YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2017 WORLDS
When: Wednesday to April 2 Where: Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland
Men’s competition Reigning world champion: Javier Fernandez, Spain Reigning Olympic champion: Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan Likely top five: Hanyu (Japan), Nathan Chen (United States), Shoma Uno (Japan), Patrick Chan (Canada), Fernandez (Spain) Canadian entries: Chan, Kevin Reynolds Slipchuk on Chan: “We like where Patrick is trending. He’s added a third quad in the long with the two (triple) axels. On a given day, he’s still the best out there when he skates a clean performance. So with two back-to-back strong skates, he’s right in the thick of it.” Chan on Chan: “I think I’m in a bit of a catch-up situation. With the amount of quads they’re doing, I have my work cut out and it has kind of put me back in the underdog position, which has been interesting.” Canada’s medal count: 14 gold, 13 silver, six bronze
Ladies Reigning world champion: Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia Reigning Olympic champion: Adelina Sotnikova, Russia Likely top five: Medvedeva (Russia), Satoko Miyahara (Japan), Anna Pogorilaya (Russia), Kaetlyn Osmond (Canada), Maria Sotskova (Russia) Canadian entries: Osmond, Gabrielle Daleman Canada’s medal count: Four gold, five silver, four bronze
Pairs Reigning world champions: Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, Canada Reigning Olympic champions: Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, Russia Likely top five: Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov (Russia), Duhamel and Radford (Canada), Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot (Germany), Yu Xiaoyu and Zhang Hao (China), Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov (Russia) Canadian entries: Duhamel and Radford, Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch, Julianne Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau Slipchuk on pairs: “We’re really optimistic. We had three teams in the top 10 last year and we definitely see that maintaining through this season.” Canada’s medal count: 12 gold, seven silver, 11 bronze
Ice Dance Reigning world champions: Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, France Reigning Olympic champions: Meryl Davis and Charlie White, United States Likely top five: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Canada), Papadakis and Cizeron (France), Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani (United States), Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev (Russia), Madison Chock and Evan Bates (United States) Canadian entries: Virtue and Moir, Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier Slipchuk on ice dance: “It’s just a really tough event. We’re looking at all three teams in the top 10. With Tessa and Scott undefeated, they’re a legit threat.” Canada’s medal count: Three gold, 11 silver, 12 bronze