The stage was set.
The country's top 18 women's figure skaters embarked on Place Bell in Laval for the 2025 Canadian National Skating Championships. The best of the best, all under one roof with the goal of becoming a national champion.
For the second year in a row, a Dauphin star had the opportunity to compete as Breken Brezden was in the field consisting of skaters from coast to coast. Last year, Breken debuted in the event and finished 18th. Following that performance, she pushed harder than ever. She dug deep and when she qualified for this year's event, it was time for her to show the entire country how much work she put in.
"I was feeling a mix of emotions, nervous as I am for all competitions and I was also feeling a lot of excitement," said Brezden. "I was working on building my confidence heading into the event, I knew that it was important to be confident in myself."
Breken wowed the crowd with a strong short program, earning 57.67 points and securing seventh place—just 13 points behind Ontario’s Madeline Schizas, who dominated with 70 points. But Breken wasn’t done yet.
She hit the ice for her free program with fire and determination, scoring an impressive 114.99 points for a two-skate total of 172.66. Compare that to last year’s 113.23, and it’s clear—Breken skyrocketed with a jaw-dropping 59.43-point improvement.
This Dauphin star didn’t just show up—she made a statement!
"I'm proud of myself for putting that not-so-great year behind me and working on my routines to improve," continued Brezden.
Brezden also finished 13 places higher this year and finished in fifth.
"It's still pretty crazy to think about, I'm still repeating it in my head, realizing that I actually did it," commented Brezden. "I knew I could do it because I had been skating well and training a lot heading into the competition but for it to actually happen, it's an incredible accomplishment for myself. I'm so happy."
Breken’s fifth-place finish on the national stage is just the beginning. She’ll use this incredible milestone as fuel to push even harder heading into next season, balancing intense training on and off the ice during her quieter months.
Reflecting on a thrilling year, Breken can proudly celebrate her achievements. In October, she made her international debut at the Challenger Series Trophy Metropole Nice Cote d’Azur in Nice, France, finishing 10th against some of the world’s best skaters—a moment she’ll cherish forever.
"It was such a great experience and I learned a lot from it," ended Brezden. "It's something that I will take with me for the rest of my skating career. Representing Canada was a true honour and something I will never forget."
Add a fifth-place finish on the national stage and the future is bright. Breken also wants to thank all of her family and friends for their amazing support.