Sports announcer Scott Russell wrote a very good article about how much Canadian fans have missed their favourite sport on ice (besides hockey) due to COVID restrictions
They are the first international competition, and the first in-person competition for Canadian skaters other than Keegan, who was able to compete at Skate America since he lives/trains in the US. The others did get a virtual competition for Challenge, other than Walsh/Michaud who were injured at the time. I believe Gogolev would have competed at Skate America along with Keegan if he had been healthy at the time.