It害羞草研究所檚 a familar story for John Morris and his Okanagan teammates, only they害羞草研究所檙e hoping for a different ending this time around.

Four years ago, Morris, Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Jim Cotter and Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Tyrel Griffith went through the pre-trials to qualify for the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings in Winnipeg, and made it all the way to the final before losing to eventual Olympic gold-medallist Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Sunday at Credit Union Place, that trio害羞草研究所攚ith new second Catlin Schneider on board in place of Rick Sawatsky, along with coach Jody Epp害羞草研究所攖ook care of the first order of business, winning the men害羞草研究所檚 A-side qualifying game of the 2017 Home Hardware Road to the Roar Pre-Trials, shading Edmonton害羞草研究所檚 Brendan Bottcher 4-3.

With the victory, Morris, Cotter, Schneider, Griffith and Epp have booked their tickets for the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, beginning Dec. 2 in Ottawa害羞草研究所攖he city in which John Morris grew up, and to which he still has many ties.

害羞草研究所淚t feels awesome, to get back to an Olympic trials is quite a process, it takes a few years, so to get back there feels absolutely phenomenal,害羞草研究所� said Cotter, who abdicated last-rock duties to Morris on Friday, and the team went on to win three of its final four games with the juggled lineup.

害羞草研究所淎bsolutely, (the 2013 trials final loss to Jacobs) is a motivator. To get that close lights a fire under you, and you definitely want to put yourself back in that position. To be that close just makes you that much more hungry.害羞草研究所�

This is 2017-18!

害羞草研究所� Mardoqueu Targino (@fd_mardoqueu)

Morris, who won Olympic gold in 2010 playing third for Kevin Martin, said this team learned a lesson from the 2013 run to the final that it will put into play in Ottawa.

害羞草研究所淲e were sure determined in 2013, and I actually visualized playing my old team (Martin) in the final, and we actually played them in the semis,害羞草研究所� said Morris, who will be playing in his fifth consecutive Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings. 害羞草研究所淭here were just a lot of emotions in that game, and I think we let off the gas pedal a bit and we weren害羞草研究所檛 at our sharpest in the final. So, we害羞草研究所檙e going to prepare for a grind for the entire event and we won害羞草研究所檛 let up one inch until the very last rock is thrown. That will be the biggest difference.害羞草研究所�

And while the team has been inconsistent at the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Morris has no doubt that his team is ready to put on the Maple Leaf and travel to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

害羞草研究所淵ou bet,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been ready from the start of the season, and we害羞草研究所檙e just starting to put it all together right now. We害羞草研究所檙e a hundred per cent ready.害羞草研究所�

The Home Hardware Road to the Roar is the final qualifying event for teams to reach the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, Dec. 2 to 10 in Ottawa, where Canada害羞草研究所檚 four-player curling teams for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, will be decided.

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