The Heartbeat

Apologies for the shortened (and late) holiday edition.

Check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

It may be a little late to receive a gift for Christmas, but you can still support our athletes by purchasing some great gifts, like:

Survival bracelet from bobsledder Jesse Lumsden. Click here. Back in stock - but won't last long.
Toque (variety available) from luger Sam Edney. Click here.
CanFund calendar. Click here.
(Don't mean to omit other athletes, these are the three I saw tweeted today. Feel free to tweet or email me and I will add it to the newsletter.)

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Upcoming Events in Canada

Speed Skating Selection Trials
Dec 28-Jan 3
Calgary, AB
More info

Halfpipe World Cup
January 3
Calgary, AB
More info

Moguls World Cup
January 4
Calgary, AB
More info

Olympic Sports on Television:

Hopman Cup - Tennis Mixed Event
Canada's CP Athletes of the Year: Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard represent Canada
Saturday December 28 4:30am Canada vs Australia Sportsnet ONE (replayed 3pm)
Sunday December 28 4:30am Canada vs Poland Sportsnet ONE (replayed 3pm)
Wednesday January 1 9pm Canada vs Italy Sportsnet ONE (replayed midnight and Jan 2 morn)
Saturday January 4 5am Final Sportsnet ONE (replayed 1pm)
full schedule: click here

Alpine Skiing
Sunday December 28  Bormio Downhill 7pm Sportsnet ONE (replayed SN Monday aft)
Saturday January 4 4am 1st run 7am 2nd run livestream cbcsports.ca Women's SL
Saturday January 4 4pm CBC highlights Women's SL

Bobsleigh/Skeleton
Friday January 3 2pm Men's Skeleton Sportsnet
Friday January 3 3pm 2-Man Bobsleigh Sportsnet
Saturday January 4 4pm  4-Man Bobsleigh Sportsnet
Saturday January 4 5pm Women's Skeleton Sportsnet
Sunday January 5 12pm Women's Bobsleigh Sportsnet

Ski Jumping
Wednesday January 1 8am livestream cbcsports.ca (Men's Germany)
Saturday January 4 8am livestream cbcsports.ca (Men's Innsbruck)
Saturday January 4 3pm CBC Women's Germany
Saturday January 4 5pm CBC Men's Germany
Monday January 6 10am Men's Bischofshofen

US Olympic Trials
For Olympic sports fans who love watching sports no matter which country is represented, US Olympic trials are being televised on NBC (I wish Canada was showing Olympic trials)
Saturday December 28 3pm Speed Skating
Sunday December 29 1:30pm Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined
Sunday December 29 3pm Speed Skating

Objectif Sotchi 
Saturday 2pm Radio-Canada

Other Events And Livestreams

Cross-Country Skiing Oberhof Tour de Ski
December 28-29
Germany
More info
Video highlight from day 1, click here Great Canadian result!
Cross-Country Canada Haywood report from day 1, click here.

The Heartbeat

Check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

It may be a little late to receive a gift for Christmas, but you can still support our athletes by purchasing some great gifts, like:

Survival bracelet from bobsledder Jesse Lumsden. Click here. Back in stock - but won't last long.
Toque (variety available) from luger Sam Edney. Click here.
CanFund calendar. Click here.
(Don't mean to omit other athletes, these are the three I saw tweeted today. Feel free to tweet or email me and I will add it to the newsletter.)

***************************************************************************

Upcoming Events in Canada

Snowboard Cross World Cup
December 20-21
Lake Louise, AB
More info

Biathlon - Canadian Olympic Trials
December 19-20
Canmore, AB
More info

Olympic Sports on Television:

Women's hockey
Canada vs USA 8pm Friday Dec 20 TSN2

Bobsleigh and Skeleton
Sunday December 22 12:30pm Sportsnet ONE 4-Man Bobsleigh
Sunday 1:30pm Women's Bobsleigh
Sunday 2:30pm 2-Man Bobsleigh

Alpine Skiing - Men's
livestream Sat 6:15am ET
Saturday December 21 3pm CBC Downhill
Sunday December 22 12pm, 3pm Sportsnet 7pm SN1 Giant Slalom

Ski Cross - Innichen
Saturday December 21 12:30pm, 5pm Sportsnet 7pm SN1
Sunday December 22 2pm Sportsnet

Alpine Skiing - Ladies
livestream Sat 4:45am ET
Saturday December 21 12:30pm, 5pm Sportsnet 7pm SN1
Saturday December 21 2pm CBC Downhill

Snowboard Cross Lake Louise
Saturday December 21 4:30pm CBC

Dew Tour - Breckenridge (replay)
Friday Dec 20 1pm Sportsnet Men's Snowboard Slopestyle
Dew Tour Highlight series on TVA Sports (various times on weekend)

Objectif Sotchi 
Saturday 2pm Radio-Canada

Slopestyle and Snowboard World Cup
December 22 2pm NBC (from Copper Mountain - Ski Slopestyle and Snowboard Halfpipe)

Other Events and Livestreams

Winter Universiade
December 11-21
Trentino, Italy
More info

Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill
December 21
Val d'Isere
More info
livestream cbcsports.ca 4:45am EST, televised

Ski Jumping World Cup Ladies
December 20-22
Germany
More info
livestream cbcsports Dec 21 5am

Ski Jumping World Cup - Men
Dec 20-22
Switzerland
More info

Alpine Skiing Men's Downhill
December 21
Val Gardena
More info
livestream cbcsports 6:15am

Alpine Skiing Men's GS
December 22
Italy
More info

Soccer Women's National Team
Canada vs Scotland
December 22
Brazil
More info

Slopestyle and Halfpipe World Cup
Dec 18-22
Copper Mountain, USA
More info
(on NBC on Sunday)

Ski Cross World Cup
Dec 21-22
Italy
More info

Aerials World Cup
December 21-22
Beijing, China
More info

Cross-Country Skiing
December 21-22
Italy
More info

The Heartbeat

Check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

***************************************************************************

Upcoming Events in Canada

Para Nordic Skiing World Cup
Dec 9-17
Canmore, AB
More info

Para Swimming Can-Am
December 13-15
Edmonton, AB
More info

Olympic Sports on Television:

Women's Hockey - Canada vs USA
Thursday Dec 12 9pm TSN

Bobsleigh and Skeleton
These are the times marked as live:
Friday December 13 10:30am (2-Man bobsleigh)
Friday December 13 3pm Sportsnet (Men's and Women's Skeleton)
Saturday December 14 10am Sportsnet ONE (2-Man bobsleigh)
Saturday December 14 2:30pm Sportsnet ONE (Women's bobsleigh)
Sunday December 15 10:30am Sportsnet ONE (Women's skeleton)
Sunday December 15 2pm Sportsnet (4-Man bobsleigh)
(replayed numerous times)
also livestream and videos at www.youtube.com/bobskeletv

FIS Snowboard Magazine
Wednesday Dec 11 1:30pm Sportsnet (replayed numerous times)

Ski TV
Saturday December 14 1:30pm Sportsnet  (replayed numerous times)

Alpine Skiing - Val d'Isere 
Saturday December 14 12:30pm Sportsnet (Men's GS)
replayed numerous times

Alpine Skiing - St. Moritz 
Sunday December 15 12pm Sportsnet (Ladies GS)
replayed numerous times

Dew Tour - Breckenridge
Saturday December 14 12pm Sportsnet ONE (Men's Snowboard Superpipe)
Saturday December 14 9:30pm Sportsnet ONE (Men's Ski Superpipe and Women's Snowboard Superpipe)
Sunday December 15 12pm Sportsnet ONE (Men's Ski Slopestyle)
Sunday December 15 3pm Sportsnet ONE (Men's Snowboard Slopestyle)
Saturday and Sunday 12pm on NBC

Ski Cross World Cup from Nakiska
Saturday December 14 2pm CBC (recorded last weekend)

Luge World Cup from Whistler
Saturday December 14 1pm CBC (recorded last weekend)

Objectif Sotchi 
Saturday December 12 2pm Radio-Canada

Other Events and Livestreams

Winter Dew Tour
December 12-15
Breckenridge, CO
More info

Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup
December 13-15
Lake Placid
More info

Luge World Cup
December 13-14
Park City, Utah
More info

Halfpipe World Cup
December 12-13
Finland
More info

Biathlon World Cup
December 12-15
France
More info

Cross-Country Skiing
December 14-15
Davos, Switzerland
More info

Snowboard Parallel World Cup
December 13-14
Italy
More info

Ski Jumping World Cup - Men
December 13-15
Germany
More info

Ski Cross World Cup
December 14-15
Val Thorens, France
More info

Alpine World Cup - Men
December 14-15
Val D'Isère, France
More info

Alpine World Cup - Women
December 14-15
St. Moritz, Switzerland
More info

Moguls World Cup
December 14
Finland
More info

Aerials World Cup
December 15
China
More info

Alpine World Cup - Ladies Slalom
December 17
France
More info

Winter Universiade
December 11-21
Trentino, Italy
More info

Beach Volleyball Durban Open
December 11-15
South Africa
More info
Competitors include Maverick Hatch and Christian Redmann

Women's Soccer

December 12 CAN vs SCO

December 15 CAN vs CHI

Decmeber 18 CAN vs BRA

Sao Paulo, Brazil

More info

Taekwondo Grand Prix

December 13-15

Manchester, UK

More info

The problem with curling is ...

[insert joke/smart aleck comment here: _______________]

The problem with curling isn't one of those typical arguments against curling, the problem with curling in Canada is that we only get to send one men's team and one ladies' team to the Olympics when numerous Canadian teams could win a medal.

Canada's Olympic representatives are decided this weekend at Roar of the Rings in Winnipeg. The format is a round robin tournament where all 8 teams play each other. The leader after the round robin gets a bye directly to the final. Second place and third place play in a semi-final.

Team Jennifer Jones and Team Brad Jacobs won their respective round robins and are one win away from going to their first Olympics.

Canada has won two curling medals at the Olympics since its return to the Games in 1998.

2010 - Kevin Martin (gold), Cheryl Bernard (silver)
2006 - Brad Gushue (gold), Shannon Kleibrink (bronze)
2002 - Kevin Martin (silver), Kelley Law (bronze)
1998 - Mike Harris (silver), Sandra Schmirler (gold)

Watching Roar of the Rings this week, it's heartbreaking to see the Olympic dream disappear for worthy teams. Some of them go from being a potential Olympic medalist to not being an Olympian at all.

There are other sports where we only send one team or one athlete, but in most of those cases, potential medalists don't stay home.

The good thing about curling is that it does have longevity. Unlike many sports where you reach your prime in your teens or early twenties, your Olympic dream can last for multiple Olympic cycles.

So where do the curling teams stand at day 6 of Roar of the Rings?

Still alive:
Brad Jacobs 7-0
Kevin Martin 6-1
John Morris 4-3 (Olympic gold at 2010 with Kevin Martin)

Eliminated:
Mike McEwen 3-4
Jeff Stoughton 3-4
Kevin Koe 2-5
Glenn Howard 2-5
John Epping 1-6

Who do we cheer for? Kevin Martin or John Morris who have been Olympians already (will anything ever compare to winning gold on home soil?) or Brad Jacobs who is a potential first time Olympian?

Still alive:
Jennifer Jones 6-1
Rachel Homan 4-3
Sherry Middaugh 4-3

Eliminated:
Chelsea Carey 4-3 (eliminated in tie-break vs Sherry Middaugh)
Val Sweeting 3-4
Heather Nedohin 3-4
Stefanie Lawton 2-5
Renee Sonnenberg 2-5

Upcoming Matches:
Friday evening: women's semi (Sherry Middaugh won 10-4 as I'm writing)
Saturday afternoon: men's semi
Saturday evening: women's final
Sunday afternoon: men's final

Rachel Homan won a bronze medal at the World Championships last year. It's amazing that a world championships medalist doesn't qualify for the Olympics. This wouldn't happen in most sports. The issue with curling is that just like there's more than one team who could medal at the Olympics, more than one team could medal at the World Championships.

So this weekend is Canada's Olympics. The athletes who are potentially Olympic medalists will be decided. Heartbreaking for the others.

The reason that we only get to send one team is that only 10 teams compete at the Olympics. They play a round-robin tournament. Having more teams (and really even if you have 16 teams or 20 teams), other countries should be represented if they are competitive.

Curling could have a pool type of draw like the World Cup in soccer to handle more teams. They could have qualifying like figure skating, where the best countries can send a second team. I like some curling teams from other countries. I can't imagine them not being at the Olympics. This issue isn't just a Canadian issue.

It's a fine line for a team of 4 to be compared to a team of 12. I guess we could argue that we could send two hockey teams and they could both medal - do we still have that much depth? Team USA could send two basketball teams.

The issue with curling is that we're not sending our top 4 curlers. Hockey, soccer and basketball choose the top players in the country to send.

So even if I understand why, only getting to send one team is the problem with curling for me.

Paralympic Games Announcement - 100 Days to Sochi

I attended the Paralympic Games announcement in Toronto this week to celebrate 100 days to Sochi. The major announcement that you may have already heard is that the Canadian Paralympic Committee will have unprecendented broadcast coverage of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. What this means is that there will be over 65 hours of television coverage and over 350 hours of online coverage. This is all thanks to four exclusive corporate partners:

Petro Canada

Canadian Tire

Air Canada

CIBC

You can read the full press release here.

Ten time Paralympic medallist Brian McKeever (seven times gold) was the master of ceremonies for the event and talked about "plans in place to share their stories, their accomplishments and their abilities. It's about connecting Canadians and inspiring them through a national broadcast." Future sledge hockey players from Mississauga Cruisers, Durham Steelhawks and Toronto Tornadoes demonstrated their abilities and their sport on the rink at Mattamy Centre.

Afterwards, I was on my way to the CBC building to attend George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (Milos Raonic was a guest) and I love the coincidence of me stumbling upon "The WhyNot Paralympic Torch" at Metro Hall.

"The WhyNot Marathon, the biggest single event in Canadian history to create awareness for the Paralympic Games and those with disabilities, symbolized a dream that lives on today -- to bring about an historic change in the way Canadians think about people with disabilities."

Also at Metro Hall was The Terry Fox Hall of Fame which "recognizes outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life with physical disabilities" which includes many Paralympians like Chantal Petitclerc and "Man in Motion" Rick Hansen.

The Heartbeat

Check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

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Upcoming Events in Canada

World Sledge Hockey Challenge
December 1-7
Toronto, ON
More info
Final televised on Saturday evening 7:30pm TSN

Curling Roar of the Rings - Olympic selection
December 1-8
Winnipeg, MB
More info
Televised throughout the week, see below

Alpine Skiing World Cup - Ladies
December 2-8
Lake Louise, AB
More info
livestream and television coverage - see below

Luge World Cup
December 2-7
Whistler, BC
More info
livestream and television coverage - see below

Women's Water Polo Canada Cup
December 2-8
Gatineau, QC
More info

Ski Cross World Cup
December 6-7
Nakiska, AB
More info
livestream and television coverage - see below

Diving Camo Invitation
December 5-8
Montreal, QC
More info

Volleyball Men's National Team vs alumni
December 6
Centre Sportif de Gatineau
More info

Para Nordic Skiing World Cup
Dec 9-12
Canmore, AB
More info

Olympic Sports on Television:

Alpine Skiing: Ladies from Lake Louise
Livestream and Television coverage:
Friday December 6 2:30pm cbcsports.ca livestream Downhill #1
Saturday December 7 2:30pm cbcsports.ca livestream Downhill #2
Saturday December 7 2:30pm CBC Television highlights of both runs
Sunday December 8 12:55pm cbcsports.ca livestream SG
Sunday December 8 2pm CBC and livestream SG highlights

Alpine Skiing: Men from Beaver Creek
Livestream and television coverage:
Saturday December 7 5pm ET Sportsnet Downhill (7pm ET SN ONE)
Sunday December 8 2pm ET Sportsnet (marked as DH but hopefully GS) 4pm Sportnset ONE
Sunday 5pm Sportsnet ONE is marked as GS (also 0pm ET Sportnset Ontario, East)

Ski Cross World Cup from Nakiska
Livestream on cbcsports.ca Friday and Saturday 3:30pm
Televised next week Saturday Dec 14

Luge World Cup from Whistler
Television coverage on CBC on December 14 1pm
Livestream coverage on cbcsports.ca:
Friday December 6:
- 6pm ET Doubles First Run (3pm PT)
- 7:15pm Doubles Second Run (4:15pm PT)
- 8:30pm Men’s First Run (5:30pm PT)
- 10pm Men’s Second Run (7pm PT)

Saturday December 7:
- 6pm Women’s First Run (3pm PT)
- 7:20pm Women’s Second Run (4:20 PT)
- 9:15pm Team Relay (6:15pm PT)

Figure Skating Grand Prix Final

Friday Dec 6 5:25am livestream on radio-canada.ca 

Saturday Dec 7 2:10am livestream on radio-canada.ca

Saturday Dec 7 1pm CBC Pairs and men’s Free Programs
Saturday Dec 7 4pm CBC Dance and Women’s Free Programs
Sunday Dec 8 noon NBC

Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup
Friday December 6 1pm ET Sportsnet ONE Men’s and Women’s Skeleton
Friday December 6 5pm ET Sportsnet West/Pacific Women’s and 2-Man bobsleigh
Saturday December 7 2pm ET Sportsnet Women’s and 4-Man bobsleigh
replayed throughout the weekend.

Curling Roar of the Rings - Olympic selection
Thursday December 4 1:30am TSN2 2:30pm TSN, 7:30pm TSN
Friday December 5 9:30am, TSN 7:30pm Women's Semi-Final TSN2
Saturday December 7 3am and 6am TSN2
Saturday December 7 2:30pm TSN Men’s Semi-Final (replayed midnight TSN2)
Saturday December 7 7:30pm TSN Women’s Final (replayed 3am TSN2)
Sunday December 8 2:30pm Men’s final preview, 3pm TSN Men’s Final

World Sledge Hockey Challenge

For full schedule and links to livestream or past games, click here.

Saturday December 7 7:30pm TSN2

Track Cycling World Cup
Sunday December 8 7pm Sportsnet ONE

Objectif Sotchi 
Saturday December 6 2pm Radio-Canada (and streamed online 13:55)

Other Events and Livestreams

Figure Skating Grand Prix Final
Dec 5-8
Fukuoka, Japan
More info

Biathlon World Cup
Dec 6-8
Hochfilzen, Austria
More info
livestream

Alpine Skiing World Cup - Men
Dec 6-8
Beaver Creek, USA
More info
Televised and livestreamed (see above)

Snowboard Cross World Cup
Dec 5-8
Montafon, Austria
More info

Cross-Country World Cup
Dec 6-8
Lillehammer, Norway
More info

Ski Jumping World Cup
Dec 6-8
Lillehammer, Norway
More info

Nordic Combined World Cup
Dec 6-8
Lillehammer, Norway
More info

Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup
Dec 6-7
Park City, Utah
More info

Speed Skating World Cup
Dec 6-8
Berlin, Germany
More info

Track Cycling World Cup
Dec 5-7
Aguascalientes, Mexico
More info

Judo Korea Grand Prix
December 5-6
Oral-Dong Jeju, Korea
More info
Livestream

Wrestling Commonwealth Championships
Dec 5-7
Johannesburg, South Africa
More info

Rugby Sevens Men's
Dec 7-8
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
More info
Livestream

ISAF Sailing World Cup
December 1-8
Melbourne, AUS
More info

Badminton Vietnam Open
December 2-8
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
More info