The 2022 Winter Olympics are fast approaching and preparations are already underway to select the men's and women's curling teams that will represent Canada in Beijing in February.
Before the Olympic Trials commence in November, several events will be held in September and October to determine who will hit the sheets.
Two events will take place in Ottawa between Sept. 22 and 26: the Canadian Curling Trials Direct-Entry Event and the Canadian Curling Pre-Trials Direct-Entry. Winners of the direct-entry event go directly to the trials; winners of the pre-trials direct-entry event and the losing teams in the direct-entry event go to the Home Hardware Pre-Trials.
"These are new events that fit our mandate of trying to be as inclusive as possible for as many teams as possible to be part of the Olympic qualifying process as we come out of the pandemic," said Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson. "These unique circumstances — especially still not knowing definitively how the competitive landscape will look in the fall — demanded a unique approach, and we believe it will, in the end, produce teams that are worthy of wearing the Maple Leaf in Beijing."
MORE: How do teams qualify for 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Olympic Trials?
For the direct-entry event, five men's and five women's teams will compete for spots in the Tim Horton's Curling Trials. Three women's teams and two men's teams will (open slots based on the number of teams who have already advanced to the trials) advance directly to the trials in November. The teams that do not finish in the top slots will head to the Home Hardware Pre-Trials set for Oct. 26-31 in Nova Scotia. Among the players competing is four-time world champion skip Glenn Howard.
Here's everything you need to know for the 2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event:
When is the Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event?
The tournament begins Wednesday, Sept. 22, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 26.
Where is the Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event?
The tournament is taking place in Ottawa, Ont., at the RA Centre, a converted ice hockey rink. Five sheets will be utilized in the first curling event at the facility.
PRE-TRIALS DIRECT-ENTRY EVENT: Results, standings, schedule
What teams are competing at the 2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event?
Five men's and five women's teams will compete in round-robin draws (men's will be modified) before a playoff. Three women's teams and two men's teams will go directly to Canada's trials. The two women's teams and three men's teams who do not advance will head to the Home Hardware Pre-Trials in October.
Women’s teams:
- Suzanne Birt (Charlottetown)
- Corryn Brown (Kamloops, B.C.)
- Kelsey Rocque (Edmonton, Alta.)
- Casey Scheidegger (Lethbridge, Alta.)
- Laura Walker (Edmonton, Alta.)
Men's teams:
- Matt Dunstone (Regina, Sask.)
- Colton Flasch (Saskatoon, Sask.)
- Jason Gunnlaugson (Winnipeg, Man.)
- Glenn Howard (Penetanguishene, Ont.)
- Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.)
MORE: Teams that have already qualified for the trials
Are fans allowed at the 2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event?
Curling Canada has opted to not allow fans into the building for the event due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and a short lead-up time.
What channel is the 2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event on?
The event will not be broadcast on television; however, Curling Canada will be live streaming games on its YouTube channel.
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Who has represented Canada in the Olympics?
Curling has only been an official Olympic sport since the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, Canada failed to win any medals for the first time in Olympic competition in men's and women's since the sport's introduction. Canada did win gold in mixed doubles (in the sport's Olympic debut).
Women
Pyeongchang 2018: Rachel Homan (skip), Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle, Cheryl Bernard
Sochi 2014: Jennifer Jones (skip), Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen, Kirsten Wall
Vancouver 2010: Cheryl Bernard (skip), Susan O'Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire, Cori Bartel, Kristie Moore
Turin 2006: Shannon Kleibrink (skip), Amy Nixon, Glenys Bakker, Christine Keshen, Sandra Jenkins
Salt Lake City 2002: Kelly Law (skip), Julie Skinner, Georgina Wheatcroft, Diane Nelson, Cheryl Noble
Nagano 1998: Sandra Schmirler (skip), Jan Betker, Joan McCusker, Marcia Gudereit, Atina Ford
Medals: Gold (2014, 1998); silver (2010); bronze (2006, 2002)
Men
Pyeongchang 2018: Kevin Koe (skip), Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert, Scott Pfeiffer
Sochi 2014: Brad Jacobs (skip), Ryan Fry, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden, Caleb Flaxey
Vancouver 2010: Kevin Martin (skip), John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert, Adam Enright
Turin 2006: Brad Gushue (skip), Mark Nichols, Russ Howard, Jamie Korab, Mike Adam
Salt Lake City 2002: Kevin Martin (skip), Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Don Bartlett, Ken Tralnberg
Nagano 1998: Mike Harris (skip), Richard Hart, Collin Mitchell, George Karrys, Paul Savage
Medals: Gold (2014, 2010, 2006); silver (2002, 1998)
2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event round-robin standings
The men’s and women’s events will each use round-robin draws leading to potential playoffs where necessary. For the men’s draw, there will be a modified round-robin because it will have only two qualifiers for the trials.
Women's
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Scheidegger* | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Team Rocque* | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Team Walker* | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Team Brown^ | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Team Birt^ | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Men
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Dunstone* | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Team McEwen* | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Team Howard^ | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Team Gunnlaugson^ | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Team Flasch^ | 4 | 1 | 3 |
*Qualified for 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials
^Will compete for a spot in the curling trials in the Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials
2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event women's schedule, results
The Canadian Curling Trials Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event will be occurring at the same time on the empty sheets.
Draw 1 (Sept. 23, 4 p.m. ET)
Sheet C
Team Birt — 7
Team Brown — 9
Sheet D
Team Walker — 9
Team Scheidegger — 4
Draw 2 (Sept. 24, noon ET)
Sheet C
Team Scheidegger — 10
Team Rocque — 6
Sheet D
Team Brown — 6
Team Walker — 9
Draw 3 (Sept. 24, 8 p.m. ET)
Sheet C
Team Rocque — 7
Team Walker — 5
Sheet D
Team Scheidegger — 9
Team Birt — 2
Draw 4 (Sept. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Sheet C
Team Brown — 4
Team Scheidegger — 6
*Team Scheidegger qualifies for 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials
Sheet D
Team Birt — 5
Team Rocque — 6
Draw 5 (Sept. 25, 9 p.m. ET)
Sheet C
Team Walker — 5
Team Birt — 8
Sheet D
Team Rocque — 8
Team Brown — 5
*Team Rocque qualifies for 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials
Draw 6 (Sept. 26, 3 p.m. ET)
Sheet C - A1
Team Brown — 9 F/11
Team Walker — 8
*If Team Walker wins they will earn the final trials spot. Team Brown needs to win twice Sunday to advance.
Draw 7 (Sept. 26, 8 p.m. ET)
Sheet D
Team Walker — 8
Team Brown — 4
*Team Walker qualifies for 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials.
2021 Canadian Curling Direct-Entry Event men's schedule, results
The Canadian Curling Trials Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event will be occurring at the same time on the empty sheets.
Draw 1 (Sept. 22, 8 p.m. ET)
Sheet B
Team McEwen — 5
Team Flasch — 3
Sheet C
Team Howard — 9
Team Dunstone — 5
Draw 2 (Sept. 23, noon ET)
Sheet B
Team Dunstone — 8
Team McEwen — 5
Sheet C
Team Flasch — 4
Team Gunnlaugson — 8
Draw 3 (Sept. 23, 8 p.m. ET)
Sheet B
Team Flasch — 9
Team Howard — 0
Sheet C
Team Gunnlaugson — 4
Team McEwen — 8
Draw 4 (Sept. 24, noon ET)
Sheet B
Team Howard — 7
Team Gunnlaugson — 6
Sheet C
Team Dunstone — 8
Team Flasch — 4
Draw 5 (Sept. 24, 8 p.m. ET)
Sheet B
Team Gunnlaugson — 3
Team Dunstone — 7
Sheet C
Team McEwen — 7
Team Howard — 2
Qualifying Round: Draw 6 (Sept. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Sheet B
Team Dunstone — 6 F/11
Team Gunnlaugson — 5
Sheet C
Team McEwen — 9
Team Flasch — 4
Qualifying Round: Draw 7 (Sept. 25, 9 p.m. ET)
Sheet B
Team Howard — 6
Team Dunstone — 8
Sheet C
Team Gunnlaugson — 8
Team McEwen — 9
*With wins in Draw 7, Team Dunstone and Team McEwen have qualified for the 2021 Tim Horton Curling Trials.
Qualifying Round: Draw 8 (Sept. 26, 10 a.m. ET)
Sheet B
Team Flasch
Team Howard