Trials next month

KITCHENER, Ont. Air Max Plus Outlet . – The field is now set for the Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials next month in Winnipeg. The final two spots on both the mens and womens side were wrapped up in Kitchener this past week with a few surprising teams, especially on the womens side – taking the next step in their curling careers. The biggest one came from Val Sweeting and her Edmonton rink, who upset two-time Scotties winner and former world champion Kelly Scott in the second qualifier. "Based on where we were sitting coming in, we knew we had a good shot, we had a good start to the season and we just knew we had to play well," said Sweeting after the biggest win of her career. Joanne Courtney is the second on the team – throwing third rocks – and says she thought the team was finally ready to make the next step going into the week. "Weve actually been playing quite consistently, having decent results on tour. We were close. We werent winning, we werent making semis, but we felt we were playing consistently and starting to play well," said Courtney."Its the biggest game any one of us has ever played in our entire lives and we were able to go out there, stay together and put together a game that was good enough to win." Renee Sonnenberg of Grand Prairie, Alberta also advanced to the Trials by defeating Scott in the first qualifier. The 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, Shannon Kleibrink, and the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, Cheryl Bernard, were both unable to make it to the qualifying matches. On the mens side, it was more of what people expected. John Morris and his new rink from Kelowna, B.C., formerly led by Jim Cotter, who still throws skip stones, dominated all week, going undefeated.  The defending Brier champ Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie rink topped Brad Gushue of Newfoundland, 7-6 in the final qualifier. "It feels like weve been here for a month, it really does," said Jacobs. The event was a tough one for the team, having to play in the second qualifier after losing a sloppy game to Morris in the first, but Jacobs said thats just how they do things.  "We bounce back really, really well and I just think its because we all have the same goal in mind and we all want to win so badly that well do whatever it takes," said the 28-year-old skip. With their Brier dream already crossed off, Jacobs says theyre ready for another accomplishment – Olympic gold. "The Olympics and the Brier for me as far as goals, wanting to win and importance is 50/50. Weve won the Brier; this [Olympics] is the next step. We want this really bad," he said. "You etch your mark in history when you win the Brier, but I think you do that even moreso when you win an Olympic gold medal."    Gushue knows what it means to be an Olympic champion. He won it as a 25-year-old in 2006, alongside veteran Russ Howard, Mark Nichols and Jamie Korab. Fast-forward eight years later, Gushue has a completely new – and younger – team. Third Brett Gallant, 23, second Adam Casey, 24, and lead Geoff Walker, 27, make up one of the youngest squads in curling and Gushue says it will take time to click. "This team wasnt probably ready to win this year anyway. Were still young, we still make stupid mistakes and it cost us this week," he said. Having said that, Gushue likes the path theyre on. "I think were only going to get better. I think there are a lot of teams out there right now that probably are on the downside of the longevity of their teams," said the owner of a Menchies Frozen Yogurt franchise. "I think theres a lot of upside in our team and what we can do. Were going to regroup from this and learn from it and try to get a little bit better." Its easy to see curling is going through a transitional period with younger teams like Jacobs and Rachel Homan quickly rising through the ranks. Yet a lot of the top rinks still have skips who are in their 40s or 50s, namely Glenn Howard, Kevin Martin and Jeff Stoughton. "There are a lot of good, young players [in the game], fortunately for me I have three of them on my team and Im not that old myself," said Gushue. Sweetings rink is a youthful group as well but Courtney doesnt believe being young is an advantage when it comes to curling. "There are two sides of the coin there," said the 24-year-old. "The older teams have a lot more experience in this type of setting – the arena, being on TV, being micd, all those type of things. I dont know really if age plays a ton." The Roar of the Rings Olympic Trials run from Dec. 1-8 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg with complete coverage on TSN and TSN2. Vapormax Scontate . Appearing on TSN 690 Monday afternoon, Mike Babcock said he had conversations with both P.K. Subban and Carey Price about those on-ice traits during Hockey Canadas summer orientation camp. Mike Babcock: McGill experience, P. Vans Saldi .ca! Hi Kerry, The recent issues in the Boston-Pittsburgh game have highlighted a number of officiating, game control, and player sportsmanship aspects.ATLANTA -- Kirk Hinrich made all the right moves for the Chicago Bulls in the final minute of the game. Not so much for Jeff Teague and the Atlanta Hawks. Hinrich buried six big free throws down the stretch and Teague had a couple of costly turnovers as the Bulls held on for a 107-103 victory at Atlanta on Tuesday night. Mike Dunleavy scored 22 points for the Bulls, who have won six of seven. Joakim Noah had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer finished with 17 points and 11 boards. Dunleavy also had eight rebounds and four assists. He was covered in ice bags as he sat slumped at his locker after playing all but nine seconds in the game. "I appreciate (coach Tom Thibodeau) giving me that nine-second breather at the end of the half," Dunleavy said with a laugh. "That made a big difference." The Bulls won after trailing by 14 points in the first quarter. "They put us in a hole; we fought out of it," Dunleavy said. "We just had to battle the whole game." Since Jan. 1, Chicago is 12-1 when holding its opponent under 90 points. No other team in the league has kept as many opponents under 90 in that span. Teague had 26 points for the short-handed Hawks, who have lost nine of 10. Shelvin Mack scored 17. The Bulls led most of the second half but never pushed the advantage to double figures. "I think they really wanted that game today," Noah said of the Hawks. "We really wanted that game, too. It wasnt pretty at times. Im just happy we were able to come out with the win." DeMarre Carrolls fast-break basket gave Atlanta a 100-99 lead, but Dunleavy answered with a layup. With 1:03 remaining, Carroll sank a 3-pointer to give Atlanta a 103-101 lead. With 43.2 seconds remaining, officials reviewed and confirmed a questionable foul called on Carroll on Hinrichs 3-point attempt. Hinrich made the three free throws to put Chicago in front again. Noahs steal from Teague got the ball back for the Bulls with 20 seconds remaining. Atlantas Kyle Korver stole the inbounds pass, giving the Hawks a chance to take the lead, but Teague stepped ouut of bounds behind the basket. Air Max 270 Saldi. Hinrich then made two free throws. Noah stripped Mike Scott of the ball on Atlantas next possession, setting up another foul shot by Hinrich. Coach Mike Budenholzer and the Hawks argued that Noah fouled Scott. "Do I think he was fouled?" Budenholzer asked after the game. "I just looked at it, and yes I do." Scott said Noah hit his arm but added "Cant do nothing about it now." Budenholzer also protested Carrolls foul on Hinrich but said after watching the replay he agreed with that call. Hawks All-Star forward Paul Millsap missed his second straight game with a right knee contusion and also will be held out on Thursday at Boston. The Hawks also were without centres Pero Antic (stress fracture, right ankle) and Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder), who had filled in following Al Horfords season-ending torn pectoral muscle. Budenholzer said morale isnt a problem. "I thought our group competed at a very high level for 48 minutes tonight," Budenholzer said. "Thats what were looking for, and thats what is most important to us." Korver hit 3-pointers on Atlantas first two possessions, extending his NBA record to 125 straight games with a 3. Korver added a third trey a couple minutes later, and his strong start seemed to spark the Hawks, who jumped to a 26-12 lead. Chicago closed the deficit with a 13-2 run in the final minutes of the opening period and start of the second quarter. The Bulls led 54-51 at halftime. Mack sank a short jumper with about 2 seconds remaining in the third period. D.J. Augustin, who had 10 points, then banked in a half-court shot for Chicago, lifting the Bulls to an 80-75 lead heading to the final period. NOTES: Glenn Frey of the Eagles, who played at Philips Arena on Monday night, had a second-row seat near midcourt. ... NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving had a front-row seat and tipped his cap when called out by the P.A. announcer and cheered by fans. ... Bulls guard Jimmy Butler missed his second straight game with bruised ribs. ... Korver had 16 points and Carroll had 13. ' ' '