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Russ Courtnall goes to Battle... Again

Sep 18, 2011

Russ Courtnall is taking another crack at the Battle of the Blades. The Season 2 cast member and former NHL hockey player was revealed Sunday night as the final member of the Season 3 cast, taking the place of the late Wade Belak.

Courtnall, a native of Duncan, BC, performed on Battle of the Blades twice last year with pairs skater Tuffy Hough-Sweeney. The duo was the first to be eliminated, but was brought back at the competition mid-point for a "Second-Chance Sunday" episode.

Unfortunately, up against three other eliminated pairs--including eventual runners-up Patrice Brisebois and Shae-Lynn Bourne--Courtnall and Hough-Sweeney were eliminated from contention for a second time.

Hoping to advance further in the competition this time out, Courtnall will pair up with ice dancer Kim Navarro. Navarro, a U.S. World Team Member and two-time U.S. Ice Dance Bronze Medallist, has less than one week remaining to prepare her veteran partner for what promises to be a very competitive third season.

The duo will compete on behalf of the Tourette Syndrome and Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital. Should they win, the they will earn $100,000 for the charity.

The first live Battle of the Blades performances kick off with two one-hour performance shows Sunday, September 25 at 8 p.m. and Monday, September 26 at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT). Fans have asked for no elimination in the first week, but these performances will still count towards the first elimination held in week two. Subsequent weeks will feature performance shows on Sunday evenings followed by the dramatic, live "skate-off" results shows on Monday nights, until the new champions are crowned.