Five Reason to Follow Canadian Figure Skating This Season
The start of a new Olympic quadrennial brings a fresh chapter for Canadian figure skating, with new teams entering the scene, rising athletes taking the next step and established champions looking to stay on top. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the sport, here are five reasons to keep Canadian figure skating on your radar this season.
1. Building on Breakthrough Seasons
Last season saw several Canadian skaters reach new heights on some of the sport’s biggest stages. Now, they’re back with bigger goals and a chance to build on what they accomplished.
Among them are Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, who had a season to remember. The pair captured their first national title before making their Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026, where they finished eighth. They capped the season on an even higher note, earning bronze at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. They enter the new season having established themselves among the world’s best teams.
Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud | 2026 World Pairs bronze medalists.
Canadian men’s champion Stephen Gogolev is also coming off a career-defining season. After returning to the national podium for the first time in five years, he made his Olympic debut, finishing fifth, before achieving a personal-best fourth place at Worlds. These performances set a new benchmark for Gogolev and put him in a strong position to add international podium finishes to his resume.
2. National Champions to Defend Their Titles
The battle for Canada’s national titles will be another major storyline this season, with reigning champions looking to hold onto the top spot.
Madeline Schizas | Four-time national champion.
The women’s event could be one of the most closely watched battles of the season. Four-time Canadian champion Madeline Schizas will look to defend her title after competing at her second Olympic Games. She’ll face two-time Canadian champion and Olympian Gabrielle Daleman, who returned to competition last year following an injury, as well as South Korean skater Minsol Kwon, who is representing Canada internationally for the first time this season.
2026 Canadian National Women’s podium | (left to right) Gabrielle Daleman, Madeline Schizas and Minsol Kwon.
Adding to the excitement, 14-year-old Lia Cho will make the jump to the senior level at Nationals. While this will be the reigning junior champion’s first experience competing against senior skaters, her consistency and skill level throughout the junior ranks make her a serious contender for the podium in the senior women’s event.
With Olympic experience, proven champions and emerging talent all in the mix, the battle for the Canadian women’s title is shaping up to be one to watch.
3. The Next Generation Has Arrived
While Canada’s top athletes look to hold onto their titles, a new generation is preparing to make its mark on the senior stage.
Pair teams Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov and Jazmine Desrochers and Kieran Thrasher will both enter their first senior season after delivering a historic one-two finish for Canada at the 2026 ISU World Junior Championships. Kemp and Elizarov took gold, while Desrochers and Thrasher claimed silver. Both teams have already proven themselves among the world’s best junior pairs, and their transition to senior will add intrigue to Canada’s increasingly competitive pairs field.
Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov and Jazmine Desrochers and Kieran Thrasher | 2026 Junior World Championships.
In ice dance, Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys will also make the jump to senior after finishing fourth at Junior Worlds. With several top Canadian ice dance teams having split up or formed new partnerships since the last Olympic cycle, opportunities are emerging for the next generation to step forward.
4. A New Chapter in Canadian Ice Dance
The Canadian ice dance field is getting a shake-up, with several new partnerships making their debuts. Hannah Lim and Zachary Lagha, Marjorie Lajoie and Jean-Luc Baker, Sandrine Gauthier and Paul Ayer, and Alicia Fabbri and Marko Jevgeni Gaidajenko will all begin new journeys together, bringing a mix of experience and fresh energy to the Canadian field, with some skaters representing Canada for the first time.
These new teams will face off against national bronze medallists Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac. During the 2025-2026 season, Lauriault and Le Gac earned several international podium finishes, reclaimed their place on the national podium and represented Canada at the Milano Cortina Games and World Championships, proving themselves to be strong contenders as the field evolves.
Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac | national bronze medallists.
5. The Future of Synchronized Skating Takes Shape
Synchronized skating remains a major part of Canada’s success on the international stage, with plenty of exciting storylines to follow this season.
Les Suprêmes enter the year as the reigning World Champions after capturing their fourth world title in 2026. As the team to beat, they’ll look to defend their crown and further cement their place among the most successful synchronized skating teams in history.
Les Suprêmes | Four-time World Champions.
Fans will also get to experience Synchro9, an innovative new discipline that is bringing a fresh look to the sport. As Canadian teams embrace the format ahead of its Olympic debut at the 2030 Winter Games, this season will offer a first look at how the discipline is taking shape.
The 2026-2027 season is set to bring big moments, new faces and plenty of reasons to tune in — follow along to see who steps into the spotlight.
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