2022–23 Canadian Men: News and Updates

[Colonel Green]

We kick off a new quadrennial in Canadian men's skating. The men's discipline was in a very in-between place in the previous four years, where we had a number of guys win some Grand Prix medals at the senior level, but for the first time in a long time there was never anybody who was really a strong contender for the big international podiums.

Keegan looks set to compete another season, fired by his undying love for the World Team Trophy. To my mind the most interesting story in this coming year will be to follow Wesley, who had a bit of a breakout season on the junior/domestic circuit in 2021/22. We'll see how he splits his time, but there's a home Junior Worlds to look forward to.

National team
TBD

NextGen team
David Bondar
Wesley Chiu
John Kim
David Li
Grayson Long
Rio Morita
Edward Nicholas Vasii
Anthony Paradis
Aleksa Rakic
David Shteyngart

 

[Sylvia]

To my mind the most interesting story in this coming year will be to follow Wesley, who had a bit of a breakout season on the junior/domestic circuit in 2021/22. We'll see how he splits his time, but there's a home Junior Worlds to look forward to.

Wesley Chiu began his season by winning the Senior Men's combined event at the Broadmoor Open club competition in Colorado Springs earlier this week (he landed his first 4T+3T in comp. in his SP & I've heard he has a new free program - results/protocols are linked from my tweet): https://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen/status/1541919173181411329
Chiu's photos from the Garden of the Gods: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfacfOhsdUf/
Gabriel Blumenthal (2nd overall at Broadmoor Open & a musical/expressive skater, IMO) has switched to Keegan Murphy's group in Richmond, B.C. and has started to land 3A in competition.

Conrad Orzel has switched to Ravi Walia who today shared a clip from the beginning of his Carmina Burana SP, choreographed by Lance Vipond: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfevts_NCVQ/

 

[shutterbug]

Conrad Orzel has switched to Ravi Walia who today shared a clip from the beginning of his Carmina Burana SP, choreographed by Lance Vipond: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfevts_NCVQ/

Conrad looks fabulous! I love Jeremy Ten's comment:

His quality of movement has already improved SO MUCH! Can’t wait to see what he brings next season!

This was a great move for him.

 

[Sylvia]

Roman Sadovsky's latest video shows him working with choreographer Mark Pillay on his new long program (music not yet revealed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFCeiRVpr9g

 

[Sylvia]

National team
TBD

Skate Canada announced the 6 men on the 2022-2023 National Team yesterday (July 25):

Keegan Messing, 30, Girdwood, Alaska, USA (6th consecutive season on NT; first was in 2015-16)
Roman Sadovsky, 23, Vaughn, Ont. (5th consecutive season on NT; first was in 2015-16)
Wesley Chiu, 17, Richmond, B.C. (first time on NT)
Corey Circelli, 20, Toronto, Ont. (first time on NT)
Conrad Orzel, 21, Woodbridge, Ont. (was last on the NT in 2019-20)
Stephen Gogolev, 17, Toronto, Ont. (was last on the NT in 2019-20)

2022 ISU Grand Prix Assignments (as of July 22):

Chiu (debut): #1 Skate America & #3 Angers FRA
Sadovsky: #1 Skate America & #4 MKJW Trophy in Sheffield GBR
Gogolev (debut): #2 SCI & #5 NHK Trophy
Messing: #2 SCI & #6 Espoo FIN
Orzel: #2 SCI
Circelli (debut): #4 Sheffield

David LI was listed today for first Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel, France (not yet confirmed by Skate Canada); the 3 listed alternates on the ISU entries page are:
David BONDAR
Grayson LONG
Rio MORITA

Skate Canada tweeted the total scores & photos of the top 3 men in the NextGen Camp's competition simulation that finished on Sunday (very close among Aleksa Rakic, Anthony Paradis & David Shteyngart with Grayson Long less than 3 points from 3rd): https://twitter.com/SkateCanada/status/1551413439008055297

 

[Marco]

So glad to see Gogolev! Who does he train with now?

 

[Sylvia]

So glad to see Gogolev! Who does he train with now?

He's still with Rafael A. - you can see him on the ice several times in this group instruction video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfW4WXdJ2uk/

ETA that Gogolev also listed with Lee Barkell at the Granite Club in Toronto: https://skatecanada.ca/high-performance/stephen-gogolev/

 

[barbarafan]

He's still with Rafael A. - you can see him on the ice several times in this group instruction video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfW4WXdJ2uk/

ETA that Gogolev also listed with Lee Barkell at the Granite Club in Toronto: https://skatecanada.ca/high-performance/stephen-gogolev/

He has done very well at Glacier Falls short program....Finished first - 88.68....50.23elements and 39.45components...

 

[Sylvia]

Stephen Gogolev's SP video (music is identified as "Dream State" by Son Lux): https://twitter.com/gogogogolev_/status/1553172809081290753

His protocol: https://twitter.com/gogogogolev_/status/1553179853754667009

 

[Pink Cats]

Stephen Gogolev's SP video (music is identified as "Dream State" by Son Lux): https://twitter.com/gogogogolev_/status/1553172809081290753

His protocol: https://twitter.com/gogogogolev_/status/1553179853754667009

He skated really well for this time of the year. But like unusual I didn't like his music.

 

[honey]

He skated really well for this time of the year. But like unusual I didn't like his music.

The “music” was atrocious. And not doing anything for him. But beyond that, he looked really good. You can clearly see the Rafael technique being applied and it produced some nice jumps here. I still wonder what might have happened if he’d been able to skate at nationals last season. Here’s hoping for a great season for him this year!

I did almost gasp though when he skated out as he looked taller again over last season . Major kudos to him and his team for keeping at it and working through this because it can’t have been easy to do.

 

[kalamalka]

Gogolev's jumps looked very good and scored well. Lost some levels on spins, though.

 

[alexikeguchi]

You can clearly see the Rafael technique being applied and it produced some nice jumps here.

You can also clearly see the Nathan Chen influence on his costume LOL. But I agree, he looks great, and it is nice to see that his career hasn't been completely derailed by growth and injuries.

 

[greenapple]

The “music” was atrocious.

It really is awful.

I have always liked Gogolev but I can't say there is anything that excites me about his skating anymore - unfortunately.

 

[barbarafan]

Gogolev's jumps looked very good and scored well. Lost some levels on spins, though.

Spins and step. are much improved this year. Also the body extensions are much better. Can't wait to see the program develop over the season. Hopefully we will see him in more competitions prior to the GP.

 

[Sylvia]

Roman Sadovksy's latest vlog features a lot of on ice footage of him working with David Wilson on his new short program (music not yet revealed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxfBOw_mzac

 

[fsfann]

Bizarre choice of "noise" for Gogolev's program.

 

[sus2850]

About Gogolev‘s music: There is something wrong with the audio of the video linked above.
The music sounds more like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjlABP5t1Q

Intense but not just noise.

 

[Sylvia]

About Gogolev‘s music: There is something wrong with the audio of the video linked above.

The quality of the Glacier Falls livestream audio sounded, unfortunately, like that most of the time.

 

[Sylvia]

Congrats to Gabriel Blumenthal for winning the Senior Men's bronze in Philadelphia! (his first international) earlier today - link to a podium pic, taken in the IceWorks rink lobby: https://twitter.com/sk8maven/status/1556286500194717697

Re-posting from the Philly competition thread in Kiss & Cry:

sk8maven also tweeted "Gabriel Blumenthal (CAN) has a lovely lyrical quality to his skating" and I definitely agree.
I saw and enjoyed his programs that were streamed from the Victoria Day comp. in BC and was impressed with his progress on the 3A since he moved to Keegan Murphy's group. I heard that Blumenthal chose his FS music - by Harmonium (1970s Quebec progressive rock band) - and I was able to find out that his program, choreographed by Joey Russell, opens and ends with "Histoires Sans Paroles" (Stories Without Words).

 

[shutterbug]

IFS article about Conrad Orzel's coaching change: CHANGES PAYING OFF FOR CONRAD ORZEL

“I felt that I was not improving the way I wanted to,” he explained. “There were a lot of different things I wanted to improve, and I felt that Ravi could help me — especially with my skating skills and performance — so I decided to make the move to Edmonton.”

When Orzel advised Orser and Wilson of his decision he said both were very supportive. “I learned so much from them and they helped me tremendously with every single aspect of my skating, especially the spins and jumps. They told me that whenever I am in Toronto I can skate at the Cricket. They are just great people.”

 

[victorskid]

PJ Kwong caught up with "2 Messings" at the high performance camp

https://twitter.com/skatingpj/status/1564965771737956352

 

[victorskid]

Background on Keegan's choice of SP music: https://twitter.com/Ewingsports/status/1565056914232410114

 

[screech]

I always liked that song. And I think it came to people's minds again yes, from the TikTok thing, but also from Mika performing it while hosting Eurovision this year. Also makes me think of when Liam Firus skated to Mika's 'Happy Ending' for 2 seasons and had wardrobe malfunctions at Canadians both times (IIRC the first year his suspenders came undone, and the second time his stirrup under his boot came undone)

 

[4rkidz]

Background on Keegan's choice of SP music: https://twitter.com/Ewingsports/status/1565056914232410114

Looking forward to seeing that for his SP

 

[shutterbug]

Roman Sadovksy's latest vlog features a lot of on ice footage of him working with David Wilson on his new short program (music not yet revealed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxfBOw_mzac

On the subject of SP music, apparently Roman's "really different" choice is "Cold" by Chris Stapleton:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1565084305851809792

Official audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq15HXc6pmw

To me it's somewhat reminiscent of "The Prophet" he used as SP music in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons except with vocals.

 

[pointbleu]

Congrats to Gabriel Blumenthal for winning the Senior Men's bronze in Philadelphia! (his first international) earlier today - link to a podium pic, taken in the IceWorks rink lobby: https://twitter.com/sk8maven/status/1556286500194717697

Re-posting from the Philly competition thread in Kiss & Cry:

I saw the Harmonium symphonic concert this summer and the music is very good!

 

[haribobo]

Top Summer Scores

SENIOR MEN
Keegan Messing 225
Conrad Orzel 225
Wesley Chiu 206
Matthew Newnham 191
Gabriel Blumenthal 189
Beres Clements 187
Bruce Waddell 186
Corey Circelli 182 (intl)
Jack Dushenski 182

 

[screech]

Not an update on any of the men or anything, but after yesterday's finale of The Amazing Race Canada, I've decided that I want Keegan and Nam to do the race together. I can actually see it being right up their (especially Keegan's) alley.

 

[4rkidz]

Not an update on any of the men or anything, but after yesterday's finale of The Amazing Race Canada, I've decided that I want Keegan and Nam to do the race together. I can actually see it being right up their (especially Keegan's) alley.

I really enjoyed this season, agreed can totally see them doing it