Eight Ends: Canada Cup men’s division primer
The drive to the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials goes into high gear with guaranteed spots up for grabs at the Canada Cup.
Our double shot of Eight Ends this week profiles the seven men’s teams and seven women’s teams set to compete in this year’s event, which starts Wednesday in Brandon, Man.
Winners of the Canada Cup will also join last season’s national champions Kevin Koe and Chelsea Carey, as well as Americans Heath McCormick and Jamie Sinclair, on Team North America for the Continental Cup taking place in Las Vegas in January.
It’s a stacked field on the men’s side featuring seven of the top eight teams on the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit. Only No. 3 Niklas Edin of Sweden isn’t around for obvious reasons. Even with Edin cleaning up on the circuit with five tour wins — including the WFG Masters and Tour Challenge — all seven men’s teams here have captured at least one title this season.
Team Koe is the lone men’s squad that has punched their ticket to the Olympic Trials, meaning it’s still wide open for everyone else to bypass the tour points chase and ensure a direct berth here.
1st End: Team Carruthers
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Reid Carruthers |
 Braeden Moskowy |
 Derek Samagalski |
 Colin Hodgson |
Hometown: Winnipeg
WCT OOM rank: 4th
2016-17 win: Canad Inns Men’s Classic (Portage la Prairie, Man.)
Carruthers, the 2011 Brier and world champion with Jeff Stoughton, has emerged as a top skip in his own right wrapping up last season claiming the Humpty’s Champions Cup. They’ve been rock solid of late qualifying for the playoffs in their past five events including their win in Portage.
2nd End: Team Epping
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 John Epping |
 Mat Camm |
 Patrick Janssen |
 Tim March |
Hometown: Toronto
WCT OOM rank: 5th
2016-17 wins: Challenge de Curling de Gatineau (Gatineau, Que.) & CookstownCash (Cookstown, Ont.)
Team Epping has had their ups and downs, but when that streak runs hot, watch out. As seen at the Meridian Canadian Open last season, when they’re on they’re capable of rolling right through to the championship.
3rd End: Team Gushue
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Mark Nichols |
 Charley Thomas |
 Brett Gallant |
 Geoff Walker |
Hometown: St. John’s, N.L.
WCT OOM rank: 1st
2016-17 win: Stu Sells Toronto Tankard
Despite missing their ace Brad Gushue due to a hip/groin issue to start the season, they’ve still played a full slate of tournaments and qualified for the playoffs in all seven events to maintain their No. 1 ranking on the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit. Thomas returns to the fold for the Canada Cup before rejoining his own squad for the Boost National.
In case you’re wondering how Gushue is progressing, we’ll see him next week at the Boost National in Sault Ste, Marie, Ont.:
4th End: Team Jacobs
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Brad Jacobs |
 Ryan Fry |
 E.J. Harnden |
 Ryan Harnden |
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
WCT OOM rank: 7th
2016-17 win: College Clean Restoration Curling Classic (Saskatoon)
The reigning Olympic champs can lock up their Trials spot here and push themselves one step closer to defending that gold medal. It’s still a long road and they’re prepared to take it patiently one step at time if need be. Team Jacobs will also want a strong showing here heading into their hometown event next week at the Boost National.
5th End: Team Koe
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Kevin Koe |
 Marc Kennedy |
 Brent Laing |
 Ben Hebert |
Hometown: Calgary
WCT OOM rank: 2nd
2016-17 wins: Shorty Jenkins Classic (Cornwall, Ont.) & Red Deer Curling Classic (Red Deer, Alta.)
Team Koe earned their Olympic Trials spot winning the Canada Cup a year ago and can spoil the party by successfully defending the title. They’ve had disappointing results missing the playoffs at the WFG Masters and Tour Challenge, however, a win in Red Deer last week turned things around.
6th End: Team Laycock
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Steve Laycock |
 Kirk Muyres |
 Colton Flasch |
 Dallan Muyres |
Hometown: Saskatoon
WCT OOM rank: 8th
2016-17 win: Direct Horizontal Drilling Fall Classic (Edmonton)
Team Laycock might be the bottom seed of the seven-team tournament, however, they’re still one of the top teams in the world. Laycock upsetting the field wouldn’t be a huge shock as they’ve proven they can hold their own over the past few years.
7th End: Team McEwen
| SKIP | THIRD | SECOND | LEAD |
 Mike McEwen |
 B.J. Neufeld |
 Matt Wozniak |
 Denni Neufeld |
Hometown: Winnipeg
WCT OOM rank: 6th
2016-17 win: DEKALB Superspiel (Morris, Man.)
Last but not least (because we’re going in alphabetical order here), the 2014 Canada Cup winners — and finalists last year — look to capture another, this time in their skip’s birthplace.
After strong starts the last two years, it was unusual to see them struggle for a stretch this season missing the playoffs in three consecutive events. They appear to be back on track now qualifying in their past three including a title win just over a week ago at the DEKALB Superspiel.
8th End: Outlook
If consistency is key then look no further than Team Gushue. However, is that enough to get them past this tough field minus their superstar skip? There really is no clear favourite here and with little room for error it’ll come down to whomever can charge out of the gate first and stay one step ahead of the pack. At least none of them will have to worry about Edin at this one.