Canada's Patrick Chan, world silver medalist and big-time medal contender this season, has withdrawn from next week's Rostelecom Cup Grand Prix event due to a muscle tear in his calf, according to The Canadian Press. The article states that Chan still hopes to compete in Skate Canada International in November. This is a major blow to Canada's best male medal chance, and it's bad for the rest of us too, as Chan brings something very special to the ice. Let's hope he can get well SOON!

An excerpt:

Skate Canada high performance director Mike Slipchuk said: "Patrick was really excited about competing for the first time in Russia. After consultation with his doctors and coach, however, it was the right decision to withdraw from this event at this point in the year.