Can you remember the last time a curling rink from the North had a shot at playing for a spot at the Winter Olympics?

Kerry Galusha canSA国际影视传媒檛 and she figures she, along with her rink of Sarah Koltun, Margot Flemming and Jo-Ann Rizzo will be the first to get that opportunity.

In order to do that, Galusha and company will have to work their way from the ground up. Literally.

The Yellowknife-based rink has been invited to play in what Galusha called a SA国际影视传媒減re-pre-trialSA国际影视传媒� bonspiel next month in Ottawa. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 one of eight skips that will do battle in the hopes of moving on to the second stage of qualification in Nova Scotia in October.

Galusha said the whole thing was a surprise when they received the letter in late July and not even on the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 radar.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was actually talking with Darren Moulding (third for Brendan Bottcher) and he said SA国际影视传媒榊ouSA国际影视传媒檙e pre-trial, arenSA国际影视传媒檛 you?SA国际影视传媒� and I told him I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e got a letter from Curling Canada just after that inviting us to play in Ottawa and we accepted it.SA国际影视传媒�

In a normal year, there would be just one pre-trial qualifier for the top teams not already qualified. The winners of the Tim Hortons Brier and Scotties Tournament of Hearts in the three years leading up to the Olympic trials, along with the winners of the Canada Cup in that same time frame, are given automatic spots in the main event with teams from the pre-trial qualifier earning their way into the big show.

But the last 18 months havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been normal and Curling Canada decided to open things up in order to give as many teams as possible a chance to qualify.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese are new events that fit our mandate of trying to be as inclusive as possible for as many teams as possible to be part of the Olympic qualifying process as we come out of the pandemic,SA国际影视传媒� stated Katharine Henderson, Curling CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 chief executive officer, in a press release on Aug. 10.

The first rung on the ladder sees Galusha take on seven other rinks in the nationSA国际影视传媒檚 capital beginning on Sept. 22. If Galusha and company finish inside the top two, they will move on to the actual pre-trial event in Liverpool, N.S., in October. The top two from that will get the chance to compete for the plane ride to Beijing in 2022 at the Olympic trials in Saskatoon in November.

Kevin Koe, GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 older brother, is already in the main event on the menSA国际影视传媒檚 side.

Galusha likes her rinkSA国际影视传媒檚 chances of getting one of those two spots in Ottawa.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e played most of those other rinks but not all of them,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e all pretty even in the world rankings (Galusha sits 43rd) and anyone can be in the top two, especially because itSA国际影视传媒檚 early in the season and itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be about who can be the most consistent.SA国际影视传媒�

Practice time comes into play and with the Yellowknife Curling Centre not having its ice in until later in the fall, that means itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about finding places to play.

Galusha said the ladies will be hitting the road in the coming weeks in order to get in whatever action they can under their belts.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e playing the StuSells (Oakville) Tankard (Ont., in early September) and weSA国际影视传媒檝e registered for the KW Fall Classic womenSA国际影视传媒檚 event,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淧laying in an spiel without getting any ice can be dicey but even sliding and getting back that muscle memory can make a huge difference so spending three weeks in Ontario and playing will be good.SA国际影视传媒�