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There’s a considerable amount of activity happening currently. Here are some highlights to watch:
Curling: Start of Canadian Olympic trials
Eight top men’s and women’s teams in Canada are vying in Halifax to determine who will represent the country in the four-player curling events at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. The round-robin play kicks off this Saturday, with the best-of-three finals scheduled for later next week.
Rachel Homan is heavily favored to win the women’s trials, having achieved an undefeated streak in the past two Canadian championships and securing back-to-back world titles. Her team has triumphed in all three Grand Slam events this season and has not been defeated by a Canadian opponent in over a year.
The men’s trials promise to be more competitive. Current national champion and 2014 Olympic gold medalist Brad Jacobs shares the spotlight with Matt Dunstone, his rival whom he defeated in the Brier final last season. Dunstone’s team, featuring two of Jacobs’ former teammates, has been the most successful Canadian men’s foursome on the Grand Slam tour this season, clinching one title and reaching two finals.
If you missed the previous newsletter, here’s our analytics-informed preview of the trials.
Hockey: Launch of PWHL’s third season
The Professional Women’s Hockey League commences its season with an exciting doubleheader. The Toronto Sceptres face the two-time Water Cup champion Minnesota Frost, while the Vancouver Goldeneyes take on the Seattle Torrent, the PWHL’s two new expansion teams, at a sold-out Pacific Coliseum.
In the upcoming matches, the Ottawa Charge, last year’s Walter Cup finalist, will confront Rookie of the Year Sarah Fillier. The Montreal Victoire, led by reigning league MVP Marie-Philip Poulin, play against the Boston Fleet. Poulin and Fillier will strive to guide Canada to a second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the inaugural PWHL Games in February.
The expansion teams have the potential to be competitive immediately due to the PWHL’s decision allowing the original six teams to protect only three players each. Seattle secured reigning league scoring champion Hilary Knight from Boston, while Vancouver acquired star forward Sarah Nurse from Toronto and Defender of the Year finalists Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from Cup champion Minnesota.
Take a look at how the Goldeneyes were formed from CBC Sports’ Karissa Donkin. Additionally, here are five things to monitor in the PWHL this season.
In the NHL, the battle for spots on the Canadian men’s Olympic team intensifies as the country currently boasts the top five scorers in the league. Nathan MacKinnon (first), Connor McDavid (second), and defenseman Cale Makar (fifth) are certain selections, while youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard (third and fourth) are making compelling cases after missing out on the squad that secured victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off last winter.