(by Devin Heroux) He wouldn’t quite describe it this way, but you might say Jeff Stoughton has become a curling Cupid.
A three-time winner of the Brier and a two-time world champion, Jeff Stoughton is now leading Canada’s mixed doubles program. (Andrew Vaughn/Canadian Press)
As part of his duties in leading Canada’s mixed doubles program into the Winter Olympics, the three-time Brier and two-time world champion has been busy facilitating some last-minute match making.
The tournament to determine which pairing will represent Canada when this quirky version of curling makes its Olympic debut in South Korea in February begins on Jan. 2 in Portage la Prairie, Man. (Every draw will be live streamed on CBCSports.ca.)
Stoughton confirmed to CBC Sports that the following 18 teams will compete:
- Jennifer Jones & Mark Nichols
- Val Sweeting & Brad Gushue
- Dawn McEwen & Mike McEwen
- Kaitlyn Lawes & John Morris
- Chelsea Carey & Colin Hodgson
- Jill Officer & Reid Carruthers
- Sherry Middaugh & John Epping
- Dana Ferguson & Brendan Bottcher
- Shannon Birchard & Jason Gunnlaugson
- Jocelyn Peterman & Brett Gallant
- Kalynn Park & Charley Thomas
- Laura Crocker & Geoff Walker
- Nancy Martin & Catlin Schneider
- Marliese Kasner & Dustin Kalthoff
- Kim Tuck & Wayne Tuck
- Emilie Desjardins & Robert Desjardins
- Nicole Westlund Stewart & Tyler Stewart
- Sherry Just & Tyrel Griffith
“It’s been a little bit of hit and a little bit of miss along the way, trying to figure out what the best process would be,” Stoughton says of organizing the Olympic qualifier. “We went with more teams in the trials [rather] than less to have more opportunity. I think it’s shaping up to be a darn good event.”