Gold, Wagner to headline Skate America

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - U.S. champion Gracie Gold and world silver medalist Ashley Wagner will headline Skate America.

Assignments for the Grand Prix Series were announced Thursday, with the opening event at Hoffman Estates, Illinois, drawing a strong field of Americans. Also scheduled to compete in Skate America are U.S. men's champ Adam Rippon, U.S. ice dance gold medalists and world runners-up Maia and Alex Shibutani, and American pairs champs Tarah Kayne and Daniel O'Shea.

Skate America from Oct. 21-23 also drew such international stars as Russia's Julia Lipnitskaia and Japan's Mao Asada in the women's event. Men's world bronze medalist Jim Boyang of China and Olympic bronze winner Denis Ten of Kazakhstan also are entered.

The pairs event has world silver medalists Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China.

The full schedule for the series has Skate Canada following Skate America on Oct. 28-30; Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (Nov. 4-6); Trophée de France in Paris (Nov. 11-13); Cup of China in Beijing (Nov. 18-20); and NHK Trophy in Sapporo, Japan (Nov. 25-27). The Grand Prix Final is Dec. 8-11 in Marseille, France.

The full list of U.S. assignments:

Skate America

Women: Gracie Gold; Ashley Wagner;

Men: Jason Brown; Adam Rippon;

Pairs: Tarah Kayne & Daniel O'Shea; Madeline Aaron & Max Settlage;

Ice dance: Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue; Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani.

Skate Canada International

Womens: Mirai Nagasu;

Men: Grant Hochstein; Ross Miner;

Pairs: Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier;

Ice dance: Madison Chock and Evan Bates; Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker.

Rostelecom Cup

Women: Polina Edmunds; Courtney Hicks;

Men: Max Aaron;

Pairs: Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim;

Ice dance: Madison Chock and Evan Bates; Elliana Pogrebinsky and Alex Benoit.

Trophée de France

Women: Gracie Gold; Tyler Pierce;

Men: Nathan Chen; Adam Ripponl

Pairs: Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran;

Ice dance: Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue.

Cup of China

Women: Karen Chen; Courtney Hicks; Ashley Wagner;

Men: Max Aaron; Ross Miner;

Pairs: Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim;

Ice dance: Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus; Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani.

NHK Trophy

Women: Karen Chen; Polina Edmunds; Mirai Nagasu;

Men: Jason Brown; Nathan Chen; Grant Hochstein;

Pairs: Tarah Kayne and Daniel O'Shea;

Ice dance: Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker.