Canadians in medal hunt at ISU Junior Grand Prix

RIGA, Latvia – Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell of Toronto are third after the rhythm dance while Joseph Phan of Laval, Que., also stands third in men’s competition as the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit continued on Friday.

In ice dancing, Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva and Andrey Filatov of Russia are first with 65.13 points, Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya of Georgia second at 63.25 and D’Alessandro and Waddell follow at 61.68, a personal best.

Isabel McQuilkin and Jacob Portz of Calgary stand 10th.

In Thursday’s men’s short program, Andrei Mozalev of Russia leads at 78.42, Sihyeong Lee of South Korea follows at 77.30 and Phan totalled 74.09.

Thirteen-year-old Canadian novice champion Kaiya Ruiter of Calgary was 12th in the women’s short program and 11th in Friday’s free skate for 11th overall.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Ruiter, in her international debut. “I just loved to skate out there and enjoyed every moment even though I didn’t have my best skate.”

Competition ends Saturday with the free dance and men’s free skate.

Full results: ISU JGP Riga Cup 2019

Canadian skaters headed to Latvia for Junior Grand Prix #3

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have five entries, for a total of seven skaters at the third stop of the 2019 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Riga, Latvia. Team Canada’s entries will include two entries in men, one entry in women and two entries in ice dance. The event will take place from September 4-7, 2019.

Joseph Phan, 18, Toronto, Ont., will be the first Canadian entry in men. Last season on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, Phan finished third at Czech Skate. At the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, he placed 12th. He finished fourth in senior at the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Phan is coached by Brian Orser in Toronto, Ont.

Eric Liu, 18, Edmonton, Alta., will be the second Canadian entry in men. Liu finished 11th in senior at the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Ravi Walia in Edmonton, Alta.

Canadian novice champion Kaiya Ruiter, 13, Calgary, AB., will be the lone Canadian entry in women. This will be her first season on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. Ruiter is coached by Scott Davis and Jeff Langdon in Calgary, Alta.

Canadian junior ice dance bronze medallists Natalie D’Alessandro, 15, Toronto, Ont., and Bruce Waddell, 17, Toronto, Ont., will be the first Canadian entry in ice dance. Last year, the team finished fourth at JGP Cup of Austria and sixth at JGP Canada. They are coached by Tracy Wilson, Andrew Hallam and Joey Russell in Toronto, Ont.

Canadian novice bronze medallists Isabel McQuilkin, 16, Calgary, Alta., and Jacob Portz, 18, Calgary, Alta., will be the second Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their first season on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. Last season, the two finished second at the 2018 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships (novice). The team is coached by Kim Weeks, Tyler Myles and Ben Westenberger in Calgary, Alta.

Manon Perron of Boucherville, Que., and Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, will be the team leaders at the event. Physiotherapist Sylvia Cyurisek of Berwyn, Alta., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Andrew Bosco of Thorold, Ont., and Erika Topolski of Fredericton, N.B., will be the Canadian officials attending the event.

For more information, please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #3 – RIGA, LATVIA

DISCIPLINE NAME AGE HOMETOWN CLUB COACH
Men Joseph Phan 18 Toronto, Ont. Toronto CS & CC Brian Orser
Men Eric Liu 18 Edmonton, Alta. Ice Palace FSC Ravi Walia
Women Kaiya Ruiter 13 Calgary, Alta. Glencoe Club Scott Davis / Jeff Langdon
Ice Dance Natalie D’Alessandro / Bruce Waddell 15/17 Toronto, Ont. / Toronto, Ont. Toronto CS & CC Tracy Wilson / Andrew Hallam / Joey Russell
Ice Dance Isabel McQuilkin / Jacob Portz 16/18 Calgary, Alta. / Calgary, Alta. Calalta SC Kim Weeks / Tyler Myles / Ben Westenberger