Curling Canada is hoping an ongoing high-performance review will help put the federation on track for success after a disappointing showing on the international stage last season.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 lone curling medal at the Beijing Olympics was a menB次元官网网址檚 bronze and the gold shutout continued at the world championships.
One of the top priorities on the organizationB次元官网网址檚 to-do list for the new quadrennial is hiring a high-performance director to succeed Gerry Peckham, who is serving as a consultant ahead of retirement.
Chief executive officer Kathy Henderson said Curling Canada received an B次元官网网址渆nthusiastic and highly skilled responseB次元官网网址� from the curling market and high-performance community for the position.
B次元官网网址淲e have a panel of internal experts and someone from Own the Podium is working with us and we are hoping to have someone announced hopefully in January,B次元官网网址� Henderson said.
Peckham, who has spent over three decades with the organization, guided a program that excelled for many years on the international stage but often underperformed at major events over the last two quads.
B次元官网网址淲e want the same excellence and we want the same medals,B次元官网网址� Henderson said. B次元官网网址淏ut we have to work harder for them and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be incremental.B次元官网网址�
Preliminary findings from the high-performance review did yield one notable early-season announcement. The 18-team, two-pool format will become permanent at the Tim Hortons Brier and Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Additional announcements are expected once the review is complete.
B次元官网网址淭his is a funny year because thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of recovery involved in it and thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of reflection,B次元官网网址� Henderson told The Canadian Press from Toronto. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檙e recovering and weB次元官网网址檙e reflecting right now.
B次元官网网址淏ut I would say probably starting in April youB次元官网网址檒l see some shifts and some changes that weB次元官网网址檙e going to stick to for the quad.B次元官网网址�
Qualification details and dates for the Olympic trials and mixed doubles trials have yet to be announced. The timing of those playdowns has been the subject of much debate.
The team trials are traditionally held about two months out from the start of the Games. The mixed doubles trials wrap up about a month before the opening ceremony.
Critics feel the preparation period is too short under the current setup. Proponents argue the schedule allows for representation from curlers who are peaking at the right time.
Canada didnB次元官网网址檛 reach the team podium at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games although John Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes won gold in the Olympic debut of mixed doubles.
Four years later in Beijing, the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 and mixed doubles teams missed the playoffs. Brad GushueB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 side salvaged a third-place finish.
World championship results have also sagged in recent seasons.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 last womenB次元官网网址檚 world title came in 2018 when Jennifer Jones won gold in North Bay, Ont. CanadaB次元官网网址檚 last menB次元官网网址檚 world title came in 2017 when Gushue was victorious in Edmonton.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 best result at the world mixed doubles championship has been silver (in 2017 and B次元官网网址�19).
The six-event Grand Slam of Curling circuit has resumed for 2022-23 but the first Season of Champions calendar of the four-year cycle has a new look.
The inaugural PointsBet Invitational kicked things off in September on a schedule highlighted by the national championships but one that no longer includes the Canada Cup or Continental Cup.
B次元官网网址淚 think next year youB次元官网网址檒l probably see some changes in the lineup,B次元官网网址� Henderson said. B次元官网网址淲e may add another event.B次元官网网址�
This will be the last season with Tim Hortons as the title sponsor of the Brier and the Canadian Curling Trials.
The restaurant chain first sponsored the Brier in 2005 and has been a partner with Curling Canada since 1996.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
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