The third season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 18, 2011, as a part of CBC's fall line-up. Like previous seasons, this season showcases a lineup of 8 couples.
Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning return as the show's hosts, with the addition of Virgin Radio 999 DJ Maura Grierson as the "Battle Correspondent", providing viewers a look backstage during the competition. Sandra Bezic continues as the head judge, with Jeremy Roenick as the other regular judge. This season will continue to have one rotating guest judge every week. The show venue for this season is MasterCard Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
Like the previous season, the September 18th-season premiere was actually a preview of the competition, entitled "Battle of the Blades: Game On". It documented the announcement of the cast, training camp and partner assignments of the eight couples, and was dedicated to deceased competitor Wade Belak. The first competition night was broadcast live on Sunday, September 25, 2011. Due to public demand, there was no elimination in week 1, with the first couple eliminated in week 2.
This season introduces "The Judges' Save", which can be used to save a couple from elimination should they be voted off after the Monday night Skate-Off. However, it can only be used once during the entire season and only with the consensus of all judges.
Casting The official cast announcement was made on the morning of August 22, 2011 on the show's website. It was revealed that the first female hockey player competitor would be cast this season: Olympic Women's Hockey gold medalist Tessa Bonhomme. She is partnered with Olympic Pairs Figure Skating gold medalist David Pelletier. The announcement also revealed six of the seven remaining male NHL hockey players and the all skating professionals. The seven female professionals this season include previous participants Marie-France Dubreuil (season 1 second runner-up), Anabelle Langlois (season 2), Violetta Afanasieva (season 2), and first-timers Elena Berezhnaya, Tanith Belbin, Kim Navarro, and Marcy Hinzmann-Harris. The partnering of competitors beyond Bonhomme & Pelletier were not announced at the time.
On August 30, 2011, former Calgary Flames team captain Todd Simpson confirmed on his Twitter page that he is the eighth hockey player participant of the season.
On August 31, 2011, competitor Wade Belak died less than one month before the scheduled premiere. CBC stated that Belak's death would not affect the show's premiere but did not announce at that time if Belak's spot would be replaced by another hockey player. CBC announced the season would open with a dedication to Belak, with footage of his final days training for the competition shown during the preview show, "Game On".
At the end of the programme "Game On", it was announced that Kim Navarro, originally Wade Belak's partner, would now be skating with former participant Russ Courtnall. Courtnall participated in season 2 with Christine Hough-Sweeney and was the first couple eliminated. Courtnall and Navarro are competing for Belak's original charity of choice, Tourette Syndrome and Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital. Courtnall is the first hockey player participant to compete in more than one season.
Couples Hockey player Team(s) played Professional partner Charity playing for StatusCalgary FlamesFlorida PanthersPhoenix CoyotesMighty Ducks of AnaheimOttawa SenatorsChicago BlackhawksMontreal CanadiensYMCA's Y Strong Kids Campaign (Simpson)Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Hinzmann-Harris)Eliminated 1ston October 3, 2011Toronto Maple LeafsMontreal CanadiensMinnesota North StarsDallas StarsVancouver CanucksNew York RangersLos Angeles KingsTourette Syndrome and Neurodevelopmental Clinicat the Toronto Western HospitalEliminated 2ndon October 10, 2011Buffalo SabresVancouver CanucksPhoenix CoyotesColorado AvalancheAnaheim DucksToronto Maple LeafsDetroit Red WingsAutism SpeaksEliminated 3rdon October 24, 2011New Jersey DevilsCalgary FlamesNashville PredatorsPhoenix CoyotesColumbus Blue JacketsCanadian Cancer SocietyEliminated 4thon October 31, 2011Quebec NordiquesColorado AvalancheWashington CapitalsHartford WhalersCarolina HurricanesMinnesota WildOttawa SenatorsChildren's Hospital Foundation of SaskatchewanEliminated 5thon November 7, 2011Phoenix CoyotesEdmonton OilersDetroit Red WingsToronto Maple LeafsEpilepsy Ontario, Huron-Perth-Bruce (Devereaux)Montreal Neurological Institute (Belbin)Third Placeon November 14, 2011Columbus Blue JacketsChicago BlackhawksBoston BruinsNew York RangersToronto Maple LeafsNew York IslandersDo it for Daron (DIFD) with the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental HealthSecond Placeon November 14, 2011Toronto FuriesMississauga ChiefsOhio State BuckeyesRun for the Cure (Bonhomme)Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada (Pelletier)Winnerson November 14, 2011
Scoring Chart Red numbers indicate the couples with the lowest score for each week. Green numbers indicate the couples with the highest score for each week. indicates the couple eliminated that week. indicates the returning couple(s) that finished in the bottom two/three. indicates the returning couple that was saved by the judges using "The Judges' Save" after being eliminated in the Skate-Off the same night. indicates the winning couple. indicates the runner-up couple. indicates the third-place couple.
Team Place 1 2 1+2 3 4 5 6 7 8[a]Tessa & David 117.016.633.616.417.117.117.517.6✔ Bryan & Marie-France 216.516.633.116.716.917.517.418.0✔Boyd & Tanith 316.217.133.316.517.017.317.817.7✔Curtis & Elena 416.416.532.916.317.117.216.917.4 Cale & Violetta 516.616.433.016.617.216.817.6 Brad & Anabelle 616.216.933.116.716.916.8 Russ & Kim 716.716.533.216.7 Todd & Marcy 816.516.633.1
Skate-Off Chart
Week Bottom Two Couples(Weeks 5, 7: Bottom Three) Music Judges' Vote to Eliminate Eliminated Couple "The Judges' Save"Used 2Cale & Violetta"Love to Love" – Jill Scott0(NIL)Todd & MarcyNoTodd & Marcy"Apologize" – OneRepublic3(Theo, Sandra, Jeremy) 3Russ & Kim"Dancing Fool" – Barry Manilow2(Sandra, Shae-Lynn)Russ & KimNoBoyd & Tanith"She Wants to Move" – N.E.R.D (featuring Alesha Dixon)1(Mark) 4Cale & Violetta"She's So High" – Tal Bachman0(NIL)Brad & Anabelle( Saved using Judges' Save )YESBrad & Anabelle"Come Fly with Me" – Michael Bublé3(Bryan, Sandra, Brian) 5[b]Curtis & Elena"Give Me Everything" – Pitbull (featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)0(NIL)Brad & AnabelleNot ApplicableBrad & Anabelle"Electric" – Shawn Desman3(Chris, Sandra, Jeremy)Cale & Violetta"Suddenly I See" – KT Tunstall0(NIL) 6Cale & Violetta"Love Potion No. 9" – The Clovers3(Katarina, Sandra, Jeremy)Cale & ViolettaNot ApplicableBoyd & Tanith"Tore My Heart" – OONA0(NIL) 7[c]Curtis & Elena"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" – Casey Desmond, Jeff Jenkins3(Christopher, Sandra, Jeremy)Curtis & ElenaNot ApplicableBryan & Marie-France"If I Can't Have You" – Etta James, Harvey Fuqua0(NIL)Tessa & David"It's Only Love" – Bryan Adams, Tina Turner0(NIL)
Notes a ^ Skates in Week 8 were not scored by the judges. b ^ Week 5 resulted in a Three-Way Skate-Off due to 0.03% separating 4th and 5th place after the combination of judges' score and viewer's voting. The organizers decided that because of the close margin, the 4th place couple would also participate in the Skate-Off. However, the exact placements of the Bottom 3 couples were not revealed. c ^ Week 7 resulted in a Three-Way Skate-Off due to 0.002% separating 2nd and 3rd place after the combination of judges' score and viewer's voting. The organizers decided that because of the close margin, the 2nd place couple would also participate in the Skate-Off. However, the exact placements of the Bottom 3 couples were not revealed.
Average chart
Rank by average Place Couple Total Number of skates Average1 2 Bryan & Marie-France 119.6 7 17.09 3 Boyd & Tanith 3 1 Tessa & David 119.3 17.04 4 5 Cale & Violetta 101.2 6 16.87 5 4 Curtis & Elena 117.8 7 16.83 6 6 Brad & Anabelle 83.5 5 16.70 7 7 Russ & Kim 49.9 3 16.63 8 8 Todd & Marcy 33.1 2 16.55
Weekly themes and guest judges WeekThemeGuest Judge(s) 1 Rock N' Roll Darcy Tucker 2 Passion Theoren Fleury 3 The Beat Mark NapierPaul Martini (substituting for Jeremy Roenick on Sunday)Shae-Lynn Bourne (substituting for Jeremy Roenick on Monday) 4 The Great Canadian Songbook Bryan TrottierBrian Orser (substituting for Jeremy Roenick) 5 Fans' Music Choice Chris Nilan 6 Hallowe'en Katarina Witt 7 Duets Christopher Dean 8 Skaters' Choice & Reprise Skate Don Cherry (Sunday only)
Individual scores & songs
Week 1 Individual judges scores in charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Darcy Tucker, Sandra Bezic, Jeremy Roenick. Running order CoupleScoreMusicBrad & Anabelle 16.2 (5.4, 5.4, 5.4)"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" – NickelbackCale & Violetta 16.6 (5.5, 5.6, 5.5)"E.T." – Katy PerryBoyd & Tanith 16.2 (5.6, 5.3, 5.3)"Innocent" – Our Lady PeaceBryan & Marie-France 16.5 (5.5, 5.5, 5.5)"Rocketeer" – Far East Movement (featuring Ryan Tedder)Russ & Kim 16.7 (5.6, 5.6, 5.5)"Hero" – Chad Kroeger (featuring Josey Scott)Curtis & Elena 16.4 (5.5, 5.4, 5.5)"Animal" – Neon TreesTodd & Marcy 16.5 (5.5, 5.5, 5.5)"Fire" – RaghavTessa & David 17.0 (5.7, 5.7, 5.6)"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" – Pat Benatar
Week 2 Individual judges scores in charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Theoren Fleury, Sandra Bezic, Jeremy Roenick. Running order CoupleScoreMusicCale & Violetta 16.4 (5.5, 5.4, 5.5)"Love to Love" – Jill ScottTodd & Marcy 16.6 (5.4, 5.6, 5.6)"Apologize" – OneRepublicRuss & Kim 16.5 (5.6, 5.4, 5.5)"Buttons" – Pussycat DollsCurtis & Elena 16.5 (5.5, 5.5, 5.5)"The Crow and the Butterfly" – ShinedownTessa & David 16.6 (5.6, 5.3, 5.7)"Cold as Ice" – ForeignerBryan & Marie-France 16.6 (5.5, 5.5, 5.6)"Lost Together" – Blue RodeoBoyd & Tanith 17.1 (5.7, 5.7, 5.7)"Jar of Hearts" – Christina PerriBrad & Anabelle 16.9 (5.6, 5.6, 5.7)"I am a Natural Born Lover" – David Wilcox
Week 3 Individual judges scores in charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Mark Napier, Sandra Bezic, Paul Martini. Running order CoupleScoreMusicBoyd & Tanith 16.5 (5.6, 5.5, 5.4)"She Wants to Move" – N.E.R.D (featuring Alesha Dixon)Brad & Anabelle 16.7 (5.6, 5.6, 5.5)"I Don't Feel Like Dancin" – Scissor SistersBryan & Marie-France 16.7 (5.5, 5.7, 5.5)"Elevatas" – Robin ThickeTessa & David 16.4 (5.5, 5.4, 5.5)"Return of the Mack" – Mark MorrisonCale & Violetta 16.6 (5.6, 5.6, 5.4)"Mr. Saxobeat" – Alexandra StanCurtis & Elena 16.3 (5.5, 5.4, 5.4)"Hello" – Martin Solveig & DragonetteRuss & Kim 16.7 (5.6, 5.6, 5.5)"Dancing Fool" – Barry Manilow
Week 4 Individual judges scores in charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Bryan Trottier, Sandra Bezic, Brian Orser. Running order CoupleScoreMusicBryan & Marie-France 16.9 (5.6, 5.8, 5.5)"Sk8er Boi" – Avril LavigneCale & Violetta 17.2 (5.6, 5.8, 5.8)"She's So High" – Tal BachmanTessa & David 17.1 (5.7, 5.7, 5.7)"Long Time Running" – The Tragically HipCurtis & Elena 17.1 (5.7, 5.7, 5.7)"Let's Go Higher" – Johnny ReidBrad & Anabelle 16.9 (5.7, 5.6, 5.6)"Come Fly with Me" – Michael BubléBoyd & Tanith 17.0 (5.7, 5.7, 5.6)"Black Velvet" – Alannah Myles
Week 5 Individual judges scores in charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Chris Nilan, Sandra Bezic, Jeremy Roenick. Running order CoupleScoreMusicBrad & Anabelle 16.8 (5.6, 5.6, 5.6)"Electric" – Shawn DesmanTessa & David 17.1 (5.7, 5.7, 5.7)"Breakaway" – Kelly ClarksonBoyd & Tanith 17.3 (5.8, 5.7, 5.8)"Fever" – Michael BubléCale & Violetta 16.8 (5.6, 5.6, 5.6)"Suddenly I See" – KT TunstallCurtis & Elena 17.2 (5.7, 5.8, 5.7)"Give Me Everything" – Pitbull (featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)Bryan & Marie-France 17.5 (5.7, 5.9, 5.9)"Can't Help Falling in Love" – Elvis Presley
Week 6