Figure Skating

Canadian ice dancers Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier have been added to the ISU Grand Prix Final next week in Tokyo.

Crone, of Aurora, Ont., and Poirier of Unionville, Ont., were the substitute team following the withdrawl of two other ice dance teams. Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto withdrew because Belbin's training is being interrupted by dental surgery. Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski of Russia were the replacements for Belbin and Agosto but have since also withdrawn due to fatigue Khokhlova is suffering.

Crone and Poirier won a bronze medal at the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan.

The duo will be the second Canadian ice dance team in the Grand Prix Final. Tessa Virtue of London, Ont. and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont. will also compete there, after having won gold medals at Skate Canada in Kitchener, Ont. and at Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris.

It is expected to be a showdown between Virtue and Moir, and their American partners, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who have also won two gold medals on the Grand Prix circuit this season.

Joannie Rochette, from Ile-Dupas, Que. is the only other Canadian who will compete in the Grand Prix Final.