This is the fifth of six articles detailing the Grand Prix assignments for the coming up season. As with the previous articles, I will go through all the assignments. I will detail any new countries, any returns or debuts as well as any interesting thoughts. These are bound to change in the coming up months, but these are the initial assignments.
Next up is the Rostelecom Cup.
Men
Nam Nguyen CAN
Peter Liebers GER
Alexei Bychenko ISR
Ivan Righini ITA
Takahiko Kozuka JPN
Adian Pitkeev RUS
Sergei Voronov RUS
TBA RUS
- There are a few options for this one, but I think it all depends on what the Russian Federation decides on Evgeni Plushenko. He is, apparently, going through a test skate to judge his fitness at some point. If he passes, I think it’s likely this spot will go to him. If it doesn’t go to him, though, there are options:
- Gordei Gorshkov – He’s the highest ranked Russian man that doesn’t have any assignments. He was fifth at Russian Nationals.
- Artur Gachinski - A bit far-fetched, considering how poorly he’s done recently, but they might choose to him so that he has at least one Grand Prix spot. He was sixth at Russian Nationals.
- Moris Kvitelashvili – He has one Grand Prix assignment already – Cup of China. He was eighth at Russian Nationals, but they might choose to give to him. That would give him two assignments.
Javier Fernandez ESP
Alexander Majorov SWE
Ross Miner USA
Adam Rippon USA
Ladies
Alaine Chartrand CAN
Roberta Rodeghiero ITA
Rika Hongo JPN
Riona Kato JPN
Yuka Nagai JPN
Evgenia Medvedeva RUS
Elena Radionova RUS
TBA RUS
- Much like the men, there are options here, but it will depend on what the Russian Federation decides in regards to Adelina Sotnikova. Like Plushenko, she is apparently going through a test skate to judge her fitness. If she passes, it is likely it will go to her. If it doesn’t, though, there are options:
- Maria Artemieva – She already has one assignment, the NHK Trophy, so they might award this to her. She is the highest ranked Russian lady that doesn’t already have two assignments or isn’t likely competing on the Junior Grand Prix. She was eighth at Russian Nationals. She is the most likely choice in my opinion if it doesn’t go to Sotnikova.
- There are other options – Maria Staviskaya and Polina Korobeynikova. They were eleventh and eighteenth respectively at Russian Nationals are long shots. It is possible if for some reason they don’t give the spot to Artemeiva in Sotnikova’s absence.
Dasa Grm SLO
- Grand Prix Debut
- First Slovenian on the Grand Prix circuit since Gregor Urbas in 2006, and first Slovenian woman on the Grand Prix circuit since Mojac Kopac in 1998.
Joshi Helgesson SWE
Polina Edmunds USA
Hannah Miller USA
Pairs
Hayleigh Bell / Rudi Swiegers CAN
- Grand Prix Debut as a pair, though Swiegers has competed on the circuit with a previous partner.
Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro CAN
Peng Cheng / Zhang Hao CHN
Valentina Marchei / Ondrej Hotarek ITA
Ksenia Stolbova / Fedor Klimov RUS
Yuko Kavaguti / Alexander Smirnov RUS
TBA RUS
- There are a couple of options here:
- Vasilisa Davankova / Alexander Enbert – They were sixth at Russian Nationals, and are the highest ranked Russian pair that doesn’t already have an assignment, so this might be awarded to them.
- Arina Cherniavskaia / Antonin Souza-Korderyu - They received Grand Prix assignments last year, so this spot might go to them this year. They were eighth at Russian Nationals.
- There are a couple of other options – Natalja Zabijako / Yuri Larinov and Anasastia Gubanov / Alexei Sintsov. They were seventh and ninth at Russian Nationals, but I find these both a bit far-fetched in my opinion.
Ice Dance
Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje CAN
Anna Cappellini / Luca Lanotte ITA
Charlene Guignard / Marco Fabbri ITA
Elena Iliykh / Ruslan Zhiganshin RUS
Ksenia Monko / Kirill Khaliavin RUS
TBA RUS
- There is really only one option here in my opinion: Victoria Sinitsina / Nikita Katsalapov – They are the most likely candidate for the host spot here, and I can’t see it going to anyone else. They were fifth at Russian Nationals, and all four teams above them have two Grand Prix assignments. They have one – Skate America, so this would give them to.
Sara Hurtado / Adria Diaz ESP
Rebeka Kim / Kirill Minov KOR
That’s it for now! Next up is the NHK Trophy.
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