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WINNIPEG -- Jennifer Jones zipped up her red jacket with the word Canada on the front of it and couldnt stop smiling. The veteran Winnipeg skip finally earned the right to represent Canada at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia next year with an 8-4 victory over Sherry Middaugh in the Canadian Curling Trials final Saturday night. "Its pretty cool," Jones said with a laugh when asked what it was like to wear the jacket. "Love it. Yup, yup, cant wait for more." The 39-year-old has curled for 28 years, winning four Canadian championships and gold at the 2008 worlds and bronze in 2010, but never came close to wearing the maple leaf at the biggest sporting event. This was her third Trials event, and the first time she even made the playoffs. "This is one of the best, if not the best, moments of our curling careers," Jones told the partisan crowd of 8,565 at MTS Centre during the medal presentation. Jones is supported by third Kaitlyn Lawes, long-time second Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen and alternate Kirsten Wall. "We worked so hard for three years and its one game and it comes down to a couple of shots here and there and today we made them," Jones later told reporters. "Its hard to believe. But my team played outstanding." Officer and Jones began curling together in 1992, with Officer taking a four-year break to go to school and move to Brandon. "Its pushing 20 years," a teary-eyed Officer, who curled 99 per cent, said. "Absolutely, were totally like sisters. " "Its just so amazing to share it with her and to share it with Kaitlyn and Dawn, too. We just have such great dynamics on this team. We just love playing with each other." McEwen joined the rink in 2008 and Lawes in 2010. Middaugh, 47, who curls out of Coldwater, Ont., hasnt finished higher than third at a Scotties Tournament of Hearts national championship, but did win one of five Canada Cup events. Her rink includes third Jo-Ann Rizzo, second Lee Merklinger, lead Leigh Armstrong and alternate Lori Eddy. Jones had defeated Middaugh 9-7 in this weeks Roar of the Rings round-robin play. While Jones ended the round robin 6-1 and earned a bye into the final, Middaugh opened 1-3 and then finished 4-3, beating Winnipegs Chelsea Carey in a tie-breaker and then reigning Canadian champion Rachel Homan of Ottawa 10-4 in the semifinal. "The final itself isnt a highlight, obviously, but the week itself was, considering that we werent considered one of the favourites," Middaugh said. In the final clash of veterans, Jones scored two three-enders. For her first triple points, Jones capitalized on a Middaugh mistake in the second end. Middaugh was heavy on a draw and went through the house. Jones then used her last rock to make a double takeout. "We put it in a good spot and Jennifers probably forced to take one and then it could be a totally different game," Middaugh said of the end. Middaugh made a hit and roll for two in the sixth, needing a measurement for the second point to close the gap 4-3. But in the seventh end, with Middaughs last rock sitting on the button, Jones used the hammer for a hit for three to go up 7-4. Jones curled 91 per cent, while Middaugh was 78 per cent. The long-time curlers are also connected off the ice. Jones is a lawyer for National Bank Financial and her partner, Brent Laing, is second for Glenn Howards rink. She and Laing are parents to a one-year-old daughter, Isabella. Middaugh is a bookkeeper and married to Wayne Middaugh, the third for Howards rink. Jones started to choke up when she talked about her mother, Carol, looking after Isabella all week as the little one was sick. Laing said theyll get the logistics figured out so he can support Jones in Russia. "Its super exciting," Laing said. "Nobody deserves it more than these four girls. And nobody works harder than they do and nobody has prepared better than they have. "Ive been a part of it for the last two years and I can honestly say that Ive never met a curling team that worked so hard at the game on and off the ice. "Sometimes you get what you deserve and thats always fun to see. And these girls got today what they deserved." Cheryl Bernard represented Canada at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, winning a silver after a loss to Sweden. On the mens side of the Trials, an Olympic dream moved a step closer to reality for John Morris, as he handed his former skip a ticket home. And Kevin Martin said he had no one to blame but himself. Morris and Brad Jacobs will square off in the mens final Sunday. "Either my first or second one in six, that was the game-breaker," said Martin. "We force them to one there, weve got all the momentum going into seven." Instead, Martin lost 7-5, letting Morris score a deuce in six and another in eight, then losing the hammer in nine when he failed to blank on an open hit. It was a sweet win for Morris, who took over as skip this year on Jim Cotters B.C. rink with the Olympics in his sights. Cotter moved to third, although he still throws fourth rocks. "It feels great, its been a real grind of a year . . . We seem to be playing our best curling right now and Im just real proud of the guys," he said. He gave full marks to Cotter. Martin said he was surprised at the shots Cotter made. As the strategist, Morris watched his former skip all week and put a rock in the one spot in nine where Martin had nosed one earlier in the round robin. Martin, who was trying for his fourth trip to the Olympics, kept his composure but said this will be his last trials. A frustrated Marc Kennedy, Martins second, couldnt hide his feelings as he smashed his broom into shards in the hallway after he left the ice. Lead Ben Hebert said Martin kept them in the hunt all week (they lost only once to Jacobs). "Kevin was the best player here all week, standing on his head just to keep us in it, thats the reason we were 6-1, and he didnt play good today," he said, adding that he isnt giving up on a return trip to the Olympics, after winning gold with Martin in 2010. "The game should have been over after five or six and we let them off the hook." Morris, who was also part of that 2010 gold-medal team, said they knew they werent favoured to win. "We didnt mind the underdog tag and we knew what we were capable of." As for the future of the team if they dont beat Jacobs Sunday, Cotter said that remains up in the air. "Weve talked about the future and who knows," he said. "Were focusing on this moment here and now and what our game plan is going to be tomorrow. Were just going to go out and try and play our best game." Their best game will be needed against Brier winner Jacobs, who swept the field in the round robin, handing Martin his only loss, to move directly to the final. "We just need to keep doing what weve been doing," said Jacobs, who practised Saturday. "Everyone is throwing the rock great on this team . . . We just need to come out and perform like weve performed all week and let the chips fall where they may." Tony Gonzalez Jersey . Lineup news, Fantasy and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES St. Louis Blues – After rolling the San Jose Sharks for seven goals, for the second time in a week, the Blues have a bunch of players on hot streaks. Ricardo Allen Jersey . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. http://www.officialatlantafalconsfootball.com/authentic-logan-paulsen-jersey-womens . -- Kansas City Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar will have Tommy John surgery that will sideline the pitcher for the season. Alex Mack Jersey .com) - The Dallas Mavericks had a five-game winning streak snapped last time out, but theyll try to get back into the winners circle Sunday evening when the Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to American Airlines Center. Matt Ryan Jersey . "Ive still got it," Seattles ace said with a sly grin. Riding that fastball carrying a little more zip, Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night. On the verge of a brilliant shutout and first complete game since Aug.While NHL players are in Sochi preparing for the Olympic schedule to begin, league officials are already working on a decision regarding participation for the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea. According to the Globe and Mail, a decision between the NHL and the Players Association should come within the six months. "I can tell you, (a decision) shouldnt take all that long," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. "Its part of a broader discussion with the players association about what were doing internationally. That discussion is under way. I would anticipate a fairly quick resolution with respect to the Olympics - six months." The decision to participate in Sochi came just eight months before the Games due to the lockout that shortened the 2012-23 season to 48 games. Daly added that success at these Games will be determined on the competitiveness of the tournament and injuries to players. "Player injury is an important factor. In Torino, in 2006, we had a couple of key players get injured and not be able to help their NHL teams down the stretch and that left a sour taste in the heads of a lot of our owners. In Vancouver, we were almost injury free, so it was a totally different experience," Daly told the Globe and Mail. "There are a lot of metrics that go on in the Olympic Games and well do a post-Olympic report, but Im not sure thheres anything thats absolute in terms of - well, if we hit so many eyeballs, were coming back or not coming back.dddddddddddd Its going to be more of a touch and feel thing." The report indicates the International Ice Hockey Federation would like to make inroads in the Asian market but Daly doesnt believe the NHL would have as much to gain in the near future. "Youre never going to ignore the Asian market," added Daly, "its very important. But I also dont view it as a realistic short-term objective to make an impact in the Asian market. Its more of a long-term objective for the sport generally." While Daly concedes the players enjoy participating in the Olympics and there is no bigger stage for the sport, the league would prefer to bring back the World Cup of Hockey as a best-on-best tournament and hold it on their terms. "The players who get to participate really enjoy the opportunity and the players who dont get the opportunity enjoy the time off in February. So from a players perspective, its a very player friendly event," Daly told the Globe and Mail. "Having said that, there are a lot of negatives that come along with the Olympics. The fact is, were guests here. Its not our tournament. In terms of making it as good as it can be, we really dont have control over that. There are positives and negatives, with everything." 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