The U.S. is sending 15 skaters to the World Championships this week, but the key number is 13.
In all four disciplines -- men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dance -- the top two American finishers’ results will be combined for a number that will determine how many spots the U.S. receives for next year’s World Championships.
If that number is 13 or fewer, the U.S. gets three spots in that discipline. Like in 2013, when Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold finished fifth and sixth (a combined 11th) to earn the U.S. three women’s spots not only at the Olympics, but also at this week’s World Championships in Saitama, Japan.
Wagner and Gold headline the U.S. team this week. They’re joined by Polina Edmunds, making the women’s roster the same as it was in Sochi, where Gold was fourth, Wagner seventh and Edmunds ninth.
The rest of the U.S. team is Jeremy Abbott and Max Aaron, Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir and Felicia Zhang and Nate Bartholomay and ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani, Madison Chock and Evan Bates and Alexandra Aldridge and Daniel Eaton.
The fields are missing the Olympic women’s, pairs and ice dance gold medalists, plus every 2013 world champion, creating an opportunity for new stars to emerge.
Previews: Men | Women | Pairs | Ice Dance
Here’s the schedule of events in Saitama (all times Eastern):
Tuesday: Pairs short program (9 p.m.)
Wednesday: Men’s short program (3 a.m.)
Wednesday: Pairs free skate (10:30 p.m.)
Thursday: Women’s short program (2:55 a.m.)
Thursday: Short dance (9:50 p.m.)
Friday: Men’s free skate (4 a.m.)
Friday: Free dance (11:30 p.m.)
Saturday: Women’s free skate (4:15 a.m.)
Icenetwork.com will provide live online coverage to its Season Pass subscribers.
Universal Sports Network will broadcast same-day coverage from Wednesday-Saturday from 1-3 p.m. ET each day. 2011 U.S. champion Ryan Bradley and 2006 Olympic silver medalist Tanith Belbin will be analysts alongside play-by-play voice Steve Schlanger.
NBC will air a World Championships recap show April 13 from 3-6 p.m. ET.
