Battle of the Blades, the highest-rated original Canadian format television program, will crown a new champion on Nov. 17.
The innovative TV competition that pairs hockey players with figure skating champions has become a massive hit in Canada and is down to its final three contestants.
Viewers of the program voted for their favorites through Nov. 15 and the winner will be announced on CBC on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. ET. The winner will receive $100,000 for the charity of his choice while the second- and third-place finisher will get $35,000 and $30,000, respectively.
The former NHL players making up this year's finalist are Jason Strudwick, Mathieu Dandenault and Scott Thornton. The show started with eight teams and has been whittled down to these three through a series of eliminations involving fan voting as well as scores handed down from a celebrity judging panel.
To get this far, each former player worked with a professional skating partner assigned to him by the show's producers. Thornton, drafted No. 3 by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1989, skated with two-time U.S. pairs silver medalist Amanda Evora. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Dandenault is partnered with five-time Canadian ice dancing champion Marie-France Dubreuil. Strudwick, who played 14 seasons in the NHL, is skating with Extreme Ice Skating world champion Violetta Afanasieva.
Last season's Battle of the Blades champions were David Pelletier and Canadian national women's team member Tessa Bonhome. It marked the first time a team consisting of a female hockey player and male figure skater won the competition.
For more information about Battle of the Blades, visit cbc.ca/battle.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.