2020-21 Canadian Men News & Updates

[Colonel Green]

Has Keegan ever landed the 4lutz?

He put a hand down on a fully rotated 4 Lutz at GPF 2018 in the FP

He last attempted it at the 2019 Autumn Classic, where he got the rotation but slipped off the landing edge.

 

[Marco]

Thanks everyone. That's what I remember. He does not exactly HAVE a 4lutz, at least not the same way that Nathan Chen or even Shun Sato or Dmitri Aliev have a 4lutz. Don't think it should be a + for Keegan in all honesty. His 4toe is pretty consistent, but so are Nam's and Roman's 4sals.

 

[dramagrrl]

Keegan announced on Instagram today that his wife is pregnant, and is due in early July.

 

[Colonel Green]

TSL rumour/reports regarding Worlds assignment is that it's probably going to be Keegan. It sounded like Roman, in particular, was iffy in the monitoring sessions which were very short program-focused.

Also, Dave says the rumour is that Keegan sent in a video with a quad Lutz; if so, evidently he is looking to reintroduce that (which certainly would help in the quest for top ten if he could land it, but hasn't been successful in his competitive attempts thus far).

 

[screech]

TSL rumour/reports regarding Worlds assignment is that it's probably going to be Keegan. It sounded like Roman, in particular, was iffy in the monitoring sessions which were very short program-focused.

Also, Dave says the rumour is that Keegan sent in a video with a quad Lutz; if so, evidently he is looking to reintroduce that (which certainly would help in the quest for top ten if he could land it, but hasn't been successful in his competitive attempts thus far).

If that's true then part of me says 'yay Keegan, well deserved' but the other part of me says 'no, it should have been Nam or Roman.' Such a hard decision this year because IMO all 3 men are the correct choice, but therefore all 3 men are the wrong choice.
Part of me also thinks that if they are going with Keegan, then Nam must have not had a great showing in the monitoring sessions.

 

[Colonel Green]

Part of me also thinks that if they are going with Keegan, then Nam must have not had a great showing in the monitoring sessions.

If it is Keegan, I suspect that's more about their level of confidence in Keegan than anything to do with Nam. Keegan's problem last season was his inability to make the free skate work; if the fed is confident (or as confident as they can be on relatively limited information) that he's past that, then he's got a strong case for why they should send him given his past demonstrated ability.

 

[4rkidz]

Makes sense who has the best monitoring goes, plus likely easier for Keegan to travel logistically as less restrictive laws travelling back and forth from America. He’s also the only one who has done a none virtual competition this season. Although my personal favourite is Roman, but always next season.

 

[screech]

Keegan's problem last season was his inability to make the free skate work; if the fed is confident (or as confident as they can be on relatively limited information) that he's past that, then he's got a strong case for why they should send him given his past demonstrated ability.

Though you mentioned their monitoring was more short-program focussed, and that's always been Keegan's strong suit.
In any case, I hope he skates his best. And not to put too much pressure on him, but I think he has a decent shot of getting 2 spots for next year.

 

[dramagrrl]

Keegan hasn't had a really good free skate for quite awhile. Monitoring mostly based on the SP sounds like a bad idea to me. I wouldn't question sending him, necessarily - there are pros and cons for each of the top three men - but if the decision is being made mostly on SP monitoring, I wouldn't be particularly convinced that he was the best choice, either.

 

[Colonel Green]

Keegan hasn't had a really good free skate for quite awhile.

He had one at Skate America, his only free skate this season.

 

[marbri]

Keegan hasn't had a really good free skate for quite awhile. Monitoring mostly based on the SP sounds like a bad idea to me. I wouldn't question sending him, necessarily - there are pros and cons for each of the top three men - but if the decision is being made mostly on SP monitoring, I wouldn't be particularly convinced that he was the best choice, either.

But wouldn't Keegan have the best chance of making the FP based on his SP stats. I would think that is where the bet lies. The other two could totally blow the SP and not qualify for the FP. It's always a gamble but probably the safest bet under these conditions. I suspect with international judges Keegan would get the biggest boost if something did go wrong.

 

[Erin]

I love how we are ready to second guess a rumoured decision in a season where we have almost zero information, where there are three guys with different arguments for and against each

Based on the whole one skate we have seen from each of the main contenders this year, I would lean towards Keegan, but that was also four months ago, so I don’t really think it’s enough to go on. I think we are basically stuck trusting that Skate Canada makes the right decision based on the monitoring.

 

[puglover]

They also need to make sure they do not discourage their young talent. At last year's nationals, Roman beat both Nam and Keegan. Yes, Keegan did win a medal at Skate America this year back in the fall but then neither Nam nor Roman were given the opportunity to go anywhere. Roman again won Challenge decisively. They already chose against the national winner once for Montreal - would it be wise to chose against the winner of the only actual competition you had all year - challenge. I like all three and have a real soft spot for Keegan but think Roman has done enough to be sent - unless things have gone downhill for him in some big way.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

A shame Four Continents didn't go ahead in Sydney and perhaps allow Messing, Nam, and Sadovsky a live showdown for that sole World Championship berth. Given each skaters respective strengths, whether whomever goes makes the top ten in Stockholm is a major question mark.

 

[Colonel Green]

They also need to make sure they do not discourage their young talent. At last year's nationals, Roman beat both Nam and Keegan. Yes, Keegan did win a medal at Skate America this year back in the fall but then neither Nam nor Roman were given the opportunity to go anywhere. Roman again won Challenge decisively. They already chose against the national winner once for Montreal - would it be wise to chose against the winner of the only actual competition you had all year - challenge. I like all three and have a real soft spot for Keegan but think Roman has done enough to be sent - unless things have gone downhill for him in some big way.

It’s obviously not fair that only one of the three got a chance for a “real” competition this year, but that’s the reality the fed has to deal with.

Roman is going to face these reservations from the fed until he starts doing clean short programs, and he no doubt knows this.

 

[tony]

If it truly was just an SP monitoring (and TSL usually isn't wrong about stuff), then I'm guessing it was probably to get Sadovsky out of the running relatively quickly to be honest, even if he does have the highest overall potential. Skate Canada is probably using some logic that a top 12 placement in the short (final two LP groups) puts the skater in best contention to get into the top 10 -- or stay there if they are already there, rather than have to work against the LP rising PCS scale, etc.

I thought it would be Keegan anyways, to be honest.

 

[Erin]

The reality about this year is that there is a lot that is making it unfair for a lot of people. It sucks but what can we do?

 

[marbri]

I love how we are ready to second guess a rumoured decision in a season where we have almost zero information, where there are three guys with different arguments for and against each

Based on the whole one skate we have seen from each of the main contenders this year, I would lean towards Keegan, but that was also four months ago, so I don’t really think it’s enough to go on. I think we are basically stuck trusting that Skate Canada makes the right decision based on the monitoring.

Isn't that pretty much 90% of the conversations on this board?

 

[4rkidz]

such a shame it’s only one. All three deserve to go so glad I’m not the one making the decision. I do love Romans program this year, but Keegan was great at the only actual competition this season so they really are justified in sending Keegan or Roman.

 

[Karen-W]

I've always figured it would be Keegan because he is the one who has been able to compete and train more consistently (so it appears) through all of this.

 

[tony]

The other thing to keep in mind is while Challenge became the 'Nationals' in a way, the skaters were not aware of this at the time and both Sadovsky and Nam weren't in a pressure situation. They were already qualified either way, and likely just wanted feedback from their programs and a chance to actually skate a competitive program.

Monitoring where the stakes are actually high, similar to what Nationals would've been, is where it should matter most.

 

[skategal]

As much as I love Roman’s skating, I think Keegan is the best choice.

I haven’t kept up with Men’s Skating at all besides Chen and Hanyu.

How likely is it that we would even place in the top 10 at Worlds?

 

[Colonel Green]

How likely is it that we would even place in the top 10 at Worlds?

He has a solid chance, but he’s one of several guys with similar tech content vying for the 7-10 spots, I’d say.

 

[Erin]

Isn't that pretty much 90% of the conversations on this board?

well, most seasons we have more information than this year to go on, but I guess we still need something to talk about.

 

[Alilou]

I think we need to remember that Keegan's brother was killed in a tragic accident last season. I think it was in August right before the start of the season. IIRC Keegan always (almost always?) skated a clean and heartfelt short last season because he was skating to Perfect, the song from his wedding and referring to his new wife. And then he'd fall apart in the long because of his brother and having no emotional anchor to keep him focused like he had in the short. Perhaps with some distance from his brother's death he'll do better this season.

 

[blue_idealist]

I've always figured it would be Keegan because he is the one who has been able to compete and train more consistently (so it appears) through all of this.

Yeah, it appears that he even has a rink in his backyard!

 

[Sylvia]

Originally posted in the 2021 World Team Trophy thread:

Roman S. posted a YouTube video in which he said that the same skaters would not be going to both Worlds and WTT.

The end of Sadovsky's video was recorded on March 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfQ9y8f7_Ek (his pinned comment has an update: "... looks like we won't really know until 2 weeks before the event ??‍")

Newlywed Game / Jeu des Nouveaux Mariés : Roman Sadovsky / Nam Nguyen (2 mins.): https://www.instagram.com/p/CMUjv7Vl87X/

 

[clairecloutier]

Keegan Messing World conference call notes are here:

https://twitter.com/fsonline/status/1371968065110470657

News: Keegan said that he is not going to World Team Trophy and that he was disappointed about this, because it's one of his favorite competitions. He did not say who will be going to WTT.

 

[blue_idealist]

Keegan Messing World conference call notes are here:

https://twitter.com/fsonline/status/1371968065110470657

News: Keegan said that he is not going to World Team Trophy and that he was disappointed about this, because it's one of his favorite competitions. He did not say who will be going to WTT.

He seems to be the top Canadian man as per the world standings, and I thought they always picked the top two from that list. Strange.

 

[Sylvia]

He seems to be the top Canadian man as per the world standings, and I thought they always picked the top two from that list. Strange.

Refer to what Sadovsky said in post #147 above (due to the mandatory 2-week quarantine for all the Canadian skaters following their return from Worlds in Stockholm).

ETA that I've copied out all of FSO's tweets from Keegan's media call for easier reading :

Keegan Messing Worlds audioconference call. "The initial [lockdown] phase in Alaska last spring was really hard. It was the longest time I had ever been off the ice. But on-ice training is going excellent [now]." /thread

"I was ecstatic," Messing said of being named to the World team. "Nam and I were on the phone daily, if not twice a day, before the decision. We both thought [Nam] was going to get the spot. But he was nothing but supportive of me getting it."

Messing on pre-Worlds monitoring: "It was done by video. I had offered to film basically a whole practice, so they could see both the good and the bad of the session. But they said they really just wanted to see a short program. And they asked [to see] a couple elements after."

Messing on his current condition: "I am very, very close to the top shape of my skating career. The only downside is lacking the quad Lutz. We're still working on the Lutz, I'm still landing it, but it's just not where we want it to be to throw it in competition."

Messing says they've added another triple/triple to his long program and that it's the most ambitious program he's brought into a big competition. "I'm feeling very confident with my program and my skating ability right now."

Messing on Team Canada skaters: "I haven't seen the [Canadian] team in over a year. I can't wait to see them and skate to make them proud." He has great respect for the other Canadian skaters who have had to find motivation to train despite so many lost competition opportunities.

On goals at Worlds: "The ideal outcome from Worlds is to get two spots. I know that I have to go out and skate two good programs to get those spots. The men's event has been growing and growing every year."

Messing is flying Anchorage --> Seattle --> Amsterdam --> Stockholm. "Normally it takes well over a day for us to get anywhere in Europe. That is one of the big hurdles, the big travel time [from Alaska]. But at the end of the day, we're prepared to make this trip."

Messing: "One of the most important things right now is to keep your mental spirits high and optimistic." He's going to follow all rules and precautions in regard to covid-19 and try not to worry beyond that.

Messing says that he will not be going to World Team Trophy this year and is disappointed about it because it's one of his favorite competitions. He really enjoys team events and getting to skate with and for his teammates.

Messing is considering staying in the sport one more year after the Olympics, in part to possibly go to World Team Trophy again.

Messing's wife is pregnant and expecting their child on July 4. He says he is "over the moon" and very excited to feel the baby kick, etc. Right now he's focused very much on skating but knows things will change after the baby is born.

Messing said that he did not get to see any skating competitions this season, as he does not have wi-fi or cable at home. He's dependent on what videos he can find via his phone.

Messing did a lot of his workouts at home during the pandemic, to avoid risks at the gym, including doing squats with a chainsaw!!