The road to PyeongChang starts in Summerside.
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Fourteen men’s and women’s rinks from across Canada will converge on the small town in Prince Edward Island Nov. 6-12 for the Road to the Roar Pre-Trials. The top two rinks, on both the men’s and women’s sides, will earn the right to compete in the nation’s capital Dec 2-10, with a spot to the Olympic Games in South Korea on the line.
On the women’s side of the draw, picking the two winners is not an easy task.
Sherry Middaugh, the 2013 Olympic trials finalist, and Shannon Kleibrink, the 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, have played in a ton of major of events over their long careers and should have the experience to the guide them into contention.
Photo: Kendra Lilly and Krista McCarville , The Canadian Press
The likes of Krista McCarville, Kerri Einarson and Tracy Fleury have made a name for themselves over the past few seasons at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and events on the Grand Slam circuit.
In addition, young teams led by Julie Tippin, Nadine Scotland and Kelsey Rocque won’t be the favourites, but could be primed for a coming-out party in Summerside.
Not to mention teams skipped by Shannon Birchard and Darcy Robertson, Winnipeggers that have both upset defending Olympic champion Team Jennifer Jones in big games during the past year.
All things considered, eight or nine teams in the 14-rink field have a really decent shot at advancing to Ottawa.