{alltv} Battle of the Blades Week 3: Just dance!

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Next time a hockey player tells you he can't dance, call his bluff.

Sure, Kurt Browning's little opening routine to the Black Eyed Peas' Let's Get It Started was THE highlight of the night on Sunday's performance episode of Battle of the Blades - but the six remaining pucksters' moves were surprisingly smooth.

Guest judge Ken Daneyko could hardly believe how much better the players are this year compared to last year (when he participated.) And there's no doubt they've stepped up their game to the point where no lift is too risky, no dance move is too humiliating, and no synthetic material is too shiny or tight.

Ladies and gents, let's reflect on Sunday's "Dance Week" performances:

Ekaterina Gordeeva & Val Bure

There's something about this Russian team that screams "First place!" Their practices are passionate (if that's what you want to call Val, Katia and their choreographer Marina getting into a screaming match) and their routines are in synch - especially this week's hip-hop number, in which Val shook it like the rent was due.

Score: 17.4

Violetta Afanasieva & PJ Stock

Technical schmechnical. Even if Violetta had a little slip and PJ's footwork was more funky than fresh, their disco routine was as groovy as his red tie-dyed T-shirt - and also as blinding. And yet, head judge Sandra Bezic subtly bashed PJ ("that was tricky ... wasn't it?"), and they wound up with a measly ...

Score: 16.9

Isabelle Brasseur & Todd Warriner

Yes, Isabelle, Todd Warriner is a nice-looking man - but that doesn't mean you need to slither up and down him like a snake. What? That's all part of your routine? You lucky gal! Apparently, the judges approved as well.

Score: 17.3

Jamie Sale & Theo Fleury

Theo Fleury has come a long way, baby. And I'm not even referring to the rough days he wrote about in Playing With Fire. I'm talking about from the start of the show, when he probably didn't see himself in a shiny tight garbage bag-esque outfit gyrating to Rick James' Super Freak. But there he was, this week, doing just that. And it was freaktacular.

Score: 17.2

Shae-Lynn Bourne & Patrice Brisebois

"Patrice, marry me" read one of the many signs audience members held up in Brisebois' favour. And, well, who could blame a girl? Patrice was elegantly charming in his and Bourne's slick and speedy foxtrot-on-ice this week. And it earned them the highest score yet.

Score: 17.7

Kyoko Ina & Kelly Chase

Injury alert! Kyoko had a painful meeting with a doorway during rehearsal, and had to get three stitches in her elbow. She took it like a champ - but unfortunately her partner Kelly didn't perform like one. His costume - a Roughriders-emblazoned sweater vest that totally clashed with Kyoko's hot pink halter - was what didn't do it for me. But the judges were less impressed with their routine set to Katy Perry, which was indeed Hot N Cold.

Score: 17.0