Take It To The Bank

So now, it's on to Ottawa.
Well, Kanata to be exact. Home base for Scotiabank Place, where HomeSense Skate Canada will land a year from now.
The good folks who pack the rink known locally as 'The Bank' have gotten used to some high-end skating these days: The Ottawa Senators, 11-1-0 as of this writing, own the top record in the National Hockey League.
Meaning the folks who run Skate Canada have a pretty high standard to keep.
They're confident they can do it, at least from the home end. Skate Canada CEO William Thompson all but confirmed that ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir — who struck gold in Quebec City, stole the show here, and might be world medallists (or even champions) by then — will be among the headliners at this event in 2008.
Joannie Rochette is also a very good bet to be there. Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, too, along with Jeffrey Buttle. Assuming one and all leave Vancouver in January with Canadian titles in their pockets, that is.
Skate Canada typically loads up its 'home' Grand Prix event with its top talent. This week, they also delivered world men's champ Brian Joubert of France and a precocious Japanese teen, Mao Asada, who might get there herself soon enough.
In other words, there will be no shortage of stars.
Now they just need to convince the public that it's the case.
"Our long-term goal is to have the arena full (again), but we are in a rebuilding mode," said Thompson. "The excitement in figure skating in Canada, I truly believe, will continue to build. When the public gets to know the Tessa and Scotts, and Jessica and Bryces, it will generate excitement and the crowds will return."
***
This isn't a sport for the faint of heart.
Everyone here got a reminder of that Saturday morning. During the warmup for the final flight of the ice dance final, U.S. competitor Denis Petukhov stumbled and lost his grip on partner Melissa Gregory during a rotational lift. Gregory crashed to the ice, landed hard on her chest and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
A CT scan later proved negative.
"She is going to be released tonight and she is fine," said Thompson.
Still, it was a scary moment for everyone who saw it.
"It reminds you about how dangerous this sport can be," said Virtue.
***
One friendly suggestion for next year.
Bring Marc Ferland — and a microphone — to Ottawa.
The former Canadian junior and novice champion gave one of the most stirring renditions of O Canada you'd ever want to hear to open this event on Friday night. Then he put those amazing pipes to work one more time and did it again to close the show Sunday afternoon.
You're not Canadian if you weren't moved by what you heard.