DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Olympic curling trials still has some magic left

My favourite time of the sporting year is finally upon us.

The build-up to the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials is unlike anything else in sports. While the magic of the event has been lessened in favour of better curling at the Scotties/Brier, adding in wildcards to make sure more top teams can qualify, there’s still something beautiful about the Trials.

There is no fat. Even at international events, there will be lesser teams the top talents tend to crush. While other curling events seem to be continuously adding more and more teams, the Trials are simple. Eight teams, a round robin and a champion who gets to wear the Maple Leaf at the biggest stage.

The process for selecting the teams is perfect. The top points-getters on tour, the previous Canadian champions, and one spot for an upstart team to qualify at the pre-trials.

Every game matters, every rock has consequence and every team dreams of going on a run to the top of the mountain.

Jennifer Jones picking up a huge win in front of her home crowd in 2013, Kevin Martin icing out a complete unknown in 1997, Sandra Schmirler’s shot that same year, Brad Gushue beating Jeff Stoughton and ripping my 13-year-old heart out in 2005, the Trials seem to never miss out on drama.

Even the pre-trials can be a launching pad, as young curlers look to make a stamp on the national stage. I’ll never forget Jason Gunnlughson’s run at the 2009 pre-trials, where he seemed to make circus shot after circus shot to become the last team qualified.

While there are plenty of Canadian women’s rinks active I root for, there’s been a bit of a lack of personalities I like on the men’s side. I’ll be watching the action this fall closely in the hopes a new team catches my eye.

The changes to Canada’s curling national championships haven’t been to my personal liking, even if it’s better for the players, but I’m anticipating the Trials to deliver granite magic once again.