The road to the 2022 Winter Olympics rolls on as another curling pre-trials event gets underway for the men and women hoping to represent Canada in Beijing in February. Before the final selection at the November Olympic Trials can commence, 28 rinks will compete for the final two men’s and two women’s spots at the 2021 Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials.
Two events were held in September to finalize the field: the Canadian Curling Trials Direct-Entry Event and the Canadian Curling Pre-Trials Direct-Entry. Winners of the direct-entry event were slotted directly into the trials; winners of the pre-trials direct-entry event and the losing teams in the direct-entry event earned a chance to advance this week.
MORE: How do teams qualify for 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Olympic Trials?
Among the players competing is four-time world champion skip Glenn Howard on the men’s side. Krista McCarville, skip of her Thunder Bay, Ont., rink, will be competing in her fourth pre-trials, moving her to the top of the all-time women’s pre-trials appearances list.
Here’s everything you need to know for the 2021 Canadian Curling Pre-Trials:
When is the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials?
The tournament begins Monday, Oct. 25, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 31.
Where is the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials?
The tournament is taking place in Liverpool, N.S., at the Queens Place Emera Centre.
What teams are competing at the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials?
Fourteen women’s and 14 men’s teams will compete in round-robin draws before a playoff. Broken up into four pools (two women’s, two men’s), the top three teams from each pool will advance to the playoffs.
Women’s teams:
- *Corryn Brown (Kamloops, B.C.)
- *Suzanne Birt (Charlottetown, P.E.I.)
- Mackenzie Zacharias (Altona, Man.)
- Beth Peterson (Winnipeg, Man.)
- Jestyn Murphy (Mississauga, Ont.)
- Sherry Anderson (Martensville, Sask.)
- Hollie Duncan (Woodstock, Ont.)
- Krista McCarville (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
- Penny Barker (Moose Jaw, Sask.)
- Darcy Robertson (Winnipeg, Man.)
- Danielle Inglis (Mississauga, Ont.)
- Jacqueline Harrison (Dundas, Ont.)
- ^Kerry Galusha (Yellowknife, N.W.T.)
- ^Jill Brothers (Halifax, N.S.)
Men’s teams:
- *Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris, Man.)
- *Colton Flasch (Saskatoon, Sask.)
- *Glenn Howard (Penetanguishene, Ont.)
- Pat Simmons (Winnipeg Beach, Man.)
- Tanner Horgan (Kingston, Ont.)
- Braden Calvert (Winnipeg, Man.)
- Tyler Tardi (Langley, B.C.)
- Jeremy Harty (Calgary, Alta.)
- Karsten Sturmay (Edmonton, Alta.)
- Pat Ferris (Grimsby, Ont.)
- Paul Flemming (Halifax, N.S.)
- Michael Fournier (Montreal, Que.)
- ^Vincent Roberge (Saint-Romuald, Que.)
- ^Sean Grassie (Morris, Man.)
*Qualified for Pre-Trials from the Direct-Entry Event; ^Qualified from the Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event
MORE: Teams that have already qualified for Olympic trials
Are fans allowed at the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials?
Fans will be allowed to attend the event in Nova Scotia. Per Curling Canada’s policy, all fans must provide proof of full vaccination that took place a minimum of 14 days before the start of the event. Masks must also be worn at all times unless actively eating or drinking.
What channel is the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials on?
The first five days can be watched on Curling Canada’s YouTube channel. The playoffs over the weekend will be aired on TSN.
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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 Olympic Curling Pre-Trials round-robin standings
The 14 teams are divided into two pools of seven on each side. Both the men’s and women’s events will each use round-robin draws leading with the top three from each pool advance to the playoffs.
Per Curling Canada, the playoffs are set up as below:
- The first- and second-place teams cross over and meet in the first round of the A-side playoff bracket. The winners of each game meet in the A-side final for the first opportunity to qualify for the curling trials.
- The losers of the first-round A-side games drop into the B-side playoff bracket and will play the third-place teams. The winners of the two games meet, with the winner taking on the A-side final loser for the last berth.
Women’s Pool A
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team McCarville | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Harrison | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Barker | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Galusha | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Barker | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Murphy | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Peterson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Women’s Pool B
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Inglis | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Anderson | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Zacharias | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Brothers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Birt | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Duncan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Robertson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Men’s Pool C
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Gunnlaugson | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Horgan | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Fournier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Sturmay | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Roberge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Harty | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Simmons | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Men’s Pool D
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Flasch | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Howard | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Calvert | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Tardi | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Ferris | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Flemming | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Grassie | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials round-robin schedule, results
Draw 1 (Oct. 25, 4 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s A)
Team Brown — 9
Team Peterson — 4
Sheet B (Women’s B)
Team Birt — 7
Team Zacharias — 8
Sheet C (Women’s A)
Team Murphy — 5
Team McCarville — 7
Sheet D (Women’s B)
Team Anderson — 7
Team Duncan — 6
Draw 2 (Oct. 25, 8 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s B)
Team Robertson — 3
Team Inglis — 9
Sheet B (Men’s C)
Team Gunnlaugson — 7
Team Simmons — 4
Sheet C (Men’s C)
Team Horgan — 7
Team Harty — 2
Sheet D (Women’s A)
Team Barker — 3
Team Harrison — 7
Draw 3 (Oct. 26, 7 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s C)
Team Sturmay
Team Fournier
Sheet B (Men’s D)
Team Flasch
Team Howard
Sheet C (Men’s D)
Team Ferris
Team Flemming
Sheet D (Men’s D)
Team Calvert
Team Tardi
Sheet E (Women’s A)
Team Galusha
Team Brown
Draw 4 (Oct. 26, 11 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s A)
Team Harrison
Team McCarville
Sheet B (Women’s B)
Team Duncan
Team Inglis
Sheet C (Women’s A)
Team Barker
Team Peterson
Sheet D (Women’s B)
Team Robertson
Team Brothers
Sheet E (Women’s B)
Team Birt
Team Anderson
Draw 5 (Oct. 26, 3 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s D)
Team Flemming
Team Howard
Sheet B (Men’s C)
Team Harty
Team Fournier
Sheet C (Men’s D)
Team Tardi
Team Grassie
Sheet D (Men’s C)
Team Roberge
Team Gunnlaugson
Sheet E (Men’s C)
Team Simmons
Team Horgan
Draw 6 (Oct. 26, 7 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s B)
Team Zacharias
Team Robertson
Sheet B (Women’s A)
Team Brown
Team Murphy
Sheet C (Men’s D)
Team Flasch
Team Calvert
Sheet D (Women’s B)
Team Inglis
Team Birt
Sheet E (Women’s B)
Team Brothers
Team Duncan
Draw 7 (Oct. 27, 7 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s C)
Team Roberge
Team Horgan
Sheet C (Men’s C)
Team Sturmay
Team Gunnlaugson
Sheet D (Women’s A)
Team Galusha
Team Barker
Sheet E (Women’s A)
Team McCarville
Team Peterson
Draw 8 (Oct. 27, 11 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s D)
Team Tardi
Team Ferris
Sheet C (Men’s C)
Team Fournier
Team Simmons
Sheet D (Men’s D)
Team Flemming
Team Calvert
Sheet E (Men’s D)
Team Grassie
Team Flasch
Draw 9 (Oct. 27, 3 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s A)
Team Murphy
Team Barker
Sheet B (Women’s B)
Team Anderson
Team Robertson
Sheet C (Women’s B)
Team Brothers
Team Birt
Sheet D (Women’s A)
Team Brown
Team Harrison
Sheet E (Women’s B)
Team Duncan
Team Zacharias
Draw 10 (Oct. 27, 7 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s C)
Team Gunnlaugson
Team Harty
Sheet B (Women’s A)
Team Galusha
Team McCarville
Sheet C (Men’s D)
Team Howard
Team Tardif
Sheet D (Men’s C)
Team Horgan
Team Sturmay
Sheet E (Men’s C)
Team Fournier
Team Roberge
Draw 11 (Oct. 28, 7 a.m. ET)
Sheet B (Men’s D)
Team Grassie
Team Flemming
Sheet C (Women’s B)
Team Anderson
Team Zacharias
Sheet D (Men’s D)
Team Ferris
Team Flasch
Sheet E (Women’s B)
Team Inglis
Team Brothers
Draw 12 (Oct. 28, 11 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s A)
Team Peterson
Team Galusha
Sheet B (Women’s A)
Team Barker
Team Brown
Sheet C (Women’s B)
Team Duncan
Team Robertson
Sheet E (Women’s A)
Team Harrison
Team Murphy
Draw 13 (Oct. 28, 3 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s D)
Team Calvert
Team Grassie
Sheet B (Men’s D)
Team Tardi
Team Flasch
Sheet C (Men’s C)
Team Harty
Team Sturmay
Sheet D (Men’s C)
Team Simmons
Team Roberge
Sheet E (Men’s C)
Team Horgan
Team Gunnlaugson
Draw 14 (Oct. 28, 7 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s B)
Team Brothers
Team Anderson
Sheet B (Women’s B)
Team Robertson
Team Birt
Sheet C (Women’s A)
Team McCarville
Team Brown
Sheet D (Women’s B)
Team Zacharias
Team Inglis
Sheet E (Men’s D)
Team Howard
Team Ferris
Draw 15 (Oct. 29, 7 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s C)
Team Simmons
Team Sturmay
Sheet B (Women’s A)
Team Harrison
Team Galusha
Sheet C (Men’s C)
Team Gunnlaugson
Team Fournier
Sheet D (Women’s A)
Team Peterson
Team Murphy
Sheet E (Men’s C)
Team Roberge
Team Harty
Draw 16 (Oct. 29, 11 a.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s B)
Team Birt
Team Duncan
Sheet B (Men’s D)
Team Ferris
Team Calvert
Sheet C (Women’s B)
Team Zacharias
Team Brothers
Sheet D (Men’s D)
Team Howard
Team Grassie
Sheet E (Men’s D)
Team Flemming
Team Tardi
Draw 17 (Oct. 29, 3 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s A)
Team McCarville
Team Barker
Sheet B (Women’s B)
Team Inglis
Team Anderson
Sheet C (Women’s A)
Team Peterson
Team Harrison
Sheet D (Men’s C)
Team Fournier
Team Horgan
Sheet E (Women’s A)
Team Murphy
Team Galusha
Draw 18 (Oct. 29, 7 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s D)
Team Flasch
Team Flemming
Sheet B (Men’s C)
Team Sturmay
Team Roberge
Sheet C (Men’s D)
Team Grassie
Team Ferris
Sheet D (Men’s C)
Team Harty
Team Simmons
Sheet E (Men’s D)
Team Calvert
Team Howard
2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials playoffs schedule, results
A-side (Oct. 30, 12:30 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Women’s)
First place, Pool B
Second place, Pool A
Sheet B (Women’s)
Second place, Pool B
First place, Pool A
Sheet C (Men’s)
First place, Pool C
Second place, Men’s D
Sheet E (Men’s)
Second place, Pool C
First place, Pool D
A-side/B-side (Oct. 30, 6 p.m. ET)
Sheet A (Men’s)
Third place, Pool C
Loser of first place, Pool C/second place, Pool D
Sheet B (Men’s)
Loser of second place, Pool C/first place, Pool D
Third place, Pool D
Sheet C (Women’s)
Third place, Pool B
Loser of first place, Pool B/second place, Pool A
Sheet D (Women’s A-side)*
Winner of second place, Pool B/first place, Pool A
Winner of first place, Pool B/second place, Pool A
*Winner goes to trials
Sheet E (Women’s)
Loser of second place, Pool B/first place, Pool A
Third place, Pool A
A-side/B-side (Oct. 31, 8 a.m. ET)
Sheet D (Men’s A-side)*
Winner of first place, Pool C/second place, Pool D
Winner of second place, Pool C/first place, Pool D
*Winner goes to trials
Sheet E (Women’s B)
TBD
TBD
A-side/B-side (Oct. 31, 8 a.m. ET)
Sheet D (Men’s A-side)*
Winner of first place, Pool C/second place, Pool D
Winner of second place, Pool C/first place, Pool D
*Winner goes to trials
Sheet E (Women’s B)
TBD
TBD
B-side (Oct. 31, 1 p.m. ET)
Sheet C (Men’s)
TBD
TBD
Sheet D (Women’s)*
TBD
TBD
*Winner goes to trials
B-side (Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Sheet D (Men’s)*
TBD
TBD
*Winner goes to trials