When the John Morris rink was eliminated from contention at the in Ottawa, Tyrel Griffith香蕉视频直播檚 Olympic dream didn香蕉视频直播檛 end there.

The Kelowna curler will be among 36 curlers on 18 teams vying for the title early next year in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The champion will represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea when mixed doubles curling makes its Olympic debut.

Griffith will team up with Sherry Just from Prince Albert, SK for the trials which run Jan. 2 to 7.

Griffith, who plays lead for the Morris rink, was initially paired with Emma Miskew but was suddenly without a partner when Miskew won the women香蕉视频直播檚 Olympic berth earlier this month with Rachel Homan香蕉视频直播檚 team.

That香蕉视频直播檚 when Just reached out to Griffith and piqued his interest.

香蕉视频直播淚 wasn香蕉视频直播檛 even sure I was going to play (mixed doubles), I was kind of burned out after the trials, but in talking to Sherry, she kind of re-lit the fire,香蕉视频直播� said Griffith, 31, a five-time B.C. men香蕉视频直播檚 champ. 香蕉视频直播淚t was nice to see someone who was excited, Sherry was really keen to do it, so I香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to working together with her.香蕉视频直播�

For Just, the feeling is mutual.

香蕉视频直播淚 had it in my head a few months back that it would be great to play with Tyrel,香蕉视频直播� said Just, 31. 香蕉视频直播淚 needed Homan to win and Morris to lose (at the trials),香蕉视频直播� she added with a laugh, 香蕉视频直播渁nd that香蕉视频直播檚 what happened.

Just arrived in the city this week and the two new teammates began practising at the Kelowna Curling Club.

Originally from Winnipeg, Just has gained her share of mixed doubles experience over the last three seasons. She also plays women香蕉视频直播檚 fours with the Mandy Selzer rink in Saskatchewan.

Griffith has played in just two mixed doubles events, including the Wall Grain Classic in November 2016 with Miskew when the two finished second only to Morris and Homan, earning a qualifying spot into the trials.

Despite having limited experience in doubles and the differences in rules and strategies between the two games, Griffith said it is, after all, still curling.

In doubles, only five rocks per team are played per end and the games typically last from 90 to 100 minutes.

香蕉视频直播淵ou still have to make the shots like any other game of curling,香蕉视频直播� Griffith said. 香蕉视频直播淭he execution (in doubles) is really crucial, especially early in the end. One or two shots can end up being the game-changer. The game is fast and I think the entertainment value for fans is really high. It香蕉视频直播檚 a whole lot of fun to play, too.香蕉视频直播�

With the sting of losing out at the men香蕉视频直播檚 trials in Ottawa early this month gradually fading, Griffith is excited to have another chance at fulfilling his Olympic dream.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a gruelling season already, it means more work and practising over Christmas, but it香蕉视频直播檚 too good an opportunity to pass up, most people never get a chance like this,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 another good shot at getting to the Olympics, these only come along so often.香蕉视频直播�

At the trials, the teams will play a single round-robin within their pools, with eight teams moving onto the playoffs.

The final will be played Sunday, Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. Pacific time.