Owen Purcell’s Halifax Curling Club rink will compete at the Home Hardware Canadian Curling Pre-Trials event in Wolfville, beginning Oct. 20. From left are lead Ryan Abraham, second Gavin Lydiate, lead Luke Saunders and Purcell. Photo by ContributedArticle contentOwen Purcell hopes to find the hot hand again at next week’s Home Hardware Canadian Curling Pre-Trials event in Wolfville.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentEight men’s and women’s teams are playing to earn the final spot in the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, Nov. 22–30 in Halifax.Article contentArticle contentPurcell sees a wide-open field for the pre-trials event that begins next Monday. Purcell will be joined by Braden Calvert (Winnipeg), Scott Howard (Navan, Ont.), Mark Kean (Woodstock, Ont.), Jayden King (London, Ont.), Jordan McDonald (Winnipeg), Jean-Michel Valleyfield, Que.) and Sam Mooibroek (Whitby, Ont.).Article contentArticle content“It’s very interesting, the Olympic trials are a little different because you have two, three, maybe four teams that are definite favourites,” said the Halifax Curling Club skip. “But for something like this, everybody is so good that if anybody gets hot, they can take it. So, it’s going to be a dog fight.”Article contentEarlier this year, the Purcell rink had the hot hand when they won their first Nova Scotia Tankard and ended the province’s 19-year playoff drought at the Montana’s Brier. They qualified for the playoffs with a 5-3 record but fell 10-6 in the Page 3/4 game to eventual Brier champion Brad Jacobs.Article contentThe Purcell rink, which includes third Luke Saunders, second Gavin Lydiate and lead Ryan Abraham, is ranked 14th in the Canadian Team Ranking System. Mooibroek holds the ninth spot, followed by Howard (11), Calvert (12) and Kean (13).Article contentThe women’s draw features Danielle Inglis (Ottawa), Kayla MacMillan (Victoria), Nancy Martin (Martensville, Sask.), Beth Peterson (Winnipeg), Myla Plett (Edmonton), Krista Scharf (Thunder Bay), Selene Sturmay (Edmonton) and Ashley Thevenot (Martensville, Sask.).Article contentArticle contentThe Purcell team opens its seven-game schedule on Monday against Mooibroek (9 a.m.) and Howard (7 p.m.). On Oct. 21, the team takes on Menard (9 a.m.) and Calvert (7 p.m.). The team faces McDonald (2 p.m.) and King (7 p.m.) on Oct. 22 and wraps up preliminary play on Oct. 24, against Kean (2 p.m.).Article contentThe Halifax Curling Club rink has a 6-8 record through three events, Stu Sells Oakville, AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins and Stu Sells Toronto.Article contentHowever, a solid week of practice has the team in a good spot, said Purcell.Article content“We’ve been playing some tough teams and maybe some results not quite going our way, but we’ve honestly had a really good week, especially this last week, of training, preparing for the pre-trials. Looking forward to this week, just carrying through some of the things we have been working on.”Article contentWith the Purcell rink qualified for Curling Canada’s U27 NextGen program, the team changed the lineup with 23-year-old Lydiate replacing veteran Scott Saccary.
Purcell looking for hot hand again at Canadian curling pre-trials in Wolfville
