Thrills Near Citadel Hill

They sure know how to build drama at Canadians.
Take a look at the draw for tonight's senior women's free skate at the Metro Centre: The final three skaters (in order) are Vancouver's Mira Leung (currently 3rd after the short program), Lesley Hawker of Barrie, Ont. (2nd) and two-time defending champion Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., who closes the show.
It'll be the same deal in Saturday's pairs free skate: Toronto's Kyra and Dylan Moscovitch, a surprising 4th in Thursday night's short program, followed by Jessica Dube of St. Cyrille de Wendover, Que., and Bryce Davison of Cambridge, Ont. (1st after short), Anabelle Langlois of Hull, Que., and Cody Hay of Grande Prairie, Alta. (3rd), and Valerie Marcoux of Gatineau, Que., and Craig Buntin, of Kelowna, B.C. (2nd), who are aiming for their fourth straight title.
We know one thing: CTV and TSN have to be loving this.
*** We're guessing the Canadian championships remains necessary programming for the folks at Jack Astor's in Barrie. When Hawker worked there, her fellow staffers were always sure to tune in (as CBC showed during a special it filmed last season). As Lesley once put it (as only Lesley can), “they discovered the girls wear short skirts when we skate.” Now Langlois is a waitress there (taking the torch from Hawker, no doubt), so it's a good bet the pairs short program was on at least one TV in the joint Thursday night.
*** A most reliable Halifax source informs your faithful blogger that a 'pole dancing' fitness class that's just started up in this fine city teaches participants a move called 'the skater.' Nice to see they've caught the spirit of the week, one might say.