Top-five finish for Joseph Phan at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA: Joseph Phan, 15, Laval, Que., finished in fifth place at the ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The event was the fifth stop on the circuit. Phan was third after the short with 70.33 points. He scored 127.39 points in the free program for a total of 197.72.

“I gained a lot of experience at this competition. During my short program, I skated my all and I placed top three and I am really proud of that. During my practices I was feeling the ice and practicing well,” said Phan.

Alexei Krasnozhon of the US won gold with 211.18 points, Ilia Skirda of Russia took silver with 208.28 points and Japan’s Kazuki Tomono earned the bronze with 202.57 points.

Ice dancers Ashlynne Stairs, 16, Calgary, Alta. and Lee Royer, 18, St. Albert, Alta., are in fifth place after the short dance with 50.52 points.

Americans Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter are first with 62.60 points, Russians Anastasia Skoptcova and Kirill Aleshin are in second with 56.80 points and            Sofia Polishchuk and Alexander Vakhnov, also of Russia, are in third with 55.60 points. Ice dance will conclude tomorrow with the free dance.

On Thursday, Sarah Tamura, 15, Burnaby, B.C., skated her short program, she is in eighth place with 51.42 points.

Alina Zagitova of Russia is first with 68.09 points, Rika Kihira of Japan is second with 65.93 points and Alisa Lozko of Russia is third with 59.78 points. The ladies will skate their free program tomorrow.

Canada does not have an entry in pair at this event.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1617/jgpslo2016/.