JGP Latvia Preview - Men

With the competition for the second JGP event in Latvia starting tomorrow, it's time for the previews! Let's start with the Men!

The competition is pretty open, which leaves plenty of men with a chance to prove themselves. Only one of the men here has ever won a medal on the JGP circuit. This is a chance for them to prove themselves. As a reminder, the top two would be on the early list to put their names into the hat for JGP Final, with the bronze finisher also having their name in at the moment.




Arguably the favorite here is 16-year-old rising Latvian star, Deniss Vasiljevs. He has never placed higher than fourth - which he did in both of his JGP events last year. He placed seventh at Junior Worlds and broke 200 points. He is in his third year on the JGP circuit. In this field, he should win here solidly.

A solid second place is 16-year-old Russian Dmitri Aliev in his second year on the JGP circuit. He has the second highest personal best score here behind Deniss Valisjevs, though his is a good thirteen points lower. He won two bronze medals last year in his two events, and should certainly place higher here and challenge Vasiljevs for gold.

There are two major contenders for bronze that I can see.

The first is 18-year-old Julian Zhi Jie Yee of Malaysia. He is the veteran here in his fifth and final year on the JGP circuit, as he will age out in May. He is inconsistent, and has struggled in his placements. He placed as high as sixth and has low and twenty-sixth. If he skates to his capabilities, he could challenge for the bronze here.

The other contender is 18-year-old Nicholas Nadeau of Canada in his second year on the JGP circuit. He placed fifth and tenth in his two events last year. If he skates his best, he is definitely podium worthy here, and should challenge for bronze.

The American skaters shouldn't challenge for the podium but in this rather weak field anything is possible. Paolo Borromeo is 17, and was seventh in his only appearance on the JGP circuit. Alexei Krasnozhon, who formerly represented Russia, is now representing the US and making his JGP debut. Japanese skaters are never to be underestimated, though both are making their debut - 16-year-old Kazuki Tomono and 13-year-old Sena Mikaye.

Next up, the ladies!