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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Battle of the Blades

Battle of the Blades reveals pairings

From a media release:

BATTLE OF THE BLADES SEASON FOUR PAIRS REVEALED IN TONIGHT’S SPECIAL TWO HOUR PREMIERE EPISODE

  • Next Sunday, September 29 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) is a special two-hour live performance show of BATTLE OF THE BLADES

After months of anticipation, the BATTLE OF THE BLADES pairs were finally revealed tonight during the two-hour celebratory presentation titled Battle of the Blades: Made in Canada, a look back at the first three seasons.

Next Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) each pair will face off for the first time during a two-hour live performance show. An action-packed hour of live performances and elimination will air every Sunday following, starting Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT).

Hosted by Ron MacLean, the judging panel features fan-favourite and four-time World and Canadian Champion Kurt Browning, Olympic and World Champion pair figure skater and BATTLE OF THE BLADES season one champion Jamie Salé, and season two BATTLE OF THE BLADES cast member and Hockey Night in Canada panelist P.J. Stock.

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.

The Season four pairs on BATTLE OF THE BLADES are:

Violetta Afanasieva & Jason Strudwick

The first-ever Extreme Ice Skating World Champion with Canadian partner/husband Peter Dack, Violetta Afanasieva returns for a third season of BATTLE OF THE BLADES and is paired with Jason Strudwick, who played with the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers over his 14-year NHL career.

Charities:
(Violetta) Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes
(Jason) Edmonton Inner City Children’s Program

Shae-Lynn Bourne & Anson Carter

Internationally revered figure skater Shae-Lynn Bourne, World Ice Dance Champion, 10-time Canadian Ice Dance Champion, three-time Olympian and member of the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame, is skating with Anson Carter, who played 16 NHL seasons for the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes.

Charities:
(Shae-Lynn) World Vision – Starting Strong Program
(Anson) Shirt off my Back

Jessica Dubé & Brian Savage

Jessica Dubé, World Pair Bronze Medallist three-time Canadian Pairs Champion and two-time Olympian who survived a dangerous cut to her face while competing in 2007, is partnered with Brian Savage, an Olympic Silver Medallist and assistant captain of the Montreal Canadiens for nine seasons during his 12-year NHL career.

Charities:
(Jessica) Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
(Brian) 10 Rainbows Children’s Foundation – Meghan’s Wings

Marie-France Dubreuil & Mathieu Dandenault

Returning from seasons one and three, Marie-France Dubreuil is a five-time Canadian National Ice Dance Champion paired with Mathieu Dandenault, who had a storied 13-year NHL career as a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, retiring with the Montreal Canadiens in 2010.

Charities:
(Marie-France) Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
(Mathieu) Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation

Amanda Evora & Scott Thornton

A two-time U.S. Pairs Silver Medallist and the first ever Filipino-American to compete in the Winter Olympics, Amanda Evora is skating with Scott Thornton, who totalled 1,459 penalty minutes over his 17-year NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Charity:
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Marcy Hinzmann & Mike Krushelnyski

Marcy Hinzmann, returning from season three of BATTLE OF THE BLADES, is a two-time U.S. Pairs Medalists and Olympian, and is partnered with Mike Krushelnyski, who won three Stanley Cups as a player with the Edmonton Oilers and one as assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings.

Charity:
NHL Alumni Hockey’s Greatest Family

Oksana Kazakova & Vladimir Malakhov

Oksana Kazakova, the 1998 Olympic Pairs Gold Medallist, World Pairs Championships Bronze Medallist and a European Champion is skating with Vladimir Malakhov, who played with the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, and is a member of the rare and coveted Triple Gold Club, with an Olympic Gold medal, World Championship and Stanley Cup to his credit.

Charity:
iOrphan Canada

Sinead Kerr & Grant Marshall

Sinead Kerr, a two-time Olympian in 2006 and 2010 and a seven-time British Ice Dance Champion, is partnered with Grant Marshall, who overcame temporary paralysis as a junior hockey player to play 700 NHL games and became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Dallas Stars and the New Jersey Devils.

Charities:
(Sinead) Autism Speaks Canada
(Grant) Parachute

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New Monday: The Project Guatemala

ProjectGuatemala

The Project: Guatemala, OLN and City – “The Reveal” series premiere
The premiere episode follows the cast as they depart for rural Guatemala. After a quick meeting with host Ray Zahab (Running the Sahara), the participants party through the night and a love connection is made. The next morning, Zahab reveals what their six-week adventure really is – to build a community centre for orphaned and abandoned children in rural Guatemala – and gives everyone a chance to decide on whether or not they want to stay. Each week, following the broadcast of The Project: Guatemala, catch the series’ digital after show, The Project Live, online at OLN.ca/theproject. Co-hosted by Rachel David (Rogers Your World This Week) and Adam Wylde (KISS 92.5) the half-hour program gives fans the opportunity to interact with the host and cast about what happened on The Project: Guatemala that week.

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Battle of the Blades, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New Sunday: Battle of the Blades, The Next Star

NEWBOTB LOGOBlk-highres

Battle of the Blades, CBC – “Battle of the Blades: Made in Canada”
Back at last. Canada’s favourite family show. Hockey meets figure skating to create art. This year begins with a look back at the first three seasons and introduces the season 4 cast. Host: Ron MacLean with Sandra Bezic and Kurt Browning.

The Next Star, YTV – season finale
Suki hosts the first ever Finale PreShow at 630pm e/p. Charlie, winner of Season 4 is the roving reporter and there will be performances by Brooklyn and Darren. At 7pm e/p tune in to find out who will be crowned The Next Star. It’s the Live Finale at Canada’s Wonderland.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

New Saturday: W5

W5, CTV – season premiere
W5 kicks off the new season with an investigation into the rising suicide rate among stressed-out college and university students, which experts say is a problem that is approaching epidemic proportions on campuses across Canada. With frosh week and back-to-school excitement behind them, students are now into the school year facing pressure to get good grades, pay for an expensive education, and perhaps living away from family for the first time. In an important story for parents and families everywhere, W5 reporter Tom Kennedy delves into the darker side of university life with an in-depth examination of student suicide, the #1 health risk and #1 health-related cause of death for young people.

Many students feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of hard work and pressure to succeed. In a national study published earlier this year, nearly 90% of respondents claimed university life was sometimes overwhelming. More striking: nearly one in 10 admit they had seriously considered ending their own lives. W5 explores why many young adults are unable to cope with the stresses of post-secondary education, and the stigma that often prevents young people with mental health issues from seeking the help they desperately need.

W5 explores the tragic story of Jack Windeler, a Queen’s University student who took his life in 2010. Remembered as a bright, quick-witted, and athletic young man with no history of mental illness, he left his parents facing indescribable grief and utter confusion. His death prompted the Jack Project, an awareness program started by his father, Eric, aimed at dispelling the taboo of mental illness among young people. Windeler’s story is one of many that have brought attention to an increasingly common, and tragic, issue.

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