Canadian curlers are gearing up for a crucial competition as they aim for a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The 2025 Home Hardware Canadian Curling Pre-Trials begin Monday at Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. This event marks the first step for 16 teams seeking qualification for the national curling trials next month, which will determine Canada’s representatives for the Olympics in Italy. With high stakes, the atmosphere is charged with ambition. "Oh … we can see it, and we want it, for sure," said Danielle Inglis from Ontario, expressing her desire to compete in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games. "Even just playing in the Olympic trials would be an incredible event for us to play in from a visibility standpoint and the experience. That would be huge." To reach that goal, teams must first secure victories in Wolfville. The two champions of the pre-trials will earn a place in the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, scheduled for November 22-30 in Halifax. These trials will ultimately select the four-player teams that will represent Canada at the Olympics. The pre-trials feature eight teams from both the men’s and women’s divisions, all of which qualified based on their rankings in the 2024-25 Canadian Team Ranking System. Teams had to meet the same eligibility criteria as those who qualified for the Montana’s Trials. Among the women’s teams are notable competitors such as Beth Peterson from Winnipeg, Kayla MacMillan from Victoria, and Nancy Martin from Martensville, Saskatchewan. On the men’s side, teams include Jordon McDonald from Winnipeg and Sam Mooibroek from Whitby, Ontario. Inglis highlighted the competitive nature of the field, stating, "Honestly, it’s a really good field out there. And especially the way some of these teams have been performing this year, too. There’s no one you can take lightly out there." The pre-trials format mirrors that of the Montana’s Trials. Each gender will have a full round-robin competition, with the top three teams advancing to the playoffs. Daily draws will take place from Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. (all times ET). The second- and third-place teams will face off in a sudden-death semifinal on Friday, with the winners competing against the first-place team in a best-of-three championship series. Inglis, who has experienced success in previous competitions, emphasized the importance of confidence in curling. "Starting back at the Scotties, we always had the belief that we could win," she said. "But when you finally get the results that go along with your belief, that’s what really creates that confidence to know not only can you be there and hang but you can also win." As the teams prepare for the pre-trials, they are focused on performing well and advancing to Halifax, with hopes of ultimately competing in Italy. "We’re feeling prepared and ready. So there’s no reason why we can’t win," Inglis added, reflecting the determination shared by many competitors in this pivotal event.