Canadian Men 2017-18 season news & updates

[WildRose]

Well, Orzel and Phan don't have senior minimums so they won't be going regardless. But it's still denying someone their dream of competing at the Olympics.

And some very valuable experience for the future.

 

[mag]

I hope Nic makes the team and is selected for the freeskate. My only concern is that will mean either Daleman or Weaver/Poje won’t get an opportunity and that would be very sad.

 

[screech]

Unless something crazy happens, I think Patrick will do both skates in the team event, since unless something major happens, that's the best chance for success, and SC will want him to get them there. He has the greater chance for getting Canada the team gold than any of the other men.

I really hope that WeaPo get to do the team event. Other than them, I don't really care who gets to take the opportunity for the competitor switch, though ladies would make the most sense.

 

[barbarafan]

Is Keegan a Canadian citizen? I know he originally is from Alaska. I believe one must be a citizen of a country to represent that country in the Olympics.

I believe he has dual citizenship - if one parent is cdn and you are born in us it is automatic to be also cdn or minimal paperwork

 

[Zazy]

I believe he has dual citizenship - if one parent is cdn and you are born in us it is automatic to be also cdn or minimal paperwork

I think the fact that Keegan has no real connection to the Canadian skating community (and basically switched because he wasn't competitive enough in the US) will count against him. He's generally underscored at nationals, and Tracy Wilson has made it very clear in her commentary that she isn't a fan.

Then again he did get Skate Canada so maybe things have changed.

 

[icie]

Tracy Wilson has made it very clear in her commentary that she isn't a fan.

Is Tracy a member of the Olympic team selection comity?

 

[puglover]

Keegan can jump!! I think Canada needs a jumper.

 

[Seerek]

He's generally underscored at nationals, and Tracy Wilson has made it very clear in her commentary that she isn't a fan.

At best, it's a backhanded compliment. I think Tracy just isn't keen on those men who don't pay much attention to stretch, extension or body line (you'll see her snip at even Shoma sometimes).

Let it be known that Keegan may be lacking in those aforementioned areas, but the judges this season are giving him (proper) credit for the interpretation and composition categories .

 

[WildRose]

I think the fact that Keegan has no real connection to the Canadian skating community (and basically switched because he wasn't competitive enough in the US) will count against him. He's generally underscored at nationals, and Tracy Wilson has made it very clear in her commentary that she isn't a fan.

Then again he did get Skate Canada so maybe things have changed.

Sorry, but that is nonsense. Keegan skates for my Skate Canada Section, Alberta NWT Nunavut, and they are very happy to have him. His efforts are appreciated just the same as all our other skaters - including Kaetlyn Osmond. His mother comes from Sherwood Park (a suburb of Edmonton) and he has dual citizenship, that makes him a Canadian and I am happy he decided to skate for us. And while Tracy may not like him, Kurt Browning loves him and thinks he should be rewarded more on the second mark.

 

[danafan]

Messing has the highest ISU season's best score of the Canadian men (by 0.01 over Liam Firus). I think Messing has steadily improved in competition since he started competing for Canada and he's hitting his stride at just the right time. I don't think he's being overlooked by Skate Canada at all. I mean he got a slot at Skate Canada international before Nadeau, who finished ahead of him at nationals. Messing is getting good scores internationally and I actually consider him a favourite for the Olympic team.

 

[icie]

I think the fact that Keegan has no real connection to the Canadian skating community (and basically switched because he wasn't competitive enough in the US) will count against him.

Keegan isn't the first or last skater to switch countries for better opportunities.

 

[Zazy]

Keegan isn't the first or last skater to switch countries for better opportunities.

I know and I don't have a problem with that. But I do wonder if it puts him at a slight disadvantage in the Olympic race.

SC has several skaters at a similar level: who would they prefer to make the Olympic team - the local skaters they've supported through the ranks or the skater from outside? I like Keegan and didn't mean to insult him or anyone else, my point was more that judges can have conscious or unconscious biases, and this could be one of them. I apologize for not wording it particularly well.

 

[fsfann]

I think Skate Canada will be happy to send anyone who skates a decent program at Nationals and comes second to Patrick. So far, most of them are looking quite undeserving of the Olympics spot - other than Messing and Nadeau.

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

I think Skate Canada will be happy to send anyone who skates a decent program at Nationals and comes second to Patrick. So far, most of them are looking quite undeserving of the Olympics spot - other than Messing and Nadeau.

ITA +++. Skate Canada wants results at the end of the day. A good skate from Keegan at Worlds will help more "Canadians" (I hate that term) to get to Worlds the year after.

 

[luckiest1]

Selfishly, I hope Patrick attends Canadians as I'm going to the competition, and I was hoping to see him skate. Realistically, I have my doubts since apparently he's still in Vancouver (as of two days ago according to Twitter posts). I don't buy the Skate Canada spin about him withdrawing from NHK to focus on training. Unless he's training in BC, but if he is, why hasn't Skate Canada advised that he's changed his coaching team? Things are just too quiet for my liking.....

As for the other guys, I hope that someone steps up at Canadian and grabs that spot. Right now I'd say Keegan is out in front, but Nic is a close second.

 

[puglover]

I am unsettled about Patrick as well. Did he not have plans to relocate to Vancouver and start a skating school? Was Kathy Johnson one of the coaches considered to teach there? I know they parted ways so if he is in Vancouver I wonder who he would skate with.

 

[fsfann]

I am unsettled about Patrick as well. Did he not have plans to relocate to Vancouver and start a skating school? Was Kathy Johnson one of the coaches considered to teach there? I know they parted ways so if he is in Vancouver I wonder who he would skate with.

Let's just hope he hasn't shacked up with Joanne McLeod. #disaster

 

[WildRose]

I am unsettled about Patrick as well. Did he not have plans to relocate to Vancouver and start a skating school? Was Kathy Johnson one of the coaches considered to teach there? I know they parted ways so if he is in Vancouver I wonder who he would skate with.

The Skating School plans fell through. Kathy would never be able to get coaching certification in Canada. You can’t open a Skating School without Skate Canada approval and qualified, certified professional coaches even if you are Patrick Chan. It was never going to happen.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I thought he was going forward with the school without Kathy Johnson.

 

[pinky166]

So does anyone who competed at Skate America have a bye to Nationals due to the timing of Challenge? I noticed Liam, Kevin, and Roman are not on the entry lists for Challenge which seems kinda odd.

 

[danafan]

Anyone with a senior Grand Prix assignment gets a bye to nationals regardless of the timing.

 

[pinky166]

Anyone with a senior Grand Prix assignment gets a bye to nationals regardless of the timing.

Okay thanks for the update. I wasn’t sure because both Nic and Nam are competing.

 

[Erin]

People with byes sometimes choose to compete at Challenge to get another time out there in front of the judges.

 

[Rock2]

I read on Instagram today that Zoueva is quoted as saying Chan has stopped training and is in Vancouver. She goes on to say he has "psychological" problems and hopes he comes back to Detroit to train...but didn't give any indication if that's going to happen.

So long, team gold medal.

 

[Sylvia]

Pj Kwong in her 11/29/17 Facebook Live chat [~13:40 mark, link in the quoted post below] mentioned that Nam Nguyen has switched coaches to Robert Burk (Michelle Long's coach) and he was with Nguyen in the Kiss & Cry at Challenge last night.

Re-posting from Patrick's fan thread:

For what it's worth... PJ Kwong says on her Facebook live that Patrick intends to compete at Nats & Olys:

"PJ: I have heard that Patrick will be at Canadians, and he has every intention of competing at the Olympic Games. (wipes forehead) Whew! Which I think is great, because I want Patrick, for him, to be able to finish out the season in the way that he would like to, so I think that that’s just great news. So… fingers crossed that it all turns out the way that it’s supposed to."

 

[mag]

I don’t see switching coaches as helping Nam unless he finds someone who can teach him to skate. I was watching his Challenge short program yesterday and his basic crossovers would not be acceptable in Juv! I think he got away with it when he was short (note to judges: you really need to look at what the short jumpers are actually doing and mark them accordingly!) but there is no way it is working for him now he has grown. There is no power. People talk about Ashley and Polina’s lack of power, they are speed demons when compared to Nam!

 

[pinky166]

I read on Instagram today that Zoueva is quoted as saying Chan has stopped training and is in Vancouver. She goes on to say he has "psychological" problems and hopes he comes back to Detroit to train...but didn't give any indication if that's going to happen.

So long, team gold medal.

Oh no Patrick! Hope he is okay

 

[pinky166]

Pj Kwong in her 11/29/17 Facebook Live chat [~13:40 mark, link below] mentioned that Nam Nguyen has switched coaches to Robert Burk (Michelle Long's coach) and he was with Nguyen in the Kiss & Cry at Challenge last night.

Ree-posting from Patrick's fan thread:

4th coach in 2 years?! At this point I don’t think who his coach is really matter, he just needs to pick one and stay put for more than a few months to a year. The timing is also shocking, at this point he’s still very much in the mix for an Olympic spot with Nadeau and Messing, and with the recent Patrick news, there could be 2 spots available. Seems odd to me. I wonder if his parents encouraged it.

 

[nadioso]

I don’t see switching coaches as helping Nam unless he finds someone who can teach him to skate. I was watching his Challenge short program yesterday and his basic crossovers would not be acceptable in Juv! I think he got away with it when he was short (note to judges: you really need to look at what the short jumpers are actually doing and mark them accordingly!) but there is no way it is working for him now he has grown. There is no power. People talk about Ashley and Polina’s lack of power, they are speed demons when compared to Nam!

4th coach in 2 years?! At this point I don’t think who his coach is really matter, he just needs to pick one and stay put for more than a few months to a year. The timing is also shocking, at this point he’s still very much in the mix for an Olympic spot with Nadeau and Messing, and with the recent Patrick news, there could be 2 spots available. Seems odd to me. I wonder if his parents encouraged it.

These posts are so spot on. Changing coaches so often is no good for Nam and is probably causing confusion

When your skating has the fundamental flaws Nam's has , the coach would have to break down his skating to the basics; even restricting him to single jumps at first. This is a process that takes years to do.

Even Brian Orser said once it takes a coach 2 years for a coach's techniques to show on a skater.

Nam's camp seems to demand instant results. Right now he needs to be patient with the coach he has and needs to stick with it. Most importantly he has to be willing to take a step back to go 2 steps forward.

 

[fan]

I don’t see switching coaches as helping Nam unless he finds someone who can teach him to skate. I was watching his Challenge short program yesterday and his basic crossovers would not be acceptable in Juv! I think he got away with it when he was short (note to judges: you really need to look at what the short jumpers are actually doing and mark them accordingly!) but there is no way it is working for him now he has grown. There is no power. People talk about Ashley and Polina’s lack of power, they are speed demons when compared to Nam!

Nam will progress when he stops listening to his dad as pseudo coach, and starts listening to an actual coach. Then, and only then, will he progress. He was making real strides with Brian and team, but I fear he's only regressing now.