I really keeping my fingers crossed!
The SB for McIntosh/Mimar that would be used is 166.0, which is currently 22 on the list (right ahead of Proft/Nadeau and below Kemp/Elizarov and Flores/Wang). So they could have more than a SCI host spot.
Fiona will need to send Brooke some flowers.
I’m thinking Stephen will get two spots outside Skate Canada, like this season. It is like Canada treats him like an American.Looking at the junior men, Aleksa did his job and placed top 10. He did improve his SB, but he's going to be the lowest of the 5 men looking for GP spots next season. Host spots will be interesting. Canada should be able to pick up JGP spots for next season thanks to his placement. Also he took a bad fall last week which interrupted his training, so I hope he gets some rest after all the competing he did.
Anthony confirmed in the mixed zone that he'll be staying junior internationally. Definitely the best choice, I think he'll pick up two JGP spots. He also has the highest score of the men who will be junior eligible next season. Hopefully he'll be able to add the 3A in. I've been impressed watching his journey through sectionals to Challenge to Nationals, he's put the work in to improve his technical side
Men who are aging out of junior eligibility for next season:
Stephen Gogolev
Wesley Chiu
Aleksa Rakic
Rio Morita
Alec Guinzbourg
Shohei Law
I'll look at the junior women later, more for who has the dual eligbility.
who knows if he will be ready to compete with the kind of injury he seems to be having
a bit too soon for this.... Chiu and Sadovsky could secure spots on their own at worlds... and in this case, Skate Canada would give them the Gogolev treatment or at least one of them, and bring in more of the locals. Rakic has the Champs political advantage for sure. However, if Conrad keeps going (who knows right ?) I think he may be in a different space next year. This year, a lot of pressure was on his shoulders as the top finisher from Nationals still active, and worlds at home and he was selected last year for words... etc... so it was his to lose and he lost it. Who knows what a different perspective may bring him? I am saying this because on the ice, he clearly has improved so much. His basic skating is much smoother. His spins are no longer an issue. He has more presence. All he needs is to feel more at ease, less pressure and more confidence. Without being the front runner anymore, it may change the mindset.
In my view, the sensible approach would be to use all of the host spots to give experience to those who have not earned an automatic GP spot and also make sure that those who have met your domestic threshold also get at least one challenger or senior B event. That would mean more skaters getting two or more international events in the autumn, even if some of them are doing an international event at home (I'm talking about the level of event, not the travelling - although the latter can make a big difference). Skate Canada + sensible are words which do not always seem to go together, though.
Probably would be the smartest if he's able to compete. He's got the second highest SB of the men. Skate Canada had a good strategy this season to maximize spots with him by not assigning him a host spot.
Wesley's in a good spot going into Worlds for GP spots. He's 21 on the SB list and 22 in the standings, so if he can maintain that he has a non-host spot guaranteed. Skate Canada will want him at SCI for being the highest ranked man. I hope they realize they could maximize spots by not assigning him there (same with Maddie!)
He's in his final year of university (Kaetlyn mentioned it during the SCI practice commentary), so graduating could help too. Also new programs and taking a good look at that jump layout too. I hope he does continue, I want to see how he does next season.
That is certainly a viable strategy. Some countries have used it in the past.
I know it has been said before but perhaps less travel from Michael Slipchuk could allow skaters a few more trips. THey had the sunshine list and I was amazed how much he made. Considering the current results a reduction or firing seems in order.
I wondered this as well, about going out to each competition. Can’t he watch a livestream instead?
It's unfair.
I once ran into Slipchuck at a competition, and we exchanged a few pleasantries. He seemed surprised to be recognized! Though he seems to be everywhere, at every comp, whenever there are Canadian skatersWell... whether or not the skaters win medals, Slipchuk's job remains demanding... perhaps even more when things are not going well. I cannot imagine getting a pay cut if my students played so so at a recital... Suggesting a pay cut of the high performance director or that he should no longer attend events is definitely not the way to go imho. Considering the politics within the sport, the skaters need support from their federation anyway. You need someone who is going to be there to make sure things go well. Also, it's not with the dire savings Skate Canada would make that our skaters would finally be getting more opportunities... The needs are much greater than the savings that would be earned by cutting his pay cheque.
I have never been Slipchuk's biggest fan, but I find it very easy to blame him for everything going wrong and when things were going well, well it was thanks to the athletes
