Canada's Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison have overcome a freak accident to compete at the world figure skating championships in Tokyo. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

Figure skater Bryce Davison struggles to describe how he felt when he turned and saw his partner clutching her face as blood pooled on the ice.

"I'm not sure how to describe that feeling of complete terror," he told CBC Sports Online, recalling the moment after his skate blade struck Jessica Dube during a routine at the recent Four Continents meet in Colorado Springs. "I was absolutely horrified."

Dube was rushed to hospital, where she underwent surgery to close the gash on her left cheek and nose. Six weeks later, the bandages have been removed and the scar is healing.

But the psychological scars linger for Davison - and the accident continues to cast a shadow over the Canadian pairs team as it laces up for the world figure skating championships in Tokyo this week.

The couple didn't return to the ice for 10 days following the accident, but Davison didn't wait that long to seek counselling. In addition to seeing a sports psychologist, he sat down with a therapist who treats people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

On-ice accidents often result in feelings of guilt - and that can jeopardize a skating partnership. Davison has worked to avoid that.

"I felt very guilty," Davison said. "But I have been dealing with those feelings very well. I've had to acknowledge that it was an accident. It wasn't my fault. There is no culpability here.

"You can't get to the top of the skating world without having accidents happen. If you skate long enough, something like this is bound to happen."

Davison heard that message repeatedly from several retired skaters, who reminded him of other on-ice accidents.

Accidents happen

Eleven years ago, Russian Elena Berezhnaya was struck in the head by her partner's skate blade while practising the camel spin, the same move Dube and Davison were attempting at the time of their mishap.

Berezhnaya lost her ability to speak and underwent two brain surgeries. However, she made a full recovery and went on to win two world titles and an Olympic gold medal with another partner.

Russian Tatiana Totmianina, who has won two world titles and the 2006 Olympic title with Maxim Marinin, suffered a concussion when Marinin dropped her during a lift at Skate America three years ago.

Jessica Dube is attended to on the ice after being slashed in the face by the skate of her partner, Bryce Davison, while competing at the Four Continents in Colorado Springs. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Chinese skater Zhang Dan crashed into the boards with her legs spread coming out of a throw at last year's Winter Olympics. She strained her knee ligaments but finished the program and won the silver medal with her partner, Zhang Hao.

"Talking about various skating accidents with people like [retired pairs skaters] Paul Martini and Barb Underhill has really helped," Davison said.

He insists he never thought he and Dube, 19, would miss the world championships: "A few moments after she fell, she looked up at me and I could see she wanted to keep going. At that point, I knew we would be skating in Tokyo."

Davison, 21, said he and Dube are ready for the big event.

"We're not scared. We're doing our full program. We're excited."

Davison has stressed that point in many interviews recently. He has also answered countless questions about the mishap.

People are fascinated with the accident and its gory details, but Davison doesn't mind talking about it.

"Jess and I have already dealt with what happened," he said. "We have thought about the accident a lot, and about how it can make our story that much more special."

Pair resists 'unrealistic' expectations

Last year, the duo finished 10th at the Olympics and seventh at the world championships. This year, they won the Canadian pairs title.

They expect great things in the future but at this year's worlds, their first meet since the fateful Four Continents, the pairs skaters aren't putting too much pressure on themselves.

"In terms of goals, we're thinking of putting in two good performances and staying in the top 10," Davison said. "At this point, we're more concerned about preparing ourselves to grow than about where we place."

Odds are the young Canadian skaters will place behind at least one Chinese couple. In fact, few observers would be surprised if Chinese skaters swept the medals in the pairs competition.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, who have won two world titles along with bronze medals at the last two Olympics, will compete. So will Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang, who placed second at the Olympics and the world championships last year.

But the pairs team to beat is Qing Pang and Jian Tong, the reigning world champions.

"They are going to be very tough to beat," Davison said. "At this point, we're not thinking of touching them. It would be unrealistic for us to think that way."

Still, the Chinese skaters might not be the greatest challenge Davison faces in Tokyo.

"The accident still flashes before my eyes sometimes," he admitted. "It was one of the worst things to experience - an absolute nightmare."