For the first time in four years, Canada could have a new pairs champion, if the short program results hold at the national figure skating championships in Halifax.
The up-and-coming duo of Jessica Dube of Drummondville, Que., and Bryce Davison of Cambridge, Ont., last year's runners-up, hold a slim 59.94 points to 59.01 over three-time Canadian pairs champions Valerie Marcoux of Gatineau, Que., and Craig Buntin of Kelowna, B.C., going into Saturday's long program.
Anabelle Langlois of Grand Mere, Que., and Cody Hay of Grande Prairie, Alta., sit in third.
Marcoux and Buntin captivated the audience with their short routine Thursday until Marcoux crashed to the ice on a throw triple loop late in the program.
"Everything felt good until the throw," said Marcoux. "It's just one of those seasons that the throw is just not working.
"I never have a problem with it at home but this is the fourth competition in a row that I've missed it."
The pair, both 26, agreed that the throw has become a mental block, but they feel they can retain their national crown with a solid long program, which has traditionally been their strength.
"We've been in this position before where we've had to do good longs to step up to where we need to be," said Buntin, who with Marcoux finished fifth at the 2006 world championships.
No rust
Dube, 19, and Davison, 20, were tight in their short program and hardly looked like a team in their first event of the season.
The pair hasn't competed this season because Dube underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Sept. 25.
Dube and Davison recently spent time working with Olympic champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier in Edmonton to tune up for the national championships.
"They really, really helped us," said Dube, who along with Davison placed seventh at last year's world championships.
That result helped Canada qualify three pairs teams for this year's worlds March 19-25 in Tokyo.
The pairs competition wraps up Saturday afternoon with the long programs at the Halifax Metro Centre at 2:30 p.m. ET.