World Women’s Curling Championship 2014: Contenders, challengers and long shots

The Women's World Curling Championship begins this weekend in Saint John, New Brunswick, with a field that will be dotted with unusual suspects and very likely dominated by two teams.

That's because some of the teams that you'd expect to see at this event will not be taking part due to their participation at the Sochi Olympics. That includes the reigning world champions from Scotland, skipped by Eve Muirhead. Along with her and her team's absence, Switzerland's Mirjam Ott is not in the field, nor is China's Bingyu Wang. While their respective federations split the Olympic and World Championship qualifying process (as did Canada), others did not. That means Olympic teams from Russia, South Korea and Sweden will be in this field.

Here's how the competition shapes up, split into three categories (season records indicated are according to CurlingZone.ca):

CONTENDERS

Canada, led by skip Rachel Homan, comes into this event off a perfect run at The Scotties, where the team won its second straight Canadian championship. They were untouchable in that event, running up a record of 13 and oh and beating Alberta's Val Sweeting, 8-6, in the final. A dominant run at nationals made up for the disappointment of falling short at the Canadian Olympic Trials, back in December. When this team plays with a focus, look out. At The Scotties, Homan didn't have to throw a single tenth end last rock and they outscored their opponents 107-54. "We were there last year at worlds and didn’t quite come home with the medal (bronze) we wanted,” Homan said after her Scotties win. “We want to go back and get that gold this time.” Rest of the field: You've been warned. Record this season: 38 and 15.

Sweden will be represented by the team that lost to Jennifer Jones and Canada in the gold medal game at The Olympics. Skipped by Margaretha Sigfridsson (who throws lead stones), it's a squad that more often than not gets great shooting from its fourth, Maria Prytz. This rink won the silver medal at last year's worlds and gold at last November's European Championship. As well, they took the silver at last season's Players' Championship, in Toronto. You get the picture. This is an excellent team that is always in the hunt. Record this season: 35 and 16.

These are the only two teams that should be considered a lock for a playoff spot. The other two playoff teams will come from a crowded group of 'challengers.' It's a group filled with teams with potential and unknown x factors.

CHALLENGERS

Switzerland will be skipped by Binia Feltscher, who led a disappointing Swiss team at the 2010 world Championships, finishing with a record of 3 and 8. However, this is a completely different team and some see it as the country's second-best, behind Mirjam Ott's squad. Feltscher won the Red Deer Curling Classic last November, although not against what you would consider a top flight field. Record this season: 35 and 18.

South Korea's Olympic team, skipped by Jisun Kim is one to look out for, despite a disappointing performance at Sochi. With a record of 3 and 6, the powerful Olympic field was just too much for her team, but with a weaker field here, Kim could grab a playoff spot and maybe even the bronze. This is a team with World Championship experience, finishing Heather Nedohin's gold medal chances with a playoff win against Canada in 2012. Record this season: 34 and 22.

Russia's Anna Sidorova had a disapointing Olympic run as well, finishing near the bottom of the standings with a record of 3 and 6. Still, hers is a team that shows flashes of competitiveness, finishing second in a deep field at the International Bernese Ladies' Cup, in January, and stands 8th in the World Curling Tour's 'Order Of Merit' standings. This team has curled a lot this year, though, and could be fatigued. Record this season: 67 and 35.

Denmark's entry is skipped by Madeleine Dupont, who shot fourth stones for Angelina Jensen at both the 2007 (they won the silver medal) and 2009 (bronze) World Championships as well as the 2010 Olympic Games. Dupont also skipped two Danish teams to bottom-of-the-table finishes at world championships in 2004 and 2005, but she was just a teenager then. Record this season: 11 and 5.

Allison Pottinger represents the United States for the eleventh time at a World Championship, bringing back the same team that she skipped to a 7 and 4 record and a tie-breaker berth (they lost to Canada) in 2012. Pottinger's team is here despite losing the U.S. Championship to Nina Spatola. A superior record in the Order Of Merit Standings gave Pottinger the nod. Record this season: 32 and 18.

Germany is not represented by Andrea Schopp and that is a surprise. Instead, three team members who played for her are here, led by Imogen Oona Lehmann, who viced for Schopp at three World Championships. Schopp was reportedly booted from the team after a curling coup. There's experience here, but without Schopp, they are playing without a woman who's won two world championships as well as Olympic gold.

Kerry Barr skips the Scottish side at this year's championship, much to the chagrin of Muirhead, whose team is easily the best in that country. Apparently, Muirhead wanted to defend the title she won last year, but the Scottish Curling Federation opted to see if there's depth to their program and held a playdown. Why bet against Scotland having good teams behind Muirhead's? Hannah Fleming was favoured to win the Scottish championship and wound up losing only two games all week, both to Barr. Record this season: 11 and 11.

LONG SHOTS

In this group are the teams most likely to struggle and will probably be found at the bottom of the standings when the week is done. They are: Latvia, The Czech Republic and China.

OVERVIEW

Homan and Sigfridsson have the two teams that are most clearly worthy of being named favourites in this tournament. It won't be a surprise if there is a big gap between the top two teams and the rest of the field. It's a scramble for bronze behind these two.

PREDICTION

Canada's golden year continues. Rachel Homan over Margaretha Sigfridsson in the final.