MEDICINE HAT, AB – Curling season is in full swing, highlighted by the recent Medicine Hat Charity Classic at the Medicine Hat Curling Club.
It was a different feeling this year however, as some of the country’s top rinks are preparing for the Olympic pre-trials in Summerside, Prince Edward Island in November.
Brendan Bottcher won the men’s title at the Charity Classic and said the team is trying to get on a roll ahead of the pre-trials.
“You’re trying to peak a lot earlier in the season that we usually would, sort of around January or February,” said Bottcher. “So, trying to prepare a little bit earlier to be ready in November as opposed to January makes a little difference. But otherwise, we’re just going to keep doing the same things we always do.”
A total of 28 teams will battle it out for just two spots, one men’s rink and one women’s, at the ‘Roar of the Rings’ Olympic qualifier.
Adam Casey has represented Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and his home province of P.E.I.
He said it will be nice heading back to his hometown in Summerside, while trying to earn an Olympic trials berth.
“Love the city, love the people, so it will be good to get a chance to play in front of them,” said Casey. “It’s something we’re really looking forward to, and I think [there’s] a lot of benefits to playing in your home province.”
Representing Canada at the Winter Games is an opportunity only a select few curlers have had over the last two decades.
One of those curlers was Shannon Kleibrink, winning a bronze medal for Team Canada at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.
“It’s amazing, it’s once in a lifetime really,” said Kleibrink. “So, anytime you can wear the maple leaf, it’s a dream come true for sure.”
While he’s never stepped foot on Olympic ice, Bottcher said it’s the career pinnacle for any professional curler.
“That’s something that just can’t compare with anything, whether it’s a World Championship, or a Brier, or a provincials, or whatever it is,” he said. “The Olympics is what really we’re all playing for, and even the chance to get there and the chance to be in the trials is huge.”
The bar remains exceptionally high for Team Canada, winning gold in the men’s curling event three years in a row and are the defending gold medallists in the women’s event.
Kleibrink said an early start in Summerside will be needed to have any shot at qualifying for the Olympic trials and the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
“Catching onto the ice really early will be a big key for us,” she said. “Once we do that, we have a really strong front three. If the old lady can hang in there we might have a chance.”
However, Casey said needing to win two straight tournaments remains a challenge for all teams competing in the pre-trials.
“The Olympics is the be all, end all dream, but I think there’s a lot of stepping stones and hurdles we got to clear before we can get there.”
The pre-trials run between November 6 and 12 in Summerside, with Team Canada being selected at the ‘Roar of the Rings’ in Ottawa this December.
