ISU GRAND PRIX SERIES CONTINUES WITH NHK TROPHY

The Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold will stream the competition live to subscribers over two days with the short programs and rhythm dance airing on Friday, Nov. 9, and the conclusion of each discipline on Saturday, Nov. 10. Coverage will begin at 12:20 a.m. ET on Friday. NBC will air a recap of the competition at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 11. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will present encore coverage this Grand Prix season, Monday-Thursday following the event’s conclusion.

In the ladies competition, Mariah Bell will return to Grand Prix ice after finishing fourth at 2018 Skate Canada International. Angela Wang will also be making her second Grand Prix appearance on the season. It is the Edmonton-based skater’s first trip to NHK Trophy. Rounding out the ladies contingent, Courtney Hicks returns to Japan for the first time since winning silver at the 2015 event.

Olympian Vincent Zhou will make his first NHK appearance. Zhou finished fifth at Skate America to start his Grand Prix season. Alexander Johnson will also represent the U.S. in the men’s competition, making his Grand Prix debut in Japan.

Reigning U.S. champions Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim headline the pairs contingent in Japan. The couple finished just off the podium at 2018 Skate America and won bronze at NHK Trophy in 2015. Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea will make their first Grand Prix appearance of the season after finishing seventh at Finlandia Trophy earlier this fall. Reigning U.S. junior champions Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov will make their Grand Prix debut in Japan. The duo won silver at their senior international debut at U.S. International Classic.

The U.S. will send two ice dance teams to NHK Trophy. Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker will make their season debut. The couple won their first Grand Prix medal at 2014 NHK Trophy, taking the bronze medal. Fresh off three straight Challenger Series silver medals, Rachel and Michael Parsons will embark on their second career Grand Prix Series.

The Grand Prix Series, now in its 24th season, consists of six international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries are expected to participate in the series. Each athlete is eligible to score points in up to two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each discipline qualify for the 2018 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, set for Dec. 6-9, in Vancouver.

U.S. ENTRIES AT 2018 NHK TROPHY

2018 NHK TROPHY NBC SPORTS GOLD STREAMING SCHEDULE
(Eastern time, subject to change)