Another exciting day of skating at the 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships in Gatineau. The Ontario Junior Pairs skated their way to the podium and the Junior and Senior Synchro teams brought the energy, passion and teamwork in their short programs.

Brianna Dion and Jacob Cote skated with confidence and composure to earn the silver medal in the Junior Pairs competition. The duo rose to the occasion in a high-pressure setting, supporting each other every step of the way. “Practice this morning went really well and the warm up went well, but I think we were both feeling the nerves as we stepped on the ice,” said Jacob. “She really helped calm me down, and we both helped calm each other.” Competing in her first major Junior event, Brianna impressed with her confidence and adaptability. “I’ve been really proud of how she handled herself,” Jacob added. “Skating on ice with no lines was new for her, and I thought she handled it very well. Overall, I’m really happy with how this event went.”

Rebecca Laiu and Marty Haubrich earned the bronze medal, marking an exciting milestone for the pair. Competing at her first Nationals, Rebecca balanced early nerves with excitement, focusing on enjoying the moment.. “I felt a little nervous at first, but I was excited too,” she said. “I really just tried to experience everything, not let the nerves hold me back, and have fun.” Marty praised his partner’s composure and growth under pressure. “Rebecca really stepped up,” he shared. “It was her first Nationals, which is nerve-wracking for anyone, but she did really well for us as a team.” After rebounding from the previous day, the pair viewed the result as an important step forward. “We battled back, and that’s something new for us,” Marty added. “It’s all part of building our team for the years ahead.”

NEXXICE Junior delivered a standout short program to take over first place, building a 6.6 point lead heading into tomorrow’s free skate. The team’s performance was marked by energy, connection and enjoyment of the program. Team captain Sadie said the focus was on sharing that passion with the audience. “I feel great. We really wanted to show the joy we have — we have a lot of love for this program and this piece of music,” she shared. “We wanted to show the crowd and the judges how much we love it, and I think we did that.”

ICE Ignite and Gold Ice Junior sit in 4th and 5th place respectively after the short programs in Gatineau.

Photo credit: Danielle Earl Photography/Skate Canada

NEXXICE Senior sits in second place following the short program, delivering a performance that built momentum and drew a strong response from the crowd. Team captains Olivia and Brynn highlighted the confidence and connection felt throughout the skate. “The whole time it felt really good,” said Olivia. “An honourable mention goes to hitting that ending pose — when you know you’ve put out a great skate.” Brynn added that one moment stood out for the team: “When the music switches to that upbeat disco section and you hear the crowd go crazy, it was just so amazing.”

Photo credit: Danielle Earl Photography/Skate Canada

Competition continues tomorrow with the Junior Synchro Free, Senior Men Short, Senior Synchro Free and Senior Pair Short programs. Good luck to all Ontario skaters, we are #SkateOntarioProud of you all! Be sure to follow us on social media @SkateOntario to see all of the #SCNats26 action! For full event information, please visit the Skate Canada website.