From a media release:
IT’S AN EXTRA CHILLING WEEK SIX AS TWO PAIRS ARE ICED IN THE FIRST EVER DOUBLE ELIMINATION ON BATTLE OF THE BLADES
At the conclusion of tonight’s red hot “Tribute to the Winter Olympics†episode, two pairs found themselves frozen out of the competition on CBC’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES – a first for the series. Jessica Dubé and Brian Savage along with Marie-France Dubreuil and Mathieu Dandenault would start as the bottom two pairs, with the lowest combined scores and votes from last week’s “Iconic Duos†episode, and entered the “Skate Offâ€. After each pair skated, Jessica & Brian received the lowest overall score and were automatically Iced as a result.
It was a demanding homecoming for guest judge and reigning BATTLE OF THE BLADES champion David Pelletier, as he and fellow judges Jamie Salé and P.J. Stock would determine the second pair to be Iced based solely on their lowest overall score for tonight’s routines. With their marks tallied, the judges’ scores sealed the fate for Sinead Kerr and Grant Marshall, the final pair to be Iced tonight in the first ever double elimination on Battle of the Blades.
First-time BATTLE OF THE BLADES contender Jessica Dubé is a World Pair Bronze Medallist, three-time Canadian Pairs Champion and two-time Olympian. Her partner Brian Savage won silver with Team Canada at the 1994 Winter Olympics and was assistant captain of the Montreal Canadiens for nine seasons during his 12-year NHL career.
Sinead Kerr, a two-time Olympian in 2006 and 2010 and a seven-time British Ice Dance Champion, partnered with Grant Marshall, who overcame temporary paralysis as a junior hockey player to play 700 NHL games and become a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Dallas Stars and the New Jersey Devils.
The judges toughest decision to date results in $12,500 cheques for Jessica`s charity Multiple Sclerosis of Canada, Brian`s charity Ten Rainbows: Meghan`s Wings, Sinead`s charity Autism Speaks Canada and Grant`s charity Parachute (Think First).
The pressure is on for the Season Four finalists Violetta Afanasieva and Jason Strudwick, Amanda Evora and Scott Thornton and Marie-France Dubreuil and Mathieu Dandenault.
New for Season Four are the Mini Blades competitions. CBC in partnership with Skate Canada invited select clubs to host their own Mini Blades competitions, to serve as a fundraising initiative and spotlight local skating clubs across Canada. The results are in and fans can watch and vote for the Mini Blades performances online at www.cbc.ca/battle until Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET. MEDIA NOTE: There is no voting for tonight’s pairs, voting will resume after the Nov. 10 performances.
Also new for Season Four, BATTLE OF THE BLADES fans will have the opportunity to earn extra votes and participate in the show like never before, with special games and challenges for supporters to help their pairs get closer to the ultimate $100,000 prize for charity. Next Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) the finalists will skate two routines – one new and their favourite routine from this season. The audience votes will be the only factor in determining the Season Four champions as the judges’ scores will not be counted. The winner will be crowned in a special gala presentation on Nov. 17.
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.
