Canada's 2026 Olympics Qualification Discussion Road to Milano Cortina 2026

[Topicmaster1010 5,327]

Canadian Olympic Curling Trials: Day 2 Results

 

Men

 

Draw 2

 

Brad Jacobs 6-4 Rylan Kleiter

Kevin Koe 3-5 Brad Gushue

John Epping 9-5 Mike McEwen

Matt Dunstone 8-4 Jordan McDonald

 

Team	W	L	W–L	PF	PA	EW	EL	BE	SE	S%	DSC
Matt Dunstone	2	0	–	14	7	8	5	5	3	92%	10.9
Brad Gushue	2	0	–	16	8	9	6	2	0	93%	22.7
John Epping	1	1	1–0	12	11	7	8	2	0	91%	38.5
Kevin Koe	1	1	1–0	9	10	7	7	2	1	85%	98.7
Brad Jacobs	1	1	0–1	11	10	7	7	4	0	86%	15.2
Mike McEwen	1	1	0–1	11	14	8	9	2	0	86%	42.3
Jordon McDonald	0	2	–	9	14	7	8	0	1	85%	21.3
Rylan Kleiter	0	2	–	9	17	6	8	3	0	86%	56.8

 

Women

 

Draw 2

 

Rachel Homan 8-2 Christina Black

Kate Cameron 5-6 Kerri Einarson

Corryn Brown 7-6 Kayla Skrlik

Kaitlyn Lawes 8-7 Selena Murray

 

Draw 3

 

Kerri Einarson 9-1 Corryn Brown

Christina Black 7-3 Kaitlyn Lawes

Selena Sturmay 12-5 Kate Cameron

Kayla Skrlik 8-7 Rachel Homan 

 

Team	W	L	W–L	PF	PA	EW	EL	BE	SE	S%	DSC
Kerri Einarson	3	0	–	27	11	16	8	1	12	88%	99.1
Rachel Homan	2	1	–	31	15	15	10	2	5	88%	69.8
Kaitlyn Lawes	2	1	1–0	18	18	13	13	1	4	80%	118.3
Selena Sturmay	2	1	0–1	27	15	16	11	0	7	84%	81.3
Corryn Brown	1	2	1–0	12	22	8	16	1	1	82%	91.2
Kayla Skrlik	1	2	0–1	16	22	12	14	2	4	81%	87.8
Christina Black	1	2	–	14	23	8	13	3	1	75%	119.8
Kate Cameron	0	3	–	15	34	12	15	0	4	76%	51.7

[Topicmaster1010 5,327]

15 hours ago, Josh said:

I was bored so I decided to do a quota simulation before the winter World Cups really kicked off. 

 

Using @Topicmaster1010’s format, hope you don’t mind. 
 

I’m predicting 211 athletes in 14 sports, for 104 men and 107 women, a decrease of 4 athletes from Beijing 2022. 

 

Alpine Skiing (12 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 12 (6 men + 6 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 13 (5 men + 8 women)

 

Decrease of 1 athlete from 2022.

 

For the men, Cameron Alexander and Jack Crawford will for sure qualify barring injury. Jeffery Read, Brodie Seger, Broderick Thompson as well. Riley Seger probably will get the sixth quota. For the women, Valerie Grenier, Alli Nullmeyer, Laurence St Germain, Britt Richardson,  Cassidy Gray, and Raphael Lessard. 

 

Biathlon (8 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 8 (4 men + 4 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 8 (4 men + 4 women)

 

We qualified 4 in each gender through the Nations Cup Rankings. Men just barely made it. 
 

Women’s team will probably be Peiffer, Rousseau, Paradis, Moser. Men’s team is less certain, but I’m guessing Connelly, Runnals, Pletz, Borglum (we only have three competing at the first WC…)

 

Bobsleigh (15 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 13 (8 men + 7 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 18 (12 men + 6 women)

 

Our men’s team is on a major fall with the retirement of Kripps, so only Pat Norton and Taylor Austin in four-men (although maybe Norton won’t?, not sure what the rankings are looking like)

 

On the women’s side, I have Appiah/Lotholz representing us in monobob, very tough to tell though. Completely unsure as who the two-women teams but if we’re basing it off the evaluation selection races (because I don’t know nearly enough about bobsleigh) I think it’ll be Ribi/Richardson Wilson, Bujnowski/Mitchell and Sieben/Lotholz, mind you this is based off of absolutely nothing. I am curious about why Walkeden/Haughey disappeared though.
 

That would be 7 women and 8 men for a total of 15, down 3 from Beijing 2022.

 

Cross-Country Skiing (11 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 11 (5 men + 6 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 9 (4 men + 5 women)

 

Four quotas per gender are official. Sonjaa Schmidt, Liliane Gagnon, Katherine Stewart-Jones, Alison Mackie should make up the women’s team. Antoine Cyr, Oliver Leveille, Xavier McKeever,  Remi Drolet should make up the men’s team. Going out on a limb here, think Graham Richie might be on the team as well? Have Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt and Jasmine Drolet also on the team. 

 

Curling (12 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 12 (6 men + 6 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 12 (6 men + 6 women)

 

Peterman/Gallant have already qualified, Homan will almost surely qualify, and I have Dunstone winning Olympic Trials so that would be another max team. But between Dunstone, Jacobs, Epping, McEwen and Gushue I could see anyone winning (and even Koe at this stage, with his win over Jacobs at OT)

 

Figure Skating (12 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 12 (6 men + 6 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 13 (7 men + 6 women)

 

Already secured one men’s quota, one women’s quota, two pairs quotas, and three ice dance quotas, which is our final team through the results of World Championships. 
 

Probablt Madeline Schizas for the women’s spot, barring something unprecedented from Kaiya Ruiter, Gaby Daleman, or Sara-Maude Dupuis. For the men’s spot, Stephen Gogolev is the front-runner with Roman Sadovsky right behind him, and maybe Keegan Messing can insert himself into the mix. Pairs is locked in with Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps and Pereira/Michaud and so is ice dance with Gilles/Poirier, Lajoie/Lagha and Fabbri/Ayer. 

 

 

Freestyle Skiing (32 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 32 (16 men + 16 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 32 (16 men + 16 women)

 

Almost surely going to qualify 32, but almost impossible to predict who will qualify in terms of athletes on the bubble because we would be qualifying much much more if there wasn’t a cap. 

 

Men:

Aerials (3): Alexandre Duchaine, Lewis Irving, Miha Fontaine 

Moguls (3): Mikael Kingsbury, Julien Viel, Elliot Vaillancourt 

Ski Cross (4): Reece Howden, Kevin Drury, Jared Schmidt, Kristofer Mahler

Halfpipe (3): Brendan MacKay, Andrew Longino, Noah Bowman

Slopestyle/Big Air (2): Evan McEachran, Dylan Deschamps, Max Moffatt

 

Women:

Aerials (2): Marion Thenault, Charlie Fontaine

Moguls (4): Maia Schwinghammer, Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert, Ashley Koehler, Jessica Linton

Ski Cross (4): India Sherret, Marielle Thompson, Hannah Schmidt, Brittany Phelan (No Courtney Hoffos notably)

Halfpipe (4): Cassie Sharpe, Rachael Karker, Amy Fraser, Dillan Glennie

Slopestyle/Big Air (2): Megan Oldham, Olivia Asselin

 

Very possible that Elena Gaskell makes it instead of Linton or Koehler. Rowell, Katrusiak, Beatty, Porter MacLennan, Therriault, Primeau, David-Chalifoux, Hoffos, McEwen, Urness, both Marineaus all miss out. 

 

Ice Hockey (48 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 48 (25 men + 23 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 48 (25 men + 23 women)

 

Maybe I’ll do roster predictions eventually, but even with my knowledge I almost always get it wrong so… 

 

Luge (7 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 7 (3 men + 4 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 6 (3 men + 3 women)

 

Caitlin Nash and Embyr-Lee Susko in women’s singles (Trinity Ellis misses out), one of Dylan Morse/Theo Downey in men’s singles, Wardrope/Zajanski in men’s doubles, and Podulsky/Allan in women’s doubles. 

 

Nordic Combined (0 athletes)

 

 We are a complete joke at this sport and won’t be qualifying anyone in the next 10000000 years or so 

 

Short Track (10 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 10 (5 men + 5 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 10 (5 men + 5 women)

 

Projected # of events in 2026: 9

# of events in 2022: 9

 

Full team pretty much secured. Florence Brunelle, Kim Boutin, Courtney Sarault and Danae Blais will be four of those five women, and the final spot will come down to Rikki Doak/Anne Sophie-Bachand (most likely the former, depending on injury)

For the men, William Dandjinou, Felix Roussel, JPG, Steven Dubois, Maxime Laoun will be the relay barring injury. Mathieu Pelletier will be the front runner based off results at the Canadian Championships. 
 

Skeleton (4 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 4 (2 men + 2 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 3 (1 men + 2 women)

 

A few weeks ago I would’ve said only Halle Clarke and Jane Chanell, but Ryan Kuehn, Josip Brusic, and Zander Greco have been doing good on the NOR-AM circuit and could possibly get us two quotas?

 

Ski Jumping (4 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 4 (1 men + 3 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 3 (1 men + 2 women)

 

With Loutitt being injured, think Abigail Strate, Nicole Maurer, Natalie Eilers, and Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes will qualify. 
 

Ski Mountaineering (0 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 0 (0 men + 0 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 0

 

Can’t be optimistic about everything. We’re only one point ahead of US for the mixed relay continental quota and there’s only one race to go which they have home crowd advantage, don’t see it happening. 

 

 

Snowboarding (22 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 21 (10 men + 12 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 23 (11 men + 12 women)

 

Men:

Parallel Giant Slalom (2): Arnaud Gaudet, Ben Heldman

Snowboard Cross (3): Eliot Grondin, Evan Bichon, Liam Moffatt

Slopestyle/Big Air (4): Cameron Spalding, Liam Brearley, Mark McMorris, Eli Bouchard

Halfpipe (1): Liam Gill (13th at last World Championships)

 

Women:

Parallel Giant Slalom (3): Aurelie Moisan, Kaylie Buck, Megan Farrell

Snowboard Cross (3): Meryeta Odine, Audrey McManiman, Tess Critchlow

Halfpipe (3): Elizbeth Hosking, Felicity Geremia, Brooke Dhondt

Slopestyle/Big Air (3): Laurie Blouin, Jasmine Baird, Juliette Pelchat

 

No Francis Jobin, either of the Savard-Fergusson’s, Emeraude Maheux, Nicolas Laframboise, Ryan Vo,

 

Speed Skating (14 athletes)

Projected Athletes in 2026: 14 (7 men + 7 women)

# of athletes in 2022: 16 (8 men + 8 women)

 

Men:

500m (3): Laurent Dubreuil, Christopher Fiola, Cedric Brunet

1000m (2): Laurent Dubreuil, Anders Johnson

1500m (2): David la Rue, Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu

5000m (1): Ted-Jan Bloemen, Graeme Fish

10000m (1): Ted-Jan Bloemen

Mass Start (3): David la Rue, Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu, Jake Weidemann

 

Women:

500m (3): Carolina Hiller, Beatrice Lamarche, Brooklyn McDougall

1000m (2): Beatrice Lamarche, Alexa Scott

1500m (2): Ivanie Blondin, Beatrice Lamarche?

3000m (3): Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin, Valerie Maltais

5000m (2): Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin

Mass Start (2): Ivanie Blondin, Valerie Maltais

 

No Connor Howe, in terrible form, possibly due to an injury? Same with Graeme Fish, Daniel Hall, Madison Pearman. Don’t think our men’s team pursuit will qualify either. 
 

Brooklyn McDougall and Alexa Scott have done well enough these first few World Cups to warrant a spot on the team. 

Very nice! I agree with most of it. Just a few thoughts.

 

Bobsleigh: For the men, 3 countries qualify sleds and 7 other countries qualify 2 sleds so despite the overall decline in Canadian bobsleigh, we should still comfortably be able to qualify 2 sleds.

 

Cross-Country Skiing: You mention 4 athletes per gender but you have 11 athletes listed in the heading. Currently on the FIS site, Canada has qualified 6 women and 4 men with likely one more women and possibly one more man after the last 10 quotas are allocated.

 

Skeleton: I'd still say only one man at most. There were two races in the North American Cup this weekend compared to just one world cup race so the world rankings are a bit flawed at the moment.

 

Ski Jumping: If Ski Jumping Canada decides to send Tarik van Wieren to the continental cup, he could earn some points and then Canada could be prioritized for a men's super team/mixed team quota.

 

Snowboarding: Gonna be really hard for Megan Farrell to qualify considering she's 3rd last in the qualification rankings. Everybody else seems realistic though.

 

Speed Skating: There are Olympic Trials in January so if Connor Howe is recovered by then, then he should easily qualify. Also you have Graeme Fish listed under the 5000m.

[Topicmaster1010 5,327]

Canadian Olympic Curling Trials: Day 3 Results

 

 

Men

 

Draw 3

 

Brad Gushue 5-3 John Epping

Rylan Kleiter 3-7 Matt Dunstone

Jordan McDonald 7-8 Kevin Koe

Mike McEwen 3-6 Brad Jacobs

 

Draw 4

 

Kevin Koe 7-9 Mike McEwen

Brad Jacobs 6-3 Jordan McDonald

Matt Dunstone 9-7 Brad Gushue

John Epping 7-10 Rylan Kleiter

 

Team	W	L	W–L	PF	PA	EW	EL	BE	SE	S%	DSC
Matt Dunstone	3	0	–	21	10	13	8	5	5	93%	28.0
Brad Jacobs	2	1	0–1	17	13	10	9	5	0	86%	29.8
Brad Gushue	3	0	–	21	11	14	9	3	2	92%	45.9
Mike McEwen	1	2	0–1	14	20	10	12	5	0	85%	60.6
Kevin Koe	2	1	1–0	17	17	11	12	2	1	86%	292.3
Rylan Kleiter	0	3	–	12	24	9	13	3	0	86%	136.9
John Epping	1	2	1–0	15	16	10	13	3	0	90%	70.9
Jordon McDonald	0	3	–	16	22	12	12	1	1	83%	74.6

 

Women

 

Draw 4

 

 

Kate Cameron 6-7 Kayla Skrlik

Rachel Homan 12-5 Selena Sturmay

Kaitlyn Lawes 4-8 Kerri Einarson

Corryn Brown 4-9 Christina Black

 

Team	W	L	W–L	PF	PA	EW	EL	BE	SE	S%	DSC
Kerri Einarson	4	0	–	33	15	19	12	3	12	88%	99.1
Rachel Homan	3	1	–	43	20	20	13	2	7	88%	69.8
Christina Black	2	2	1–0	23	27	14	16	3	4	75%	119.8
Kaitlyn Lawes	2	2	1–1; 1–0	22	24	17	16	1	5	80%	118.3
Selena Sturmay	2	2	1–1; 0–1	32	27	19	16	0	8	84%	81.3
Kayla Skrlik	2	2	0–1	23	28	12	14	3	4	81%	87.8
Corryn Brown	1	3	–	16	31	11	22	1	2	82%	91.2
Kate Cameron	0	4	–	21	41	17	19	0	5	76%	51.7

[Topicmaster1010 5,327]

Meanwhile an update on speed skating quotas halfway through the qualification period:

 

Men's 500m (3 quotas): Laurent Dubreuil and Cedrik Brunet sit 10th and 17th in the World Rankings and are in good position to keep their quotas. Christopher Fiola also sits in 21st in the World Rankings and is hanging on to the 2nd last World Ranking qualifying position but should he fall out, he should still easily qualify on time since he's 23rd in the time rankings. Overall, should have no problems getting 3 quotas here.

 

Men's 1000m (2 quotas): Laurent Dubreuil sits 18th in the World Rankings and is the only Canadian currently in position to qualify through the rankings. Anders Johnson is in the 6th time qualifier position while Yankun Zhao is the 1st reserve. Unfortunately Connor Howe's struggles prevented us from getting 3 quotas here.

 

Men's 1500m (3 quotas): David La Rue and Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu are 18th and 19th in the World Rankings and both in position to qualify through the World Rankings. No other Canadians are close to qualifying based on time. Again, it's too bad Connor Howe wasn't on form.

 

Men's 5000m/10000m (1 quota each): Ted-Jan Bloemen is 5th in the distance rankings and should easily qualify in the 5000m and also likely the 10000m. No other Canadians are close to qualifying.

 

Men's Team Pursuit (No quota): We've talked enough about this.

 

Men's Mass Start (2 quotas): Antoine Gelinas Beaulieu is 5th in the World Rankings while Jake Weidemann is 10th. Looking good to qualify the max quota.

 

Overall, Canada would be able to send a maximum of 7 male speed skaters to Milan.

 

Women's 500m (3 quotas): Beatrice Lamarche is 9th in the World Rankings and Carolina Hiller-Donnelly with her 24th place ranking is also in position to qualify through the rankings. Brooklyn McDougall is currently the first time qualifier. Should easily qualify 3 quotas here.

 

Women's 1000m (2 quotas): Beatrice Lamarche and Alexa Scott are 6th and 16th respectively in the World Rankings. Both should qualify. Maddison Pearman is actually in the last time qualifier position. However, since Italy didn't earn a quota by ranking or time and have an athlete on the reserve list, then the final quota goes to them by rule so Pearman is currently the first reserve instead.

 

Women's 1500m (3 quotas): Ivanie Blondin is 10th in the World Rankings, Beatrice Lamarche is 17th and Valerie Maltais is 21st. 3 quotas shouldn't be a problem.

 

Women's 3000m/5000m (3 and 2 quotas): Valerie Maltais, Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin are 2nd, 4th and 9th in the Distance World Rankings. The max quota for each event should be locked in already.

 

Women's Team Pursuit (Quota): 2nd in the World Rankings and 2nd in the time rankings. The Team Pursuit quota is locked in.

 

Women's Mass Start (2 Quotas): Ivanie Blondin and Valerie Maltais are 2nd and 3rd in the World Rankings. You can pencil in 2 quotas here.

 

Overall, Canada would be able to send a maximum of 8 female speed skaters to Milan.

[Topicmaster1010 5,327]

Canadian Olympic Curling Trials: Day 4 Results

 

 

Men

 

Draw 5

 

Jordan McDonald 6-8 Brad Gushue

Mike McEwen 9-7 Rylan Kleiter

Brad Jacobs 6-4 John Epping

Kevin Koe 5-4 Matt Dunstone

 

Team	W	L	W–L	PF	PA	EW	EL	BE	SE	S%	DSC
Matt Dunstone	4	1	1–0	34	22	21	16	8	6	91%	29.29
Brad Jacobs	4	1	–	29	20	18	14	9	2	88%	8.14
Brad Gushue	4	1	0–1	36	26	24	18	6	2	89%	18.80
Mike McEwen	3	2	1–0	32	34	20	20	6	1	86%	17.75
Kevin Koe	3	2	0–1	29	30	18	20	3	1	84%	47.68
Rylan Kleiter	1	4	1–0	29	40	18	23	3	0	86%	54.71
John Epping	1	4	0–1	26	32	17	22	3	0	90%	18.40
Jordon McDonald	0	5	–	25	36	19	21	3	1	83%	22.49

 

Women

 

Draw 5

 

Selena Sturmay 7-9 Kerri Einarson

Kayla Skrlik 5-6 Christina Black

Rachel Homan 10-3 Corryn Brown

Kate Cameron 3-5 Kaitlyn Lawes

 

Draw 6

 

Kaitlyn Lawes 7-8 Rachel Homan

Corryn Brown 3-8 Kate Cameron

Christina Black 7-9 Selena Sturmay

Kerri Einarson 6-5 Kayla Skrlik

 

Team	W	L	W–L	PF	PA	EW	EL	BE	SE	S%	DSC
Kerri Einarson	6	0	–	48	27	28	20	6	12	87%	18.25
Rachel Homan	5	1	–	61	30	30	20	3	12	90%	26.31
Kaitlyn Lawes	3	3	1–1	34	35	24	24	2	7	82%	31.75
Selena Sturmay	3	3	1–1	48	43	29	25	1	8	83%	32.97
Christina Black	3	3	1–1	36	41	23	25	3	6	79%	34.52
Kayla Skrlik	2	4	–	33	40	19	23	4	5	80%	23.12
Kate Cameron	1	5	1–0	32	49	24	24	5	8	78%	35.33
Corryn Brown	1	5	0–1	22	49	16	31	2	2	80%	32.44

Both Team Einarson and Team Homan have already clinched playoff spots. They'll got head to head tomorrow.

[intoronto 6,387]

Just curious on who everyone thinks would be the best mens team to represent Canada?

[orangeman 2,250]

1 hour ago, intoronto said:

Just curious on who everyone thinks would be the best mens team to represent Canada?

Perhaps unfairly, but I want a team with Olympic/Worlds experience. I'm rooting (mildly, because I'd be happy with a few others) for Jacobs. Wouldn't be worried with Gushue or Dunstone either. 

 

This is the same reason I'm rooting for Homan on the women's side, besides her being on a heater the last 2 years. She has 2 Olympic disappointments to make up for. However, I wouldn't actually be totally upset by Einarson if that's what happens. I think she has a good rink, and if she can beat Homan in a best of 3, then she obviously earns it. While I like Lawes, and she has 2 golds already, I don't think her rink is ready as a whole. 

Edited November 26 by orangeman

[Surlympics 1,139]

2 hours ago, intoronto said:

Just curious on who everyone thinks would be the best mens team to represent Canada?

Matt Dunstone's team - because Colton Lott is absolutely beautiful and I wouldn't mind watching him for two weeks straight haha

Edited November 26 by Surlympics

[NearPup 3,480]

Brad Jacobs has secured a spot in the men's final, there is no scenario left where he isn't in first place per Devin Heroux.

[Josh 11,492]

5 hours ago, intoronto said:

Just curious on who everyone thinks would be the best mens team to represent Canada?

Jacobs, only slightly. Then Gushue- Dunstone in some order, Dunstone has had a better season but Gushue has more experience on the world stage.