After a successful start to the 2014 ISU Grand Prix Series last
weekend at Skate America, Team USA
is hoping to bring that same momentum and find similar success this weekend at
Skate Canada in Kelowna, British Columbia. Here is a preview of
the Team USA skaters competing.
Men
After taking home the silver medal at Finlandia Trophy, Adam
Rippon is hoping for similar success at his first Grand Prix event of the
season. Last season, he took home the silver medal at Skate America and just
finished off the podium at NHK Trophy. Rippon will be joined by 2014 U.S. bronze
medalist Max Aaron. Aaron won the gold medal in September at the U.S. International
Figure Skating Classic. Last season, he took home the bronze medal at
Skate America. Stephen Carriere will also be competing at Skate Canada.
He won gold at Nepela Trophy last month. This is his first Grand Prix
event since the 2010-2011 season.
Ladies
2014 Olympic team bronze medalist Ashley
Wagner will lead Team USA
ladies at Skate Canada. While she did not participate in any of the ISU
Challenger events this fall, she was invited to debut her free skate at the
Japan Open. Wagner qualified for the Grand Prix Final last season after winning
gold at Trophee Bompard and silver at Skate America. Joining Wagner will
be Courtney Hicks. Hicks won silver at the U.S. International Figure Skating
Classic in Salt Lake City
in September. She finished sixth at Skate Canada last season.
Pairs
After a fifth place finish in their senior Grand Prix debut at
Skate America last week, Madeline Aaron and Max Settlage do not have time to
waste as they will compete at Skate Canada this weekend. The two posted ISU
personal bests in both their short program and free skate. They will be the
only Team USA
pair team competing at Skate Canada. They were named as replacements to this
event after Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay, who originally were assigned
to this competition, announced the end of their partnership in July.
Ice Dance
There will be two ice dance teams competing for the U.S. at Skate
Canada. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue will return to competitive ice for
the first time since Hubbell had surgery for a torn labrum in her hip. The two
last competed at the 2014 Four Continents Championships where they won the gold
medal. As the 2014 U.S.
pewter medalists, Hubbell and Donohue were the first alternates to the 2014
World Championships, and were next in line after 2014 Olympic Champions Meryl
Davis and Charlie White withdrew from the event, but were unable to compete
because of Hubbell’s injury. Taking their place were Alexandra Aldridge
and Daniel Eaton, who had finished fifth at the U.S. Championships and won the
bronze at Four Continents. Aldridge and Eaton placed 17th at Worlds. This
season, they won gold at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in
September. For more information on the ice dance competition, go to
ice-dance.com.
Schedule
Schedule
Live coverage begins Friday October 31 on IceNetwork (a season
pass subscription is required to watch the competition live or on demand).
IceNetwork Schedule (All times listed are Eastern):
Friday October 31:
4:15 p.m.: Men’s Short Program
6:10 p.m.: Pairs Short Program
8:45 p.m.: Short Dance
10:15 p.m.: Ladies’ Short Program
4:15 p.m.: Men’s Short Program
6:10 p.m.: Pairs Short Program
8:45 p.m.: Short Dance
10:15 p.m.: Ladies’ Short Program
Saturday November 1:
1:55 p.m.: Men’s Free Skate
4:25 p.m.: Pairs Free Skate
8:05p.m. : Free Dance
10:00p.m. Ladies Free Skate
4:25 p.m.: Pairs Free Skate
8:05p.m. : Free Dance
10:00p.m. Ladies Free Skate
Note: Universal Sports cable network will air the Pairs Free
Skate from 4:30-6 p.m. and the Free Dance from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday,
November 1st.
NBC Coverage:
Recap on Sunday November 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a
focus on the Men’s and Ladies free skates (no live coverage of the events).
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