BATTLE OF THE BLADES returns with a fresh crop of eight former-NHL hockey greats, as well as four returning and four new champion figure skating stars. The competition will be fierce for the top prize of $100,000 donated to the winners’ charity of choice.
Premiering Sunday, September 22 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) with a two-hour celebratory presentation titled Battle of the Blades: Made in Canada, a look back at the first three seasons. This special will showcase never before seen footage and reveal season four’s cast pairings. BATTLE OF THE BLADES moves to a new format with an action-packed hour of live performances and elimination each Sunday night - with the exception of the first live two-hour performance show on Sunday, September 29 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT).
To celebrate the return of BATTLE OF THE BLADES, CBC will be providing swag to ten “official” BATTLE OF THE BLADES parties each week. Photos and video from these parties (captured by attendees) will be featured on the website and in the show. Visit cbc.ca/battle for more details.
VIDEO Click here for Clip of Season 4 Competitors Preparing for BATTLE OF THE BLADES
The hockey players for Season 4 of BATTLE OF THE BLADES are:
• Anson Carter played 16 NHL seasons for the Washington Capitals, the Boston Bruins, the Edmonton Oilers, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes, and was part of the successful offensive “Brothers Line” with the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, during his time with the Vancouver Canucks. In 2003, he was instrumental for Canada in capturing their first World Championship in five years scoring the decisive overtime goal.
• Mathieu Dandenault had a storied NHL career, as a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, he played alongside the likes of Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov. In 2003, he helped to lead team Canada to win Gold at the World Hockey Championships, and ended his 13 year career with the Montreal Canadiens in 2010.
• Mike Krushelnyski won three Stanley Cups as a player and one as assistant coach and knows what it takes to succeed on both sides of the bench. In a 15 year career, he played with hockey superstars Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri during the legendary Edmonton Oiler years of the mid-eighties and also spent time with the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, where he won his fourth Stanley Cup as assistant coach in 1997.
• Vladimir Malakhov, a native of Sverdlovsk Ukraine, is a member of the rare and coveted Triple Gold Club, with an Olympic Gold medal, World Championship and Stanley Cup to his credit. He later went on to play four years with the New York Rangers and competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, which resulted in a Bronze Medal win for Russia. To complete his 14 year career, Vladimir played with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2004 season.
• Grant Marshall is a player who exemplifies great power, courage and perseverance. Before being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992, Grant was victim to temporary paralysis caused by a check into the boards while playing junior hockey. Due to his strength and determination, he was able to have a full recovery and move forward to compete in 700 NHL games and became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Dallas Stars and the New Jersey Devils.
• Brian Savage, assistant captain of the Montreal Canadiens for nine seasons, set multiple game records during his career with the Habs including scoring the first hat trick in Canadien’s history at their new home the Bell Centre in 1996. Traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in January 2002, he later played with the St. Louis Blues before completing his 12 year career in 2006 with the Philadelphia Flyers. He has worn Team Canada’s jersey four times throughout his career, as both an Olympic silver medallist and member of Canada’s World Championship team.
• Jason Strudwick was known for his physical style of play during his career with the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, and Chicago Blackhawks. Making a comeback with the New York Rangers after the 2005-2006 NHL lockout, he ended his 14 year career with the Edmonton Oilers in 2011.
• Scott Thornton totalled 1,459 penalty minutes over his 17 year NHL career and is no stranger to being penalized - something he’s hoping won’t happen with the judges on season four of BATTLE OF THE BLADES. Drafted third overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Thornton also played for the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and was a key contributor the San Jose Sharks playoff run in the 2003-2004 season.
The figure skaters for Season 4 of BATTLE OF THE BLADES are:
• Violetta Afanasieva is returning for a third season of BATTLE OF THE BLADES. She joined the Bolshoi Moscow Circus on Ice at the age of 14, and won the first-ever Extreme Ice Skating World Championship with Canadian partner/husband Peter Dack. A BATTLE OF THE BLADES favourite, she has skated with PJ Stock (Season 2) and Cale Hulse (Season 3).
• Shae-Lynn Bourne is an internationally revered skater, as a World Champion and three-time Olympian with her former ice dance partner Victor Kraatz. This Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Famer quickly rose to the top of the ice dance ranks. The 10-time Canadian National Dance Champions became the first North American pair to win the World Championships’ Ice Dance title in 2003. Twice a runner-up on Battle of the Blades (season one with Claude Lemieux and season two with Patrice Brisebrois) Shae is hoping to add the show’s title to her overflowing trophy cabinet.
• Jessica Dubé and her former partner Bryce Davison had international success with a World bronze medal, and two consecutive trips to the Olympics in 2006 & 2010. While competing in 2007, Bryce’s blade accidently sliced Jessica’s face during side-by-side camel spins leaving her with 83 stitches on her left cheek and nose. After her quick recovery, the pair went on to compete and became three-time Canadian Pairs Champions.
• Marie-France Dubreuil is a five-time Canadian National Ice Dance Champion and a two-time Olympian who, with her husband Patrice Lauzon, won silver at the 2006 and 2007 World Ice Dance Championships. A returning favourite to BATTLE OF THE BLADES, she was partnered with Stephane Richard in season 1 and Bryan Berard in season 2.
• Amanda Evora is a two-time U.S. Pairs Silver Medallist and the first ever Filipino-American to compete in the Winter Olympics. With partner Mark Ladwig they skated to their personal best 10th at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The duo were also three-time medalists at the U.S. Pairs Championships.
• Marcy Hinzmann gained national and international recognition when she teamed up with Aaron Parchem, with whom she skated from 2003-2006. Together, they became two-time U.S. Pairs Medalists and Olympians at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Paired with Todd Simpson during season 3 of BATTLE OF THE BLADES, her past experience will give her an advantage in this season 4.
• Oksana Kazakova is the 1998 Olympic Pairs Gold Medallist. With her third partner, Artur Dmitriev, the St. Petersburg, Russia native also won the 1996 European Championships and earned a Bronze at the 1997 World Pairs Championships.
• Sinead Kerr is a two-time Olympian in 2006 & 2010 and seven-time British Ice Dance Champion. Along with her skating partner and brother John Kerr, Sinead is well known for her unique style, offbeat musical choices and overall creativity.
BATTLE OF THE BLADES premieres Sunday, September 22 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) with a special two-hour episode. Hosted by Ron MacLean, 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.
ING DIRECT joins BATTLE OF THE BLADES as a season sponsor with the ING DIRECT Leaderboard. Save a skater and more through ING DIRECT!
Tickets to see a live performance of BATTLE OF THE BLADES will be available online this Saturday, September 21 via Ticketmaster.
Find the show online at:
facebook.com/battleoftheblades
@cbcbattle | #BattleIsBack
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