Jean-Luc Baker has his second Grand Prix of Figure Skating medal.
The 27-year-old graduate of Kamiak High School, along with his partner Kaitlin Hawayek, earned the silver medal in ice dancing at Skate America held Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas. Skate America was the first of six scheduled events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, the world’s top senior international competition series, contested in the 2020-21 season.
Baker and Hawayek finished with an overall score of 202.47, finishing second to fellow Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. Hubbell and Donohue scored 211.39 to win their third straight Skate America, a run that includes the 2018 edition held at Everett’s Angel of the Winds Arena.
Baker and Hawayek’s other medal was a gold earned at the NHK Trophy in Japan in 2018.
In normal seasons competitors participate in two Grand Prix events, hoping to do well enough to earn an a place in the Grand Prix Final. Baker and Hawayek qualified for one previous Grand Prix Final in 2018-19, placing sixth.
However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, competitors are only participating in one Grand Prix event this season, and two events — Skate Canada and Internationaux de France — have been canceled. The status of the Grand Prix Final is not known beyond the fact it won’t be held as originally scheduled on Dec. 10-13 in Beijing, China.
Silvertips players loaned to Junior A teams
The Everett Silvertips have taken advantage of the WHL’s temporary transfer policy to loan five players to Junior A teams.
The start of the WHL season has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, with Jan. 8 set as the season’s new start date. WHL roster players were originally not eligible to play for lower-level teams during the postponement. But with Junior A teams getting their seasons started in Canada, the WHL is allowing temporary transfers to further players’ development.
Three of Everett’s players are joining teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League: Winger Jackson Berezowski is joining the Yorkton Terriers, winger Cole Fonstad is joining the Estevan Bruins and center Ethan Regnier is joining the Melfort Mustangs. Two are headed to the British Columbia Hockey League: Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother is joining the Nanaimo Clippers and defenseman Dylan Anderson is joning the Cowichan Capitals.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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