| "How do you describe getting a gold medal and watching your flag rise as you sing your national anthem. Unbelievable, emotional, unforgettable. A lot of things race across your mind. Pride - national, provincial, team and personal - relief, gratification, sacrifice, and huge longing to share this moment."
(Joan McCusker, 1998 Olympic Gold Medallist Team).  Our team's goal in the 2008-09 curling season is to qualify for the Olympic Trials which will be held in Edmonton, Alberta in November of 2009 and then win the right to represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC. This Olympic Trials is a nationally televised event with 8 women's and 8 men's team each competing to represent Canada and wear the maple leaf on their back. Rankin competed at the Trials in Regina in 2001. There is a pre-trials in Prince George in early November of 2009 where 4 of these 8 teams will be declared. The final 4 teams will consist of the teams that have performed the best over the past 3 years.The method to qualify for these Trials has been announced by the CCA and can be found here. Basically it all comes down to the upcoming season where 8 teams will be declared based on wins at the Canada Cup, Players Championship and Scotties and the remaining best 5 teams on the CTRS. |
 The 2009 Canada Cup will be moving to Yorkton, Saskatchewan March 19 to 22, 2009. The winner or the Cup will win an automatic berth into the Pre-Trials. Team Rankin competed at the 2008 Canada Cup in Kamloops. To qualify for the Canada Cup we have to finish in the Top 4 of the Canada Cup qualifier in December or finish in the top 4 of the CTRS by end of February, 2009. |
Southerns (TBD) - Jan 2 to 5
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 The 2009 Tylenol Players Championship will be held April 14 - 19th, 2009 in Grand Prairie Alberta. The winner of the 2009 Players Championship will have an automatic berth in the Pre-Trials. In addition, the womens team that performs the best in the Grand Slams will be awarded the Canada One Cup, $50,000 additional funding as well as CTRS points towards the trials berth. To qualify for the Players Championships we need to finish in the Top 16 of the CTRS in 2009. We have competed in the last 3 Players Championships. |
