OTTAWA, ON (Aug. 17, 2026) – The 2026–2027 ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) Series begins this week as eight members of Canada’s NextGen team travel to Xi’an City, China for the first stop on the international circuit. Taking place Aug. 20-22, Canada will be represented by one entry in the women’s, men’s and ice dance events, along with two pair teams.

2026 NextGen Competition men’s gold medallist Grayson Long enters the event as a podium contender. Long earned silver at the 2025 JGP Riga and captured bronze at the 2026 Cranberry Cup International earlier this month. In the women’s event, Victoria Barakhtina, the national junior silver medallist, returns to the JGP circuit after making her debut in Bangkok last season, where she finished eighth.

Summer Homick and Nicholas Buelow will look to build on a strong 2025 JGP season in ice dance, when they captured back-to-back bronze medals. The duo will aim to continue their momentum in Xi’an as they pursue qualification for the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, set for December.

Canada will also be represented by two pair teams at the event. Returning to the JGP circuit are national junior silver medallists Brianna Dion and Jacob Côté, who placed ninth at the 2025 JGP Ankara. They will be joined by newly formed team Alia Tang and William Bocskay, who will make their international debut after winning silver at the 2026 NextGen Competition.

For the full list of entries, competition schedule, and results, click here.

TEAM CANADA
Name | Age | Hometown | Coach

Women
Victoria Barakhtina | 16 | Toronto, Ont. | Joey Russell

Men
Grayson Long | 18 | Oakville, Ont. | Joey Russell

Ice Dance
Summer Homick | 19 | Tillsonburg, Ont. & Nicholas Buelow | 19 | Barrie, Ont. | Kelly Johnson

Pairs
Brianna Dion | 16 | Ottawa, Ont. & Jacob Côté | 20 | Darthmouth, N.S. | Ryan Arnold
Alia Tang | 13 | Milton, Ont. & William Bocskay | 19 | Brantford, Ont. | Alison Purkiss

Team Leaders – Laurene Knoblauch & Shae Zukiwsky
Medical Team – Lydia Schultz & Erik Torchia
Officials – Sarah Coombs & Limin Jao