The World Cup is set to join an already crowded curling calendar. But for Kevin Koe, the timing is right, the money is good and his new lineup needs reps.

So a few short months after wearing the Maple Leaf at the Winter Olympics, Koe dons it again for the first leg of the World Curling FederationB次元官网网址檚 newest property.

The World Cup of Curling is four tournaments of team and mixed doubles competition involving the top curling countries in the world. Each country determines its representatives for each leg.

Rachel HomanB次元官网网址檚 team and the mixed doubles duo of Kirk Muyres and Laura Walker round out the Canadian contingent competing Wednesday to Sunday in Suzhou, China.

The second stop is Dec. 5-9 in Omaha, Neb., followed by the third in Jonkoping, Sweden, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3.

The grand final May 8-12 in Beijing will include winning teams from the previous three stops.

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The World Cup offers a total of US$775,000, or just over CDN$1 million, for a prize pot. Winning one event is worth up to US$33,000 to a team and that number doubles in Beijing.

With third Marc Kennedy on a curling hiatus and second Brent Laing departing for John EppingB次元官网网址檚 foursome after last season, Koe is breaking in B.J. Neufeld at vice and Colton Flasch on his front end while retaining lead Ben Hebert.

The skip considers elite opponents with significant dollars at stake a good trial-by-fire for his Calgary-based squad.

B次元官网网址淥bviously the teams are good, the prize money is good and for us, weB次元官网网址檙e looking at it as we have new team,B次元官网网址� Koe told The Canadian Press.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance for a new team to go to a high-profile event for our first event and get to know each other.B次元官网网址�

While the two-time world menB次元官网网址檚 champion is seasoned in international competition, SaskatoonB次元官网网址檚 Muyres is greener and excited about competing with EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Walker in China.

B次元官网网址淣ow, I get to be a part of a bigger Team Canada,B次元官网网址� said the 28-year-old mortgage broker. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be there with Koe and Homan as well. WeB次元官网网址檙e all going to be rooting for each other.

B次元官网网址淭he last time I was a part of something like that was the Canada Games back in 2007.B次元官网网址�

For Homan, itB次元官网网址檚 a return trip to the country where her team won a womenB次元官网网址檚 world title in Beijing in 2017.

B次元官网网址淭here wasnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of hesitation when it came up and we got the invite,B次元官网网址� second Joanne Courtney said.

B次元官网网址淲e had a great time when we visited Beijing for the world championship in 2017 and we thought it would be a great way to start the year off on an exciting note, being part of a brand new event.B次元官网网址�

In a season already bulging with weekly World Curling Tour events, the Continental Cup, the Canada Cup, provincial playdowns and national and world championships, scheduling conflicts influenced Curling CanadaB次元官网网址檚 decisions on who to send to each World Cup stop.

B次元官网网址淥ur biggest concern is the scheduling conflict element because itB次元官网网址檚 four more events added to a calendar thatB次元官网网址檚 already over full,B次元官网网址� high-performance director Gerry Peckham said. B次元官网网址淚t was picking teams that were interested, and were available and had a competitive resume that warranted selection.B次元官网网址�

The competitive season not yet in full swing, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 2018 Olympic teams skipped by Koe and OttawaB次元官网网址檚 Homan were available for Suzhou.

Reigning national mixed doubles champions Muyres and Walker won a bronze medal at the 2018 world championship.

But the second leg of the World Cup in Omaha conflicts with the $140,000 Canada Cup, which will draw 15 top teams to Estevan, Sask.

So Tracy Fleury and Jason Gunnlaugson, who skip Winnipeg foursomes, were chosen CanadaB次元官网网址檚 representatives for Omaha.

The third leg in Sweden runs up against provincial and territorial playdowns in Canada.

The Canadian Press