Eight Ends: Canada Cup women’s division primer
The drive to the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials goes into high gear with guaranteed spots up for grabs at the Canada Cup.
Our double shot of Eight Ends this week profiles the seven men’s teams and seven women’s teams set to compete in this year’s event starting Wednesday in Brandon, Man.
Winners of the Canada Cup will also join last season’s national champions Kevin Koe and Chelsea Carey, as well as Americans Heath McCormick and Jamie Sinclair, on Team North America at the Continental Cup taking place in Las Vegas in January.
Even with Rachel Homan and Jennifer Jones having secured their Olympic Trials spots, they always put on a show and they’re set for a showdown against the top women’s teams in the nation.
Canada Cup: Men’s Primer | Women’s Primer
1st End: Team Carey
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Chelsea Carey |
Amy Nixon |
Jocelyn Peterman | Laine Peters |
Hometown: Calgary
WCT OOM rank: 9th
2016-17 win: Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic (Hokkaido, Japan)
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts winners lucked out on a Trials spot last season when they missed the podium at the world championship coming in fourth place. They’ll be motivated to finish the job here.
2nd End: Team Einarson
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Kerri Einarson |
 Selena Kaatz |
 Liz Fyfe |
 Kristin MacCuish |
Hometown: East St. Paul, Man.
WCT OOM rank: 14th
Last season proved to be a breakout campaign for Team Einarson as they won their first title together at the Tour Challenge Tier 2 and captured the Manitoba Scotties following back-to-back runner-up finishes. They’ve struggled a bit this season — they’ve yet to qualify for the playoffs — but having the home-province crowd on their side should give them an extra push.
3rd End: Team Fleury
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Tracy Fleury |
 Crystal Webster |
 Jenna Walsh |
 Amanda Gates |
Hometown: Sudbury, Ont.
WCT OOM rank: 10th
2016-17 win: The Sunova Spiel at East St. Paul (East St. Paul, Man.)
Fleury just scored the Sunova Spiel victory Monday and should be tuned up for the Canada Cup. They look to improve upon their 1-5 mark at the event a year ago. As we’ve seen in the Sick Shot Challenge, they’re also quite the sharpshooters.
4th End: Team Homan
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Rachel Homan |
 Emma Miskew |
 Joanne Courtney |
 Lisa Weagle |
Hometown: Ottawa
WCT OOM rank: 1st
2016-17 wins: Shorty Jenkins Classic (Cornwall, Ont.) & Canad Inns Women’s Classic (Portage la Prairie, Man.)
Last year’s Canada Cup winners are also in buzzkill mode ala Team Koe, however, they’re just as eager to take this one as everyone else. Homan was finalist at the WFG Masters and was cruising through the Tour Challenge until losing to Michelle Englot in the quarterfinals.
5th End: Team Jones
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Jennifer Jones |
 Kaitlyn Lawes |
 Jill Officer |
 Dawn McEwen |
Hometown: Winnipeg
WCT OOM rank: 2nd
2016-17 win: DEKALB Superspiel (Morris, Man.)
When Carey missed the podium at the worlds, a Trials spot opened up for the points leader, thus allowing Jones to clinch her place early. Team Jones will still want to perform well in front of their home-province crowd so expect the reigning Olympic gold medallists to contend as usual.
6th End: Team Rocque
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Kelsey Rocque |
 Laura Crocker |
 Taylor McDonald |
 Jen Gates |
Hometown: Edmonton
WCT OOM rank: 8th
Rocque has already bowed out of provincial playdowns as McDonald and her will represent Canada at the 2017 Winter Universiade. That means the Canada Cup is the team’s lone shot at a direct berth to the Olympic Trials with the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and world championship out of the question. The 22-year-old Rocque is a superb shotmaker and loves pulling off those high-pressure throws you rely on your skip for.
7th End: Team Sweeting
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Val Sweeting |
 Lori Olson-Johns |
 Dana Ferguson |
 Rachel Brown |
Hometown: Edmonton
WCT OOM rank: 4th
2016-17 win: Tour Challenge
Team Sweeting captured the Canada Cup in 2014 (guaranteeing a pre-trials spot) and is fresh off of winning the Tour Challenge. Sweeting was also a finalist at the Canada Cup a year ago, making her crew a likely pick to qualify once again.
8th End: Outlook
Homan and Jones may have their Trials spots locked up already, but they’re also the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the world, respectively, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they face off in the final. Sweeting’s strong showing at the Tour Challenge gives her an edge over the rest of the field for now.