The Copper & Blue, an Edmonton Oilers community

CBC Television announced today the first competitors to sign on to participate in CBC Television’s Battle of the Blades. NHL Hall of Famer and fan favourite Lanny McDonald, NHL Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup-winner Glenn Anderson, legendary enforcers Tie Domi and Bob Probert, two-time Stanley Cup-winner and Hockey Night in Canada analyst Craig Simpson, and two-time Stanley Cup-winner Stéphane Richer will go head-to-head in this fierce competition. These hockey heavyweights will be paired with some of Canada’s top female figure skaters in a competitive and thrilling pairs showdown beginning this October.

"Whatever else you can say about Canadians, they know hockey and they know figure skating – and are passionate about both," said Kirstine Layfield, CBC Television’s executive director of network programming. "We’re going to bring the two together in a way that’s never been seen before. It’s going to be great."