This week, the Grand Prix Series heads to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for Skate Canada International, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The first Skate Canada competition was held in 1973 in Calgary, Alberta. When the ISU launched the Champions Series in 1995, Skate Canada International was one of the five qualifying events. It has been a Grand Prix event ever since, except for 2020 when Skate Canada was forced to cancel Skate Canada International due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time Saskatoon hosted the event was in 2001.
Men
Two-time World champion Ilia Malinin, of the U.S., will look to win his second Grand Prix gold medal of the season and punch his ticket to the Grand Prix Final this December in Osaka, Japan. Two weeks ago, Malinin won Grand Prix de France by more than 40 points over France’s Adam Siao Him Fa.
Malinin will once again compete against Georgia’s Nika Egadze, who took home the bronze medal in France, the first Grand Prix medal of his career. Prior to Skate Canada International, Egadze had competed three weeks in a row — Denis Ten Memorial, Trialeti Trophy and Grand Prix de France. While he medaled at all three events, he told journalists he regretted his choice of schedule.
Also competing at his second Grand Prix event of the season, hoping to rebound from a disappointing Grand Prix de France is Japan’s Kao Miura. In France, Miura was third after the short program, but had a rough free skate that dropped him to 10th overall. His ISU bio suggests he may be returning to his The Umbrellas of Cherbourg free skate from last season.
France’s Kevin Aymoz kicks off his Grand Prix season at Skate Canada International. He has not competed at Skate Canada International since the 2018 season. Aymoz won both French Masters and Nepela Memorial this season. Last season, he qualified for his second straight Final, where he finished sixth.
Three Canadians will compete in Saskatoon, with two in the conversation for Canada’s one Olympic spot for men. Roman Sadovsky is the reigning Canadian Champion. This season, he won Cranberry Cup and was fifth at Nebelhorn Trophy. He has not medaled on the Grand Prix since 2019. Last season, he was only assigned to Skate Canada International and withdrew from the event due to a back injury.
Stephen Gogolev’s 2024-2025 season was cut short due to injury. The only event he competed in was Skate Canada International, where he finished 9th. This fall season, Gogolev has made quite a name for himself and has entered the conversation for the lone Olympic spot. In August, he won the bronze medal at Cranberry Cup and in September, he won Nebelhorn Trophy.
The third Canadian man, Aleksa Rakic, finished 7th at Kinoshita Group Cup and 10th at Nepela Memorial. Last year, he was 7th at this event.
Team USA’s Tomoki Hiwatashi is competing in back-to-back events, hoping to keep the momentum from Cup of China where he finished in fourth place with a new personal best free skate and total score. Another strong skate in Canada could have him in the conversation for one of the three men’s spots for the Olympics.
2025 European silver medalist Nikolaj Memola of Italy is looking for his first Grand Prix medal. This season, he finished third at Lombardia Trophy and finished eighth at Nepela Memorial. Last season, he finished sixth at Grand Prix de France and 10th at Cup of China.
Event Info: The men’s short program will take place Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2:25 p.m. (CST) / 4:25p.m. (EDT). The free skate is Sunday, Nov. 2 at 10:30 a.m. (CST) / 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
Women
Japan’s Ami Nakai surprised many when she took home the gold medal at Grand Prix de France, which was her first-ever senior Grand Prix event. Nakai is now looking for another Grand Prix medal and the chance of qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. But she will face competition from teammate Mone Chiba, the 2025 World bronze medalist. This is Chiba’s first Grand Prix event this season. Last season, she won the silver medal at the Grand Prix Final after winning silver at NHK Trophy and Cup of China. This season, Chiba won Kinoshita Group Cup and was second at Nebelhorn Trophy.
Japan’s Yuna Aoki will also compete in Canada. She won bronze at NHK Trophy last season. Skate Canada International will be her international season debut.
Team USA’s Isabeau Levito is hoping to take home a medal at her second Grand Prix event this season. After finishing third in the short program at Grand Prix de France, the 2024 World silver medalist dropped to fourth overall. If Levito wants to be in contention for the Final, a win at this event will help her chances. Levito will be joined by 2025 Four Continents silver and bronze medalists Bradie Tennell and Sarah Everhardt. Tennell was fifth at both her Grand Prix events last season (NHK Trophy and Skate America). This season, she was fifth at Kinoshita Group Cup. In her first Grand Prix season, Everhardt was fourth at Finlandia Trophy and fifth at Grand Prix de France. Everhardt competed at Lombardia Trophy in September where she won the bronze medal.
Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann had a busy fall season, finishing fifth at Lombardia Trophy and then leading Italy in a sweep of the women’s event at Nepela Memorial Trophy. Last season, Gutmann took home her first Grand Prix medal, a bronze at Finlandia Trophy.
Canada will be represented by Madeline Schizas, who is competing in her fifth Skate Canada International event. She will be joined by Sara-Maude Dupuis, who will be competing in her third Grand Prix event in Canada, and Uliana Shiryaeva, who is making her senior Grand Prix debut. Dupuis is looking to become the first Canadian woman to land a triple Axel in competition. She did attempt it at Nepela Memorial this season. Schizas won the bronze at Denis Ten Memorial this season.
Korea’s Ahsun Yun finished fifth last season at Grand Prix de France. She began the 2025-26 season with a ninth place finish at Kinoshita Group Cup, won silver at Denis Ten Memorial and finished sixth at Trialeti Trophy.
Event Info: The women’s short program will take place Friday, Oct. 31 at 6:25 p.m. (CST) / 8:25p.m. (EDT). The free skate is Saturday, Nov. 1 at 6:40 p.m. (CST) / 8:40 p.m. (EDT).
Pairs
Reigning Grand Prix Final and European Champions Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, of Germany, will kick off their Grand Prix season in Saskatoon. This season, the World silver medalists won Nebelhorn Trophy and finished second at Trialeti Trophy. Last season, they finished second at Cup of China and first at Grand Prix de France to qualify for the Final.
2024 World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamp, of Canada, will skate in front of a home crowd as they look to capture their second Grand Prix medal this season as well as punch their ticket to the Grand Prix Final. They took the silver at Grand Prix de France, finishing 21-points behind Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps will be joined by fellow Canadians Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, the 2025 Four Continents bronze medalists. Last year, they took home the bronze at Cup of China and were fifth at Grand Prix de France. They did qualify for the Final in 2023. This season, the two were sixth at Nebelhorn Trophy.
Also representing Canada and competing in front of a home crowd is Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier, the 2025 Canadian bronze medalists. The two haven’t competed yet internationally this season, but last season were fourth at Finlandia Trophy and eighth at Skate Canada International.
2024 U.S. Champions Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea are kicking off their Grand Prix season in Saskatoon. After some injuries delayed their season debut, the two competed at Trialeti Trophy in early October. They did qualify for the Final last season and finished 5th in the event.
Event Info: The pairs’ short program will take place Friday, Oct. 31 at 5:00 p.m. (CST) / 7:00 p.m. (EDT). The free skate is Saturday, Nov. 1 at 5:00 p.m. (CST) / 7:00 p.m. (EDT).
Dance
For a preview of the ice dance event, visit Ice-Dance.com.
Event Info: The rhythm dance will take place Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12:45 p.m. (CST) / 2:45p.m. (EDT). The free skate is Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12:40 p.m. (CST) / 8:40 p.m. (EDT).
