The Heartbeat - the schedule of upcoming races and events in Canada & on TV

Exciting events are coming up in Canada in the next few weeks  including Canadian Championships in moguls, snowboard cross and ski cross. The World Snowboard Tour stops in Saint-Sauveur next weekend with the world's best snowboarders competing in the Ride Shakedown.

Canada's best swimmers will be competing in Victoria for their place on the national team.

Canada's Federation Cup team including Eugenie Bouchard, Aleksandra Wozniak, Sharon Fichman and Gabriela Dabrowski will be competing on the campus of Laval University against Serbia on April 19-20.

The 2014 rowing season begins in Australia and will be televised on Sportsnet ONE. The Figure Skating World Championships are finishing up this weekend while the Curling World Championships will be starting. Kevin Koe, Pat Simmons, Carter Rycroft and Nolan Thiessen will be representing Canada.

If you know of an event that could be featured in The Heartbeat, feel free to contact me suzanne[at]sportcafe.ca or via Twitter @olympichearts

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Upcoming Events in Canada

Moguls Canadian Championships
March 29-30
Apex Resort, BC
More info

Swimming Canadian Selections
April 2-5
Victoria, BC
More info
Click here for preview article.

World Snowboard Tour Ride Shakedown 
April 4-5
Saint-Sauveur, QC
More info
Click here for list of competitors that include Sebastien Toutant, Maxence Parrot, Charles Reid.

Snowboard Cross Canadian Championships
April 6
Big White, BC
More info

Ski Cross Canadian Championships
April 7-11
Sunshine, AB
More info

Tennis Federation Cup - World Group Playoff vs Serbia
April 19-20
Québec, QC
More info

Televised Events

Curling World Championhips (Men)
Saturday March 29 7am TSN Canada vs Denmark
Sunday March 30 7am TSN Canada vs China
Monday March 31 7am TSN Canada vs Czech Republic
Tuesday April 1 7am TSN Canada vs Norway (rebroadcast at 2pm)
Wednesday April 2 7am TSN Canada vs Sweden (rebroadcast at 2pm)

Figure Skating World Championships
live coverage on Sportsnet ONE between 11:30pm-8am
Friday March 28 3pm local CBC Dance Short Program
Friday March 28 7pm local Men's Free Program and Dance Short
Saturday March 29 4pm local CBC Dance and Women's Free Programs
Sunday March 30 2pm local CBC Women's Free Program and Gala
Sunday March 30 8pm local CBC Gala

Rowing World Cup
Sunday March 30 10am Sportsnet ONE
Monday March 31 9am. 11pm Sportsnet ONE


Other Events and Livestreams

Figure Skating World Championships
March 26-29
Japan
More info

Curling World Championships
March 29-April 6
China
More info

Gymnastic Challenge Cup
March 26-29
Qatar
More info

Rugby Sevens
March 29
Hong Kong
Canada vs Argentina Saturday 12:18am ET
Canada vs England Saturday 6:32am ET
More info

Table Tennis German Open
March 26-30
Germany
More info

Mountain Bike Panamerican Championships
March 27-30
Brazil
More info

Freestyle Ski Dumont Cup
March 28-30
Maine
More info

Snowboard Grandvalira Total Flight
March 27-29
Andorra
More info

Freeski Grandvalira Total Fight
April 3-5
Andorra
More info

Rowing World Cup
March 28-30
Australia
More info
Click here for preview article by Rowing Canada.

Judo Grand Prix
March 28-30
Turkey
More info

Swimming Open Water Grand Prix
March 29
Mexico
More info

Sailing World Cup
March 31 to April 5
Spain
More info

Badminton Indian Open
April 1-6
India
More info

The Heartbeat - schedule of upcoming races and events in Canada & on TV

The winter sports are in the process of wrapping up their seasons. Here is an abbreviated version of events being held in Canada, televised or livestreamed this weekend. Apologies for omissions and lack of links this week. After a week of holiday, I am now feeling under the weather.

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Upcoming Events in Canada

Cross-Country Skiing Canadian Championships
March 15-22
Cornerbrook, Newfoundland

Curling World Championships - Women
March 15-23
Saint-John, NB

Wheelchair Basketball Toronto Challenge - Women
March 18-21
Toronto, ON

Hockey Clarkson Cup - Women
March 18-22
Markham, ON

Snowboard Canadian Championships - Half-Pipe and Slopestyle 
March 19-23
Calgary, AB

Alpine Skiing and Para Alpine Skiing Canadian Championships
March 19-26
Whistler, BC

Wrestling Canadian Championships
March 20-23
Edmonton, AB

Short Track Speed Skating - National Team Selection
March 21-23
Richmond, BC

Fencing Grand Prix
March 22-23
Vancouver

Television Coverage:

Curling World Championships
Thursday March 20 1:30pm TSN Canada vs China
Thursday March 20 6:30pm TSN Canada vs Sweden
Friday March 21 6:30pm TSN Page Playoff
Saturday March 22 8am TSN Page Playoff
Saturday March 22 1pm TSN Semi-Final (5:30am TSN2)
Sunday March 23 11am TSN Bronze Medal Game
Sunday March 23 6:30pm TSN Gold Medal Game

Hockey Clarkson Cup
Sunday March 23 12am TSN2
Monday March 24 7:30pm TSN2

Long Track Speed Skating World Championships
Saturday March 22 2pm CBC
Sunday March 23 1pm CBC

World Cup Ski Racing
Sunday March 23 9pm Sportsnet

Figure Skating World Junior Championships
Saturday March 22 4pm CBC
Sunday March 23 2pm CBC

Figure Skating World Championships
3pm daily CBC starting on Tuesday March 25 to Saturday March 29
Gala on Sunday March 30 2pm CBC


Livestreams & Other Events

Diving World Series
March 20-22
Dubai

Biathlon World Cup
March 20-23
Oslo, Norway

Freestyle Skiing World Cup (Slopestyle)
March 21-22
Switzerland

Freestyle Skiing World Cup (Moguls and Ski Cross)
March 21-23
France

Long Track Speed Skating World Championships
March 22-23
Netherlands

Triathlon World Cup
March 23
New Zealand

The Heartbeat: Canadian Olympic sports schedule

It's a very busy week in sporting events being held in Canada including World Championships, Canadian Championships and International events.

Sports being televised include the Paralympic Games, alpine skiing, curling, short track speed skating, speed skating and figure skating.


Upcoming Events in Canada

Curling - Brier
March 1-9
Kamloops, BC
More info

Gymnastics - L'international Gymnax
March 6-9
Montreal, QC
More info

Festival Snowcrown Ski & Snowboard
March 10-15
Collingwood, ON
More info

Alpine Skiing Nor-Am Cup
March 11-16
Nakiska and Calgary
More info

Fast and Female Nor-Am Finals Champ Camp
for girls ages 9-19
March 11
Canada Olympic Park, Calgary
More info

Short Track Speed Skating World Championships
March 14-16
Montreal, QC
More info
see television schedule below
Event is sold out. Check their Facebook page in case some are released.

Athletics Indoor Open
March 14-16
Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard
Montreal, QC
Admission is free!
More info (and livestream)
Some of the confirmed athletes: 2012 Olympic 4x100m relay members (men and women's), Jessica Zelinka, Jenna Martin, Phylicia George, Taylor Milne
Click here for full entry list.
Click here for schedule

Biathlon Canadian Championships
March 11-16
Charlo, NB
More info

Speed Skating - Canada Cup #4
March 13-16
Calgary, AB
More info
Jan 14 tweet from @SSC_PVC:
Scheduling note: Canada Cup #4 is March 13-16 at @theolympicoval not March 4-9 as indicated at speedskating.ca


Trampoline Elite Canada
March 14-16
Kamloops, BC
More info

Cross-Country Skiing Canadian Championships
March 15-22
Cornerbrook, NF
More info

Curling World Championships (Women)
March 15-23
Saint John, New Brunswick
More info

Olympic Sports on Television

2014 Paralympic Games
March 7-16
Click here for full schedule

Curling - Brier
Friday March 7 9:30pm TSN Page Playoff 1 vs 2
Saturday March 8 4:30pm TSN Page Playoff 3 vs 4
Saturday March 8 9:30pm TSN Semi-Final
Sunday March 9 12pm TSN Bronze Medal
Sunday March 9 7pm TSN Preview; Final at 7:30pm

Alpine Skiing Men's GS & Slalom (Slovakia)
Saturday March 8 5pm and 9pm Sportsnet (GS)
Sunday March 9 11am & 4pm Sportsnet (Slalom)
(multiple encore presentations)

Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals Lenzerheide
Men's Downhill: Wednesday March 12 8pm EST Sportsnet (2pm Saturday SN ONE)
Ladies Slalom live: Saturday March 15 4am (1st Run) and 6:30am (2nd Run) cbcsports.ca
Men's GS live: Saturday March 15 5am (1st Run) and 7:30am (2nd Run) cbcsports.ca
Ladies Slalom and Men's GS TV: 1:30pm CBC
Ladies GS: Sunday March 16 4pm Sportsnet ONE (later on Sportsnet)

World Cup Ski Racing: Sweden 
Saturday March 15 4pm Sportsnet

Short Track Speed Skating World Championships
Saturday March 15 5pm CBC
Sunday March 16 4pm CBC (3pm online)

Speed Skating World Allround Championships
Saturday March 22 2pm CBC
Sunday March 23 2pm local CBC (1pm online)

Figure Skating Junior World Championships
Saturday March 22 4pm CBC
Sunday March 23 3pm local CBC (2pm online)

Figure Skating World Championships 
start on Tuesday March 25 3pm daily on CBC

Paralympic Schedule - Who to Watch and When

The Paralympic Opening Ceremony is Friday. Here's the television schedule, the livestream schedule as well as a more detailed schedule by sport.

Scroll down to the detailed schedule to see who is representing Canada in each event. Names in red are some of Canada's medal hopefuls and athletes to watch.

Follow Canada's Paralympians on Twitter by clicking here.


Television Coverage:
times local except where noted
(no live broadcasting - livestream listing below)

Friday March 7 Opening Ceremony
2pm EST (encore 11:30pm local) CBC; 6:30pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Saturday March 8
1pm EST CBC; 7pm Sportsnet

Sunday March 9 
2pm CBC; 8:30pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Monday March 10
4pm (11:30pm encore) CBC; 7pm Sportsnet (10pm EST Sportsnet ONE)

Tuesday March 11
4pm (11:30pm encore) CBC; 7pm Sportsnet (10pm EST Sportsnet ONE)

Wednesday March 12
4pm (11:30pm encore) CBC; 7pm Sportsnet (except West)

Thursday March 13
4pm (11:30pm encore) CBC; 7pm EST Sportsnet ONE (12am encore)

Friday March 14
4pm (11:30pm encore) CBC 9pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Saturday March 15
3pm CBC; 8pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Sunday March 16 Closing Ceremony
1pm (1am encore) CBC; 8pm EST Sportsnet ONE


Livestream (cbcsports.ca)

Friday March 7
10:55am Opening Ceremony (2pm encore)

Saturday March 8
12:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
1am Biathlon - Men's 7.5km & Women's 6km - Sitting
1am Alpine Skiing - Men's and Women's Downhill
3am Biathlon - Standing Visually Impaired
4am Ice Sledge Hockey - Canada vs Sweden
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin

Sunday March 9
12:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
1am Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 15km - Sitting
1am Alpine Skiing - Men's Super G
3:30am Cross-Country Skiing - Women's 12km - Sitting
4am Ice Sledge Hockey - Canada vs Norway
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin

Monday March 10
12:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
1am Alpine Skiing - Women's Super G
1am Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 20km, Women's 12km - Standing and Visually Impaired
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin

Tuesday March 11
12:30am Alpine Skiing - Men's and Women's Super Combined
12:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
1am Biathlon - Men's 12.5km & Women's 10km - Sitting
1am Cross-Country Skiing - 1km Sprint Free Qualification
3:30am Cross-Country Skiing - 1km Sprint Free Semifinals & Finals
4am Biathlon - Men's 12.5km & Women's 10km - Standing & Visually Impaired
6:30am Alpine Skiing - Men's and Women's Super Combined
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
7:30am Ice Sledge Hockey - USA vs Russia
11am Ice Sledge Hockey - Canada vs Czech Republic

Wednesday March 12
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
7am Ice Sledge Hockey - Playoff
11am Ice Sledge Hockey - Playoff

Thursday March 13
12:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
4am Sledge Hockey - Semifinals
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Round Robin
7am Alpine Skiing - Men's Slalom
10am Alpine Skiing - Men's Slalom
11am Sledge Hockey - Semifinals

Friday March 14
12am Wheelchair Curling - Tie Breaker
1am Alpine Skiing - Snowboard
1am Biathlon - Men's 15km & Women's 12.5km - Sitting
3:30am Biathlon - Men's 15km & Women's 12.5km - Standing & Visually Impaired
4am Sledge Hockey
5am Wheelchair Curling - Tie-Breaker
7am Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom
10am Wheelchair Curling - Tie-Breaker
10am Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom
11am Sledge Hockey

Saturday March 15
12:30am Alpine Skiing - Men's Giant Slalom
12:30am Wheelchair Curling - Semifinals
1am Cross-Country Skiing - 4x2.5km Mixed Relay
3am Cross-Country Skiing - 4x2.5km Open Relay
4am Sledge Hockey - Bronze Medal
4am Alpine Skiing - Men's Giant Slalom
6:30am Wheelchair Curling - Gold and Bronze Medal Games
11am Sledge Hockey - Gold Medal

Sunday March 16
12:30am Alpine Skiing - Women's Giant Slalom
1am Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 10km free, Women's 5km free - Standing & Visually Impaired
3:30am Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 10km, Women's 5km - Sitting
4am Alpine Skiing - Women's Giant Slalom
12pm Closing Ceremony

Detailed Schedule from Sochi Paralympic website:

Opening Ceremony

Friday March 7 livestream 10:55am
televised 2pm EST CBC 6:30pm Sportsnet, 11:30pm CBC
Canada's flag bearer is Sonja Gaudet, 2006 and 2010 gold medallist in curling

Alpine Skiing

Team Canada

Men's
Sitting: Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway
Standing: Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
Visually Impaired: Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson

Women's:
Sitting: Kimberly Joines
Standing: Alexandra Starker, Alana Ramsay, Erin Latimer
Visually Impaired: no Canadians

Snowboard Cross:
Standing: John Leslie, Ian Lockey, Tyler Mosher, Michelle Salt

Saturday March 8
1am Women's Downhill - Visually Impaired
1:15 Women's Downhill - Standing - Alana Ramsay
1:35 Women's Downhill - Sitting
1:50 Men's Downhill - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
2:10 Men's Downhill - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
2:50 Men's Downhill - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway

Sunday March 9
2am Men's Super-G - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
2:20 Men's Super-G - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
3:15 Men's Super-G - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway

Monday March 10
2am Women's Super-G - Visually Impaired
2:20am Women's Super-G - Standing - Alexandra Starker, Erin Latimer, Alana Ramsay
2:55am Women's Super- G - Sitting

Tuesday March 11
1:30am Women's Super-Combined Downhill - Visually Impaired
1:45am Women's SC Downhill - Standing - Alexandra Starker
2:10am Women's SC Downhill - Sitting
2:25am Men's SC Downhill - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
2:50am Men's SC Downhill - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
3:30am Men's SC Downhill - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau
7:30am Women's SC Slalom - Visually Impaired
7:40am Women's SC Slalom - Standing - Alexandra Starker
8am Women's SC Slalom - Sitting
8:10am Men's SC Slalom - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
8:30am Men's SC Slalom - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
9:05am Men's SC Slalom - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau

Thursday March 13
8am Men's Slalom 1st Run - Visually Impaired
8:15am Men's Slalom 1st Run - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
8:55am Men's Slalom 1st Run - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway
11am Men's Slalom 2nd Run - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
11:10am Men's Slalom 2nd Run - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
11:35am Men's Slalom 2nd Run - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway

Friday March 14
2am Men's Para Snowboard Cross - Standing - John Leslie, Ian Lockey, Tyler Mosher
2am Women's Para Snowboard Cross - Standing - Michelle Salt
8am Women's Slalom 1st Run - Visually Impaired
8:15am Women's Slalom 1st Run - Standing - Alexandra Starker, Erin Latimer, Alana Ramsay
8:40am Women's Slalom 1st Run - Sitting -  Kimberly Joines
11am Women's Slalom 2nd Run - Visually Impaired
11:10am Women's Slalom 2nd Run - Standing - Alexandra Starker, Erin Latimer, Alana Ramsay
11:30am Women's Slalom 2nd Run - Sitting - Kimberly Joines

Saturday March 15
1:30am Men's Giant Slalom 1st Run - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
1:55am Men's GS 1st Run - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
2:45am Men's GS 1st Run - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway
5am Men's GS 2nd Run - Visually Impaired - Mac Marcoux, Chris Williamson
5:20 Men's GS 2nd Run - Standing - Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe, Kirk Schornstein
5:55am Men's GS 2nd Run - Sitting - Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau, Kurt Oatway

Sunday March 16
1:30am Women's Giant Slalom 1st Run - Visually Impaired
1:55am Women's GS 1st Run - Standing - Alexandra Starker,  Erin Latimer, Alana Ramsay
2:35 Women's GS 1st Run - Sitting - Kimberly Joines
5am Women's GS 2nd Run - Visually Impaired
5:15am Women's GS 2nd Run - Standing - Alexandra Starker, Erin Latimer, Alana Ramsay
5:45am Women's GS 2nd Run - Sitting - Kimberly Joines

Biathlon

Team Canada

Standing: Mark Arendz, Caroline Bisson
Visually Impaired: Brian McKeever, Margarita Gorbounova

Saturday March 8
1am Women's 6km - Sitting
1:25am Men's 7.5km - Sitting
3am Women's 6km - Standing - Caroline Bisson
3:15am Men's 7.5km - Standing - Mark Arendz
4:05am Women's 6km - Visually Impaired - Margarita Gorbounova
4:44am Men's 7.5km - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever

Wednesday March 11
2am Women's 10km - Sitting
2:48 Men's 12.5km - Sitting
5am Women's 10km - Standing - Caroline Bisson
5:20am Men's 12.5km Standing - Mark Arendz
6:30am Women's 10km - Visually Impaired - Margarita Gorbounova
6:45am Men's 12.5km - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever

Friday March 14
2am Men's 15km - Sitting
2:20am Women's 12.5km - Sitting
4:30am Women's 12.5km - Standing - Caroline Bisson
5:58am Men's 15km - Standing - Mark Arendz
7:20am Women's 12.5km - Visually Impaired - Margarita Gorbounova
7:25am Men's 15km - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever


Cross-Country Skiing

Team Canada
Standing: Mark Arendz, Caroline Bisson, Louis Fortin, Brittany Hudak
Visually Impaired: Brian McKeever, Robbie Weldon, Margarita Gorbounova
Sitting: Colette Courgonje, Chris Klebl, Yves Bourque, Sebastien Fortier

Sunday March 9
2am Men's 15km - Sitting - Chris Klebl, Yves Bourque, Sebastien Fortier
4:30am Women's 10km - Sitting - Colette Courgonje

Monday March 10
2am Men's 20km Classic - Standing - Mark Arendz
3am Men's 20km Classic - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever
4:55am Women's 15km Classic - Standing - Caroline Bisson, Brittany Hudak
5:20am Women's 15km Classic - Visually Impaired - Robbie Weldon, Margarita Gorbounova

Wednesday March 12
2am Men's 1km Sprint Qualification - Sitting - Chris Klebl, Yves Bourque, Sebastien Fortier
2:20am Women's 1km Sprint Qual. - Sitting - Colette Courgonje
2:37am Men's 1km Sprint Free Qual. - Standing - Mark Arendz, Louis Fortin
2:57am Women's 1km Sprint Free Qual. - Standing - Caroline Bisson, Brittany Hudak
3:16am Men's 1km Sprint Free Qual. - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever
3:28am Women's 1km Sprint Qual. - Visually Impaired - Robbie Weldon, Margarita Gorbounova
4:30am Men's 1km Sprint Semifinals - Sitting - Chris Klebl, Yves Bourque, Sebastien Fortier
4:40am Women's 1km Sprint SF - Sitting - Colette Courgonje
4:51am Men's 1km Sprint Free SF - Standing - Mark Arendz, Louis Fortin
5:01am Women's 1km Sprint Free SF - Standing - Caroline Bisson, Brittany Hudak
5:12am Men's 1km Sprint Free SF - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever
5:22am Women's 1km Sprint SF - Visually Impaired - Robbie Weldon, Margarita Gorbounova
5:48am Men's 1km Sprint Final - Sitting - Chris Klebl, Yves Bourque, Sebastien Fortier
5:57am Women's 1km Sprint Final - Sitting - Colette Courgonje
6:06am Men's 1km Sprint Free Final - Standing - Mark Arendz, Louis Fortin
6:15am Women's 1km Sprint Free Final - Standing - Caroline Bisson, Brittany Hudak
6:24am Men's 1km Sprint Free Final - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever
6:33am Women's 1km Sprint Final - Visually Impaired - Robbie Weldon, Margarita Gorbounova

Saturday March 15
2am 4x2.5km Mixed Relay - Colette Bourgonje, Louis Fortin, Margarita Gorbounova, Chris Klebl
4am 4x2.5km Open Relay - Mark Arendz, Britanny Hudak, Brian McKeever, Robbi Weldon

Sunday March 16
2am Men's 10km Free - Standing - Mark Arendz, Louis Fortin
2:20am Men's 10km Free - Visually Impaired - Brian McKeever
3:23am Women's 5km Free - Standing - Caroline Bisson, Brittany Hudak
3:40am Women's 5km Free - Visually Impaired - Robbie Weldon, Margarita Gorbounova
4:30am Women's 5km - Sitting - Colette Courgonje
4:45am Men's 10km - Sitting - Chris Klebl, Yves Bourque, Sebastien Fortier


Sledge Hockey - Canada Games

Team Canada
Forwards: Brad Bowden, Dominic Larocque, Karl Ludwig, Billy Bridges, Greg Westlake, Ben Delaney, Anthony Gale, Tyler McGregor, Marc Dorion, Kevin Rempel
Defence: Graeme Murray, James Gemmell, Steve Arsenault, Adam Dixon, Derek Whitson
Goalkeeper: Benoit St-Amand, Corbin Watson
Click here for full schedule

Saturday March 8 2am Canada vs Sweden
Sunday March 9 3am Canada vs Norway
Tuesday March 11 9am Canada vs Czech Republic
Wednesday March 12 Classifications (5-8)
Thursday March 13 5am and 12pm Play-offs Semifinals
Friday March 14 Classifications (7-8) and (5-6)
Saturday March 15 5am Bronze Medal Game
Saturday March 15 12pm Gold Medal Game

Curling - Canada Games

Team Canada
Sonja Gaudet (flag bearer), Dennis John Thiessen, Ina Forrest, Jim Armstrong and alternate, Mark Allen Ideson
click here for full schedule

Saturday March 8
12:30am Canada vs Great Britain
6:30am Canada vs Russia

Sunday March 9
7:30am Canada vs Sweden

Monday March 10
12:30am Canada vs USA
7:30am Canada vs Norway

Tuesday March 11
7:30am Canada vs China

Wednesday March 12
12:30am Canada vs Korea

Thursday March 13
12:30am Canada vs Slovakia

Friday March 14
Tiebreakers

Saturday March 15
12:30am Semifinals
7:30am Bronze Medal Game
7:30am Gold Medal Game

Closing Ceremony

Sunday March 16
1pm (1am encore) CBC; 8pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Boycotting the Paralympics is a ridiculous conversation to be having

This post is more a greater than 140 character tweet/rant than a blog post.

The proper research is not being done to warrant it as a regular blog post but I am deeply saddened and angered by calls to boycott the Paralympics, that I feel I have to express it.

To start, there were calls to boycott the Olympics. I wrote my feelings about that issue last summer. You can read it here.

That boycott did not happen and for anyone to actually think a boycott of the Paralympics should happen is absurd.

Yes I understand that the situation is different. Last summer, the anti-gay rights issue was the reason for a call to boycott whereas now it's the Ukraine situation.

I didn't want the Olympics boycotted. I wanted the athletes to attend the Olympic Games and do what they have trained years or decades to do.

Go, compete, have sportsmanship towards your competitors and hopefully receive the same respect back, which includes everyone competing clean and with fair play (with these issues perhaps worthy of a separate post).

I did not want the athletes making political statements that could have potentially caused issues for them with the IOC and in the same vein, I did not want the athletes (in particular the Canadian athletes) welcoming the Russian President into Canada House and take selfies with him. I did not want the politics to enter the equation at all.

The Russian President was welcomed in a way that perhaps gave him more confidence and perhaps made him think that he was supported around the world. Is that a reason that the Ukraine situation is worsening in the past few weeks? I don't know.

All I know (or perhaps a better word is feel) is that the Paralympians should not be the ones to take the brunt of the IOC, the COC or the Olympians' missteps. Paralympians are perhaps the truest amateur athletes in the Olympic world.

Many Olympians are professional athletes, playing in the NHL or competing on the Dew Tour. Many have major sponsors or are part of the Own The Podium program.

Our Paralympians don't have that kind of support although I have been happy to see some of them in commercials on television.

Bottom line...if a boycott should have happened (which I don't believe it should have), then BOTH the Olympians and Paralympians should have been affected. It is ridiculous for this conversation to be happening now.

If the IOC continues to have countries like Russia or China host, who have major human rights issues, then perhaps the Paralympians should go first.

Let the purest form of competition and Olympic spirit go first to ensure that Presidents don't think once the Olympics are over, they can do whatever they want.