CALGARY - The Continental Cup of Curling served as an incubator for mixed doubles curling. Luke Stocker Titans Jersey . The World Curling Federation believes the fast-forward version of the sport has matured enough for inclusion into the 2018 Winter Olympics.The WCF has asked the International Olympic Committee to add mixed doubles to the curling menu in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOCs programme commission is expected to decide on it and other proposed sports in April.A team consisting of just a male and female curler sliding out of the hack and chasing their own rocks down the ice is certainly a novelty for those who follow the sport.Mixed doubles has been part of the World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curlings format since the events inception in 2002.To give mixed doubles more legitimacy and thus more consideration by the IOC, the WCF introduced a world championship in 2008.The eighth world mixed doubles championship will be in Sochi, Russia, in April at the same time the IOC is meeting there.We have done our homework, WCF president Kate Caithness told The Associated Press in 2013. Hopefully it will appeal to the IOC.The worlds top curlers are invited to the Continental Cup and for most, its the only time they ever play mixed doubles.Team Canada and Team Europe square off in a second round of mixed doubles Saturday at this years event here.Its an interesting concept, said E.J. Harnden, who plays second for Olympic champion Brad Jacobs.Its fun for the audience and fans to watch. Theres a lot of action, big ends back and forth. I think the more we can get the sport of curling in the spotlight and on the international stage, more television coverage, more awareness is great for the game of curling.Swedish skip Niklas Edin isnt a fan of mixed doubles. The Olympic bronze medallist says if the IOC adds another curling event to the Winter Games, hed prefer full mixed gender teams.Its too much up to chance. You have no sweepers. Its boring to watch actually, Edin stated. I see how other teams like it, but I dont think its a good sport for the Olympics.You dont get good ice conditions when you dont have sweepers and you throw (to) one side (of the ice) all the time. You see so many big mistakes. The quality is too low.What mixed doubles has working in its favour for Olympic inclusion is traditional curling countries dont dominate it.Canadas stars dont have time to play in it because of their team commitments. Canada has won just one medal — a bronze — in the seven-year history of the world championship.Hungary won a world title in 2013 with Spain, New Zealand, France, and Austria also finishing on the podium in other years.Stremlaw says there are several arguments in favour of mixed doubles being in the Olympics. Thered be enough ice time to fit it into the 16 days of competition, it would add no more than two athletes per country and the mixed gender aspect would appeal to the IOC, which wants gender equality Olympic Games.The fact that it gives a chance to other curling nations to aspire to greatness, to aspire to podiums, the non-traditional ones, I think all of those things work in its favour in a massive way, Stremlaw said.The CCA hosts an annual mixed doubles championship to qualify a team for the world championship, but the discipline hasnt been a high priority for the organization.That would change quickly if the IOC gave it the green light for 2018. As a powerhouse country in the sport, there would be a sudden ramping up of mixed doubles in Canada.If it is a full-fledged Olympic sport, theres going to be massive changes I think in terms of training, what athletes are involved and certainly as the governing body, were going to have to make further investments, Stremlaw said. Were going to have pressure from Sport Canada, Own The Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee because theres going to be another Olympic medal.Well have to set up a whole new system that will ensure podium excellence.After winning gold in Sochi in February, Harnden and Jacobs third Ryan Fry could not imagine competing in mens curling and mixed doubles at the same Winter Games.I cant speak for everyone, but I would never try and play in both, Fry said. Its definitely two different sports.The strategy and the athleticism and the type of relationship you need to have with your partner is a completely different dynamic than you have with your team. Custom Titans Jerseys . TSN 1290s coverage begins with Hustler & Lawless at 3pm.  Rick Ralph hosts the Official Jets Pre-game Show at 5pm. Harold Landry Jersey . With their coach gone, they finally played offence the way he would have wanted. Amare Stoudemire made all seven shots in the first half, Anthony passed and shot well, and the Knicks shook off the surprising departure of their coach to rout the Portland Trail Blazers 121-79 on Wednesday night, snapping a six-game losing streak.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Okay Kerry, defend your boys. Why no call on Johnny Boychuks hit on Jonathan Toews in the second period on Saturday night?  And even though there was no call, isnt that hit exactly what the league is trying to get rid of?  Doesnt it warrant a suspension? Chris Schweitzer Chris: I only defend "the boys" when I believe they are right. Rest assured there have been many occasions when they have not been very happy with me for disagreeing with one of their calls through this column. In spite of this, I continually answer hockey fan questions with honesty, fairness and my expressed opinion. I am not in favour of any contact that is delivered to the head of an opponent; accidental or otherwise! I would like nothing better than to see it totally eliminated from the game for the sake of every players safety and future health. Even though the league is making an effort to provide for player safety the reality is that much more needs to be done on all fronts to change the dangerous hitting culture we see within the game. No one is going to change it prior to game six of the Stanley Cup Final. We have to deal with the current rules and a standard of enforcement, both on and off the ice, which can often be described as inconsistent. Jonny Boychuk certainly deserved a penalty for elevating his hands to deliver a hit on Jonathan Toews. That action (hand/gloves near head,) given the circumstance with which it was delivered, constitutes a minor penalty for roughhing. Bennie Logan Titans Jersey. Boychuks hands appear to contact the name plate on the back of Toews sweater and ride up. While I recognize that a two-fisted glove hit can do considerable damage when delivered with velocity, the positioning of both players just prior to the contact must be taken into account. The language of Rule 48 (Illegal Check to the Head) explains that, "in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered." Jonny Boychuk did not use his elbow to make contact with Towes upper body or head which, as we have seen in some cases, result in a suspension. I dont believe Boychuk targeted Toews head nor did he even intend to strike Toews as high as he did. In the fast action of real time, Jonathan Toews turned his body exposing his back to Boychuk in addition to lowering his posture considerably just prior to the hit being delivered. This last second alteration resulted in Boychuks illegal hand use on the intended hit to ride up and make contact to the neck and lower part of Toews head. A precedent has been set not to suspend a player when his opponent alters his body posture significantly just prior to a hit that results in some contact to the head. I see this play no differently. You and I can only hope that over the remaining summer months real consideration will be given to tightening up the standard which could greatly reduce contact to the head.  Cheap Ducks Jerseys Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Bruins Jerseys Cheap Sabres Jerseys Cheap Flames Jerseys Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys Cheap Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys Cheap Stars Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Oilers Jerseys Cheap Florida Panthers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Cheap Wild Jerseys ' ' '