The fifth season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 19, 2019, on CBC Television after a six-year hiatus from the sport, featuring seven couples.
Ron MacLean returns as host alongside head judge Kurt Browning, with Colby Armstrong joining the judging panel permanently after suffering an injury that ruled him out of the competition. The season featured a rotation of guest judges, with Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir serving as guest judges during Week 1. The season rotated between three venues, with the first three weeks taking place at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Week 4 taking place at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario and the last three weeks in Oshawa, with two weeks at the Tributes Community Centre and the finale taking place at the Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre.
For the first time in the show's history, viewers from outside Canada are allowed to view the dances and vote for their favourite couples. The scoring also changed from a 6.0 to a 10.0 system for Week 1, referring back to the 6.0 system from Week 2 onwards.
Couples Hockey player Team/s played Professional Partner Charities StatusAmanda Kessel Eric Radford SickKids Foundation (Kessel)Egale (Radford) Eliminated 1st Brian McGrattan Vanessa James Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (McGrattan)Alzheimer Society of Canada (James) Eliminated 2nd P. J. Stock‡ Violetta Afanasieva ALS Society of Quebec (Stock)Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes (Afanasieva)Eliminated 3rd Colton OrrAmanda Evora Smile Zone (Orr)Boys and Girls Club of Canada (Evora) Eliminated 4th Bruno Gervais Ekaterina Gordeeva Gervais-Talbot Foundation (Gervais)Heart and Stroke Foundation (Gordeeva) Third place Natalie SpoonerAndrew Poje Fast and Female (Spooner) Right to Play (Poje) Second place Sheldon Kennedy Kaitlyn Weaver Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities Winners
Scoring Chart Red numbers indicate the couples with the lowest score for each week. Green numbers indicate the couples with the highest score for each week. indicates the couple(s) eliminated that week. indicates the returning couple that finished in the bottom two the previous week, but won the Skate-Off. indicates the Skate-Off finished in a draw. indicates the winning couple. indicates the runner-up couple. indicates the third-place couple.
Team Place 1[a] 2 3 4 5 6[b]7[c] Kaitlyn & Sheldon128.323.7 17.318.0 17.5 1st Natalie & Andrew2 27.9 22.917.417.417.017.2 2nd Ekaterina & Bruno3 28.223.017.517.217.6 3rdAmanda E. & Colton427.4 22.216.717.0 17.217.1Violetta & P.J.5 22.116.917.217.2Vanessa & Brian 6 27.9 22.417.0 Amanda K. & Eric 727.722.1
Judges Each week, Colby Armstrong and Kurt Browning act as judges, with guest judges joining them. With the exception of Week 1, each guest judge gave separate scores to the contestants. Colby Armstrong was also considered a guest judge in Week 1, before joining the panel full-time during Week 2. +WeekJudgeCareerRef.1Tessa Virtue & Scott MoirOlympic Ice Dance Champions - 2010 & 2018 Ice Dance World Champions - 2010, 2012 & 2017Colby ArmstrongIce Hockey World Champion - 2007 9-year NHL veteran2Darcy TuckerWorld Junior Ice Hockey Champion - 1995 14-year NHL veteranBarbara UnderhillPairs World Champion - 1984 Junior Pairs World Champion - 19783Marie-France DubreuilIce Dance World Championship Silver Medalist - 2006 & 2007 Battle of the Blades Runner-Up - 20114Sarah NurseOlympic Ice Hockey Silver Medalist - 20185Meagan DuhamelOlympic Pairs Bronze Medalist - 2018 Pairs World Champion - 2015 & 20166Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Individual songs & scores Week 1 Judges scores in order: Colby Armstrong, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Kurt Browning. Couple Scores Song Amanda E. & Colton 27.4 (9.2, 9.1, 9.1) "Glory" - The Score Natalie & Andrew 27.9 (9.3, 9.3, 9.3) "Canadian Girls" - Dean Brody Kaitlyn & Sheldon 28.3 (9.4, 9.4, 9.5) "Wake Me Up" - Avicii Amanda K. & Eric 27.7 (9.3, 9.2, 9.2) "Juice" - Lizzo Vanessa & Brian 27.9 (9.4, 9.3, 9.2) "Under Your Scars" - Godsmack Ekaterina & Bruno 28.2 (9.4, 9.4, 9.4) "I Like the Way" - BodyRockers
Week 2 Judges scores in order: Colby Armstrong, Darcy Tucker, Barbara Underhill, Kurt Browning. +CoupleScoresSongStatusVioletta & P. J.22.9 (5.8, 5.8, 5.7, 5.6)"Addicted to Love" - Alex ClareSafeEkaterina & Bruno23.0 (5.8, 5.8, 5.8, 5.6)"A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" - Fergie, Q-Tip & GoonRockSafeVanessa & Brian22.4 (5.7, 5.7, 5.5, 5.5)"Broken Wings" - Mr. MisterSafeNatalie & Andrew22.9 (5.7, 5.8, 5.7, 5.7)"Higher Love" - Kygo & Whitney HoustonSafeKaitlyn & Sheldon23.7 (5.9, 6.0, 5.9, 5.9)"Hot Stuff" - Donna SummerSafeSkate OffAmanda K. & Eric22.1 (5.6, 5.6, 5.4, 5.5)"Strong Enough" - CherLoseAmanda E. & Colton22.2 (5.6, 5.7, 5.5, 5.4)"Paint it Black" - CiaraWin
Week 3 - Country Week Judges scores in order: Colby Armstrong, Marie-France Dubreuil, Kurt Browning. +CoupleScoresSongStatusAmanda E. & Colton16.7 (5.6, 5.6, 5.5) "Old Town Road" - Lil Nas X & Billy Ray CyrusSafeKaitlyn & Sheldon17.3 (5.8, 5.8, 5.7)"Jolene" - Dolly Parton SafeVioletta & P.J.16.9 (5.7, 5.6, 5.6) "Crazy" - Patsy ClineSafeNatalie & Andrew17.4 (5.9, 5.8, 5.7)"You Make It Easy" - Jason Aldean Safe Skate OffVanessa & Brian17.0 (5.7, 5.7, 5.6)"Cowboy Casanova" - Carrie UnderwoodLoseEkaterina & Bruno17.5 (5.8, 5.9, 5.8)"Thinking Out Loud" - Ed Sheeran Win
Week 4 - Stage and Screen Week Judges scores in order: Colby Armstrong, Sarah Nurse, Kurt Browning. +CoupleScoresSongMovie/TV showStatusKaitlyn & Sheldon18.0 (6.0, 6.0, 6.0)"Smile" - Nat King ColeModern TimesSafeNatalie & Andrew17.4 (5.8, 5.8, 5.8)"Juicy Wiggle" - RedfooAlvin and the Chipmunks: The Road ChipSafeAmanda E. & Colton17.0 (5.7, 5.7, 5.6)"Believer" - Imagine DragonsRiverdale SafeSkate-OffVioletta & P.J.17.2 (5.8, 5.7, 5.7)"Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)" - The ContoursDirty DancingDrawEkaterina & Bruno17.2 (5.7, 5.8, 5.7)"The Plaza of Execution" - James HornerThe Mask of ZorroDraw
Week 5 - R&B Week Judges scores in order: Colby Armstrong, Meagan Duhamel, Kurt Browning. +CoupleScoreSongStatusNatalie & Andrew17.0 (5.7, 5.7, 5.6)"Powerful" - Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley SafeAmanda E. & Colton17.2 (5.8, 5.7, 5.7)"Rise Up" - Andra DaySafeKaitlyn & Sheldon17.5 (5.8, 5.9, 5.8)"U Can't Touch This" - MC HammerSafeSkate-OffEkaterina & Bruno17.6 (5.8, 5.8, 6.0)"Ain't No Sunshine" - Shawn JamesWinVioletta & P.J17.2 (5.7, 5.8, 5.7)"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerrellLose
Week 6
Round 1 - Couple's Theme Choice Judges scores in order: Colby Armstrong, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Kurt Browning.
In contrast to previous weeks, the skate-off was conducted first. +CoupleScoreSongStatusKaitlyn & SheldonNot scored"I'm Still Standing" - Elton JohnSafeEkaterina & BrunoNot scored"Make Me Feel" - Janelle MonáeSafeSkate-OffNatalie & Andrew17.2 (5.8, 5.8, 5.8)"Shut Up and Dance" - Walk the MoonWinAmanda E. & Colton17.1 (5.8, 5.7, 5.8)"Leave a Light On" - Tom WalkerLose
Round 2 - Favourite Performance of the Season Couples performed their favourite routines for the season, although they were not scored by the judges. +CoupleSongWeek PerformedViewer's VoteNatalie & Andrew"Canadian Girls" - Dean BrodyWeek 1 Second PlaceKaitlyn & Sheldon"Smile" - Nat King ColeWeek 4 - Stage and Screen WinnersEkaterina & Bruno"Ain't No Sunshine" - Shawn JamesWeek 5 - R&B Week Third Place
Notes a ^ Violetta & P.J. were given a bye in Week 1 after it was learned that Colby Armstrong would be forced to withdraw from the competition. b ^ Kaitlyn & Sheldon and Ekaterina & Bruno's skates in Week 6 were not scored by the judges. c ^ Skates in Week 7 were not scored by the judges.
References