The Tournament of Hearts kicks off curling's busy season

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When the Scotties Tournament of Hearts opens on Friday night, it will begin the hectic stretch of curling events we're accustomed to seeing this time of year. Here's a roadmap of what's coming up:

Tournament of Hearts (Feb. 17-26 in Kamloops, B.C.): Kerri Einarson is going for her fourth consecutive Canadian women's championship, which would tie her with Colleen Jones (2001-04) for the longest streak ever. The Team Canada skip's main challenger is Ontario's Rachel Homan, who's trying for her fourth title and first in six years. The sentimental favourite is Manitoba's Jennifer Jones, who's chasing a record seventh title in her 17th appearance. The 48-year-old has played in more Scotties than any skip except Colleen Jones, with whom she's tied for the titles record.

The Brier (March 3-12 in London, Ont.): History could also be made at the Canadian men's championship, where defending champ Brad Gushue and Alberta's Kevin Koe will both be going for a record fifth title after Gushue defeated Koe in the final last year. Koe beat Brendan Bottcher in the final of their provincial qualifier, but Bottcher still got into the Brier as a wild card. The 2021 champ and three-time runner-up remains a top contender.

Women's world championship (March 18-26 in Sweden): Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni is shooting for her fourth consecutive world title. Canada has won just two of the last 13 women's worlds, and none since Homan and Jennifer Jones captured back-to-back titles in 2017 and '18. Einarson took bronze last year.

Canadian mixed doubles championship (March 21-26 in Sudbury, Ont.): O