever get that high in the ranks, even if he masters a quad.

Sawyer will have a hard time placing even in the top 15 if he makes it to Worlds. He is an interesting and nice skater, but just not upper crust. He cant land a triple axel properly, fully rotated and on one foot, which already restricts what he can do in competition.

Chan has a great future potentialy, but that future is still several years away from truly bright things at the senior level. He showed this year he does not even have the jumps to win World juniors yet.

You mention Canada's history in mens skating but that does not mean that automaticaly every generation will have multiple leaders in the World at all times. The fact Sandhu could have still made it out of Canada this season when he is so obviously "finished" does not show any kind of fabulous standard. All one has to do is look at Russia's showing at this years World Championships to understand how much "history" alone does not automaticaly mean that is what you are at each given point in time.

 

[iloveaxel]

"Nothing interestesting about men." Since when? Canada has a long history of great male skaters. Besides Jeff Buttle, there is Chris Mabee, Shawn Sawyer and Patrick Chan. There are a couple of good jumpers "waiting in the wings" as well. Our male skaters are always strong. So you might want to rethink this one....

I didn't mean to downplay Canadian male skaters' strength. I meant to say I was not very interested in men's skating anyway, plus the top two were pertty predictable and there wouldn't be lots of drama.

 

[passion]

Does anybody have any guesses what Canada's World team might look like next year. Here are the questions I see for each event:

Women-almost for sure Rochette goes back to Worlds, but will she go back as Canada's National Champion, or will this be the season Leung takes away her National title. On the other hand, will Mira even be able to hang on for 2nd place, or will she herself be overtaken by anyone of Phaneuf, Samson, or Hawker. So Rochette could be 1st or 2nd, Leung could be anywhere from 1st to out of the top 2 and off the team, and Phaneuf, Hawker, Samson could be at best 2nd and make it to Worlds. Personally I think nothing changes, Rochette wins Canadians again, Leung finishes 2nd again to go to Worlds again.

.

ditto

 

[DivaDes]

In pairs there is a rumour that Duhamel might team up with Dylan Moscovitch as Dylan's sister Kyra is getting too tall for Dylan. Besides Kyra's jumps are way behind standard for the senior level. If this rumour is true this couple could be a factor. Dylan can lift far better than Ryan Arnold ( Duhamel's former partner) ever could and side by side triple lutzes ( as well as triple twist ) are definitely possible if these two get together. Dylan's skating skills are also better than Ryan's.

The one definite fact is that Duhamel is looking for a partner. If she teams up with Dylan it could definitely shake up things.

I really hope that this rumour is just that. I absolutely love Dylan and Kyra. They are both wonderful performers. I don't think that Meghan and Dylan would be a good match. I not really a fan of her skating and with her lack of constistancy on jumps was one of the things that held her back with Ryan and she still is as incostistant now as she was then. I don't like the idea of Dylan and Meghan pairing up.

~D

 

[nadster]

I really hope that this rumour is just that. I absolutely love Dylan and Kyra. They are both wonderful performers. I don't think that Meghan and Dylan would be a good match. I not really a fan of her skating and with her lack of constistancy on jumps was one of the things that held her back with Ryan and she still is as incostistant now as she was then. I don't like the idea of Dylan and Meghan pairing up.

~D

The lifts were definitely the weakest part of Duhamel/Arnold not the jumps. Even if they landed all their jumps the lifts would keep them down. Some of their lifts were downright scary. This season, Duhamel's year was filled with injury. She missed all of the summer and fall training before nationals. I think she did very well considering all that happened.

Kyra just turned 13 and is already 5foot5 with no signs of hitting puberty yet. I am sure that Dylan and Kyra would like to stay together and hope it can happen ( I actually do like them too) but it looks increasingly unlikely.

 

[hockeyfan228]

I hope both of the Moscovitch's continue to compete. I saw them at 2006 Canadian Nationals, and was very impressed by them. It would be great if they can stay together, but if Kyra Moscovitch is too tall for her brother, I hope they can find suitable partners.