OTTAWA, ON (Aug. 18, 2025) – The 2025-2026 ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series will officially begin this week as six members of Canada’s NextGen team travel to Riga, Latvia, for the first stop of the international circuit. Taking place Aug. 20–23, 2025, Canada will be represented with one entry in each of the women’s, men’s, pair, and ice dance disciplines. 

Pair team Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov will kick off their season in Riga after earning gold at the 2025 NextGen Competition in July. Despite a delayed start last year due to injuries, the team finished the season strong, highlighted by successfully defending their junior national title and winning the 2025 Bavarian Open. 

In ice dance, Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys will make their return to the Junior Grand Prix circuit after earning the bronze medal at both the 2024 JGP in Czechia and at the 2025 Canadian National Skating Championships.  

Grayson Long will compete in the men’s event, coming off a gold-medal win at the NextGen competition and a silver medal at the 2025 Cranberry Cup. In women’s, Camila Volkova will make her JGP debut after a standout novice season, marked by her gold medal at the 2025 Skate Canada Trophy. 

For the full competition schedule, entries and results, please visit the ISU website.  

Team Canada   
Name | Age | Hometown | Coach | Training Location 

Women 
Camila Volkova | 13 | Lac-Brome, Que. | Martine Dagenais | Boucherville, Que. 

Men 
Grayson Long | 17 | Oakville, Ont. | Brian Orser | Toronto, Ont. 

Pair 
Ava Kemp | 17 | Winnipeg, Man. & Yohnatan Elizarov | 21 | Winnipeg, Man. | Kevin Dawe | Toronto, Ont. 

Ice Dance 
Layla Veillon | 19 | London, Ont. & Alexander Brandys | 20 | London, Ont. | Cara Moir | London, Ont.  

Team Leaders – Mike Slipchuk & Annie Thibodeau 
Officials – Susan Morriss & Patty Klein 
Medical Team – Erik Torchia & Lydia Schultz