Battle of the Blades names its winner

From a media release:

CANADA’S VOTES WERE COUNTED AND THE BATTLE OF THE BLADES’ SEASON FOUR CHAMPIONS ARE AMANDA EVORA & SCOTT THORNTON

In perhaps the most enthralling season ever for the CBC original BATTLE OF THE BLADES, Amanda Evora & Scott Thornton were crowned Season Four champions in a grand spectacle tonight. Having received the most votes from coast to coast, following an extended voting period ending Friday, the final outcome caps off an exhilarating season. It was seven intense weeks of twists and turns, both dramatically and on the ice, with perhaps the most advanced all around skating ever seen on BATTLE OF THE BLADES.

After two routines last week and stellar praise from Kurt Browning and fellow judges Jamie Salé and P.J. Stock, it was up to Canada’s votes alone to determine the winner as the judges didn’t score the final performances. The numbers were close between the three finalists – Violetta Afanasieva & Jason Strudwick, Marie-France Dubreuil & Mathieu Dandenault, and Amanda Evora & Scott Thornton – but when the snow fell at the end of it, it was Amanda & Scott who would earn the most votes and be declared champions of Season Four.

Canada’s votes for Amanda & Scott were also a major gift for The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with a $100,000 donation as result. Second runners up Violetta Afanasieva & Jason Strudwick and third runners up Marie-France Dubreuil & Mathieu Dandenault will receive $35,000 and $30,000 respectively for their charities.

It was a jam-packed finale with all 16 skaters returning for a special group number to start the show. Having hoisted 10 Stanley Cups and brandishing four Olympic medals among them, the highly decorated Season Four skaters looked on as the three final pairs performed a special sextet to celebrate the season. Fans also enjoyed a special performance from Kurt Browning and a guest routine from Mini Blades champions Georgia-Ann Reidl and Austin Martell.

New for Season Four, the Mini Blades competitions were a partnership between CBC and Skate Canada where select clubs were invited to host their own Mini Blades competitions, to serve as a fundraising initiative and to spotlight local skating clubs across Canada. Georgie and Austin hail from the Stayner Skating Club of Stayner, ON.

Fans can also watch the final Season Four winners, judges, choreographers and host Ron MacLean reflect on the past seven weeks in a one hour episode, which will air Dec. 1 at 8 p.m (8:30 NT). Loaded with exclusive footage and behind the scenes revelations, BATTLE OF THE BLADES devotees can celebrate the stories from a riveting season.

Amanda & Scott join an elite group of skaters with Season One champions Jamie Salé & Craig Simpson, Season Two Champions Ekaterina Gordeeva & Valeri Bure, and Season Three Champions David Pelletier & Tessa Bonhomme. As Season Four concludes, BATTLE OF THE BLADES has raised over $1 million for various charities since the first episode aired in 2009.

First time participant Amanda Evora is two-time U.S. Pairs Silver Medallist and the first ever Filipino-American to compete in the Winter Olympics. Her partner Scott Thornton was drafted third overall in 1989 by the Toronto Maple Leafs and in his 18-year NHL career also played for the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the highest-rated original Canadian format of all time. Combining athletes from two of Canada’s favourite sports, figure skating and hockey, eight World and Olympic figure skaters pair up with eight NHL hockey greats in the ultimate skating competition for charity. Anchoring CBC’s 2013 Fall Sunday night schedule, BATTLE OF THE BLADES airs at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC.