{alltv} Battle of the Blades: Week 1

What a difference a year makes.

When the first batch of hockey players - including Tie Domi and the late Bob Probert — took to the ice for Season 1 of Battle of the Blades last September, they were tripping over their figure skates.

But if the Season 2 premiere of the highly rated CBC competition show — aka Canada's answer to Dancing With the Stars — proved anything on Sunday night, it's that the next generation of pucksters-turned-prancers mean business.

The retired hockey players (all skating for charity) pulled out all of the stops right off the hop, tossing around their partners, attempting waltz jumps and sporting guyliner (a locker room no-no). Judge Sandra Bezic even noted that where the new crew is at skill-wise in Week 1 is where the former crew was at in Week 5 last year.

Pair that with shorter hemlines on the women, a new wise-cracking judge (ex-NHLer Jeremy Roenick), and more guest panellists (this week it's Brett Hull), and I'd say the series' second season is off to a start that's as solid as ... well, ya know.

Here's how the pairs fared in the first round, which featured a rock theme:

Shae-Lynn Bourne & Patrice Brisebois

Blur's rockin' Song 2 is a great length for a skating routine, but Patrice can't keep up with its tempo — or his petite blonde partner, either. Sure, he looks stiff, and like he's just been told to do 80 man-makers at summer hockey camp — but he gets props for going first.

Score: 16.6

Kyoko Ina & Kelly Chase

It ain't Rock Week without Whitesnake — and Chase's performance to Here I Go Again is uplifting, both emotionally (he recently survived a brain lesion) and physically (he flung Kyoko around like he was shaking the sand out of a beach towel). Natch, the judges ate it up.

Score: 17.2

Violetta Afanasieva & PJ Stock

Those moves! Those lifts! That smile! I already knew PJ would be the youngest and, OK, the handsomest player on the ice. But he's also the most charming and, OK, flamboyant guy out there so far. And with sexy Violetta at his side, he's set.

Score: 17.2

Christine Hough-Sweeney & Russ Courtnall

Considering Russ is known for his speed, he and Christine (aka Tuffy) are sure taking it slow in their debut routine. Though I blame Chad Kroeger for that (among other things), since they're performing to his track Hero.

Score: 16.8

Anabelle Langlois & Georges Laraque

Injury alert! French enforcer Georges had to get 12 stitches on Saturday after his face had a run-in with his partner Anabelle's blade during practice. Fortunately, he pulls off the move that caused the accident — in which he spins her around his neck — and goes on to attempt the competition's first waltz jump and don the world's tightest shirt, all while Eye of the Tiger plays in the background. Victory is in the air — until Roenick harshly points out that Georges has the "biggest butt ... on figure skates." Ouch.

Score: 17.0

Isabelle Brasseur & Todd Warriner

Near-injury alert! Todd may or may not have chucked Isabelle the wrong way — but whatever the case, she wound up with her rear on the ice during their otherwise entertaining routine to Paint It, Black . But it's all good, because according to Brett Hull, Todd looks "like a figure skater." A perk, in this case.

Score: 16.8

Ekaterina Gordeeva & Valerie Bure

Be it in figure skating or hockey, the Russians have always been the ones to beat. And such is the case with Kat and Val, by far the most energetic and intense pair on the ice so far. Val can hoist and glide with the best of 'em, and that second-skin outfit suits him a little too well.

Score: 17.3

Jamie Sale & Theo Fleury

What Theo lacks in technical skills he makes up for in passion ... and in nail polish. Decked out in guyliner and black nails (and without a visor or gloves to hide under), Theo unleashes his inner "Adam Lambert" in a theatrical number. The lifts and moves aren't as advanced as the ones his competitors attempted, but given that he's paired with last season's winner, he'll likely have a few more weeks to hone his act.

Score: 17.1