Roar Of The Rings: Who will curl for Canada at the 2014 Olympics?

Beyond a doubt, trying to handicap the teams in the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials (Roar Of The Rings) is a lot like trying to rank your spouse's best qualities. Look, they're all great.

In a field studded - absolutely studded - with star power and ability, there is precious little to choose between 8 of the very best men's curling teams in Canada and 8 of the very best women's.

Each has made their way to Winnipeg for this tournament - with a chance to represent Canada at the Sochi Games in February - by doing something extraordinary.

For some, it was winning the Canada Cup in either 2011 or 2012. Others were among leaders in seasonal standings for the 2012-13 season. Some were among the leaders over two seasons, between 2011 and 2013. And some fought their way through the grind of the Pre-Trials event, in Kitchener, last month.

So, what we have here is just about the finest line-up of curling teams to grace a sheet of ice since, well, since the last Olympic trials in 2009.

Unlike a Brier or Scotties or even a World Championship, we do not need to look at the schedule to see who has a favourable one. Because every game played will be excruciatingly tough, with no light touches. Can't say anyone will benefit from starting with three or four games against lesser foes. Doesn't happen here.

Here now, a ranking of the teams (identified by their skip) competing for the right to wear the maple leaf at the Olympics, beginning with the men:

1) Glenn Howard lost the final the last time he competed in this event and is looking at likely his last kick at an Olympic can. No one delivers last rocks better and few teams can boast the variety of skills displayed by he and his teammates. Brent Laing and Craig Savill may not be as powerful a pair of sweepers as some other front ends, but they are the best of the bunch when it comes to shooting. Vice Wayne Middaugh can still move mountains with his upweight missiles. Odds: 3-2.

2A) Kevin Koe seemingly has slipped a little since his breakthrough win at The Brier in 2010. But is that really the case? He made the national final, once again, in 2012 and then lost an incredibly close and hard-fought Alberta final to Kevin Martin in 2013. Koe seems to save his best for games against Howard, drawing the button with his last rock in the 2010 Brier win and singlehandedly keeping his team in the final against Howard in 2012. The Koe foursome won the Canadian Open just two weeks ago. Odds: 2-1.

2B) Kevin Martin won the final over Howard in 2009 and there is one big difference between that team and his present squad. John Morris is no longer the vice, replaced by Dave Nedohin. Nedohin is a superb shooter, but used to throwing skip stones. Does he have the clean-up abilities needed at vice? Is he just the tonic needed to rescue a team that imploded at last year's Brier? Should be. Odds: 2-1.

4) Brad Jacobs is the reigning Canadian men's champion and a world silver medallist. He and his team were sensational in winning last Spring's Brier but have not been exactly top-notch this year. Their win at the Pre-Trials over Brad Gushue came after a sloppy loss to Morris the night before and that had Jacobs fuming. They obviously have all it takes to get this done. Can they return to Brier form? Odds: 5-2.

5) Jeff Stoughton. Like Howard, this is probably Stoughton's last chance for Olympic glory. There is no skip smarter or more gracious than the three-time Brier champ. He's come up just short in his two previous Trials attempts, finishing second in 2005 and third in 2009. If his vice, Jon Mead is on top of his game all week, you can move this team up the rankings. When Mead is on, he's tops. Odds: 3-1.

6) Mike McEwen's Manitoba rink is probably the best men's team out there to not have made it to a Brier. Consistently one of the top performers on the tour, they are always in the hunt. Trouble is, it seems, each time they get close to a big win, it's the little mistakes that come back to haunt them in the end, as in the final of the 2013 Players' Championship. Can they put it all together here? Odds: 5-1.

7) John Morris is now skipping a rink that was formerly skipped by Jim Cotter. With Cotter remaining as the fourth shooter, Morris can call the game and remain at the vice position - one at which he is entirely proficient. They played well at the Pre-Trials in Kitchener and may be rolling at just the right time. They certainly feel they are and love the way the new line-up is playing. Odds: 7-1.

8) John Epping is not nearly as well known to casual fans of the sport, but the Toronto skip has had his moments. Qualifying by being a top performer over a two-year period (narrowly besting Jacobs in that regard), his crowning achievement so far has been beating Howard in the final of the 2012 Players' Championship. They are not a light touch, but have to be considered the longest shots here. Odds: 10-1.

On the women's side, the margin of error will be razor thin as well.

1A) Rachel Homan had her coming out party at the 2013 Scotties. After going undefeated at the Ontario Championships, she and her teammates lost just once at nationals, beating Jennifer Jones in the final. A bronze medal at the Worlds did not sit well with them and history has shown that if Homan plays with something to prove, look out. She is probably the most intense skip in the competition as well as the most talented. Odds: 3-2.

1B) If Homan is the most intense of the skips, 4-time Scotties champ Jennifer Jones is not far behind. She had her team altered for precisely this moment. A very public split with vice Cathy Overton-Clapham was brought on when Jones and her mates decided to go in a different direction at that position. Enter Kaitlyn Lawes, who even skipped this team while Jones was on leave last season. This team is tops on the women's money list for the year, suggesting they are ready. Odds: 3-2.

3) Stefanie Lawton appears in her third straight Olympic Trials. Expected to be a Scotties champion by now, that title has eluded her in two appearances at nationals. However, she's shown the ability to win the big one, having earned a berth to the trials by winning The Canada Cup in 2012 (her third Canada Cup win) as well as The Players' Championship that same year. Lawton's team added two more grand slam wins during the 2012-13 season. Odds: 4-1.

4) Heather Nedohin's team doesn't appear to be on the upswing as the trials get underway. Their best finish at a major event this season was a semi-final loss at the "Shootout At The Saville Centre," and that was back in September. Still, they have to be respected, with a 2012 Scotties Championship to their credit. At times, Nedohin and vice Beth Iskiw appear to be too much at odds, but when they sing from the same hymn book they make beautiful music. Odds: 9-2.

5) Renee Sonnenberg has been through the curling wars awhile, now. Skipping Alberta in two Scotties (1999 and 2001) she just about made it three, losing the 2013 Alberta final in the 11th end of the final when Kristie Moore drew the button. Sonnenberg blasted through the pre-trials with a 5 and 1 record, smashing Kelly Scott, 12-4, in the game that earned her an invitation to Winnipeg. If there is a so-called longshot that could win it all, it's her. Odds: 6-1.

6) Sherry Middaugh is appearing at her fourth Olympic Trials and looking for her first real national breakthrough. An Olympic berth would finally put her at the top of the women's game in Canada, after four bronze medals in four Scotties appearances. Odds: 7-1.

7) Chelsea Carey's rink earned their berth at the trials by being one of the better teams on the tour for the two seasons previous to this. This year, against teams in this field, they have struggled, with a 3 and 6 record against the likes of Homan, Jones, Sweeting and Nedohin, at major competitions. Odds: 8-1.

8) Val Sweeting is not going to garner a whole lot of love from 'Joe Average Curling Fan.' Not as well known as the others in the field, she had a crackerjack pre-trials run, complete with a 6-4 win over Scott, to earn a berth here. She has a Scotties appearance under her belt (2010) and recently beat Homan in a game at a grand slam event in Saskatoon. Odds: 10-1.

Team profiles can be found at the Roar Of The Rings website by clicking here.