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The first major event of the Canadian Curling Associations Season of Champions comes from Camrose, Alberta with the Canada Cup of Curling. The top seven mens and womens rinks from across Canada will battle each other from December 3-7 with $140, 000 in prize money on the line. Along with the cash, winners will be granted spots in the 2017 Olympic Pre-Trials Road to the Roar, the 2015 Continental Cup and next years Canada Cup. The tournament is making its return to the curling circuit after taking a year off last season due to the Sochi Olympics. In 2012, Stefanie Lawton won in her home province of Saskatchewan while Manitobas Jeff Stoughton took the mens crown. Stoughton will not be back this time around. The Canada Cup has a round robin format with a semi-final and final round in the playoffs. All the action can be seen on TSN throughout the week. Both the mens and womens side are stacked with notable names that have had success in the past. Lets take a look at which rinks you should keep an eye on. Mens Preview Team Jacobs (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Lead: Ryan Harnden Second: E.J. Harnden Third: Ryan Fry Skip: Brad Jacobs Brad Jacobs - 1x Olympic, 1x Brier Champ Olympic champion Brad Jacobs and his talented rink won the country over last February in Sochi with their hard effort and infectious team personality. The 29-year-old Jacobs has won one tournament so far this year on the World Curling Tour - the AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic in September - and sits second on the Money List. Last week, the Jacobs rink lost to Mike McEwens Manitoba foursome in the final of The National in their hometown. The Canada Cup will be a key tournament for Jacobs squad as they begin the defence of their Olympic title. Team Morris (Calgary, AB.) Lead: Nolan Thiessen Second: Carter Rycroft Third: Pat Simmons Skip: John Morris John Morris - 1x Olympic, 1x World, 2x Brier Champ John Morris has played a very limited schedule with his new rink this season, only appearing in the two Grand Slam events. The former Olympic gold medal-winning vice will skip Team Canada at the Brier this year after Kevin Koe left to join a new team. This is the second year in a row that the 35-year-old is in charge of an entirely new rink and has proven he can create chemistry fairly quickly. Morris was able to lead Jim Cotters rink to the Brier final as well as the Canadian Curling Trials final in 2013-14. The Canada Cup could be this teams coming out party. Team Koe (Calgary, AB.) Lead: Ben Hebert Second: Brent Laing Third: Marc Kennedy Skip: Kevin Koe Kevin Koe - 1x World, 2x Brier Champ Kevin Koe left his Brier-winning rink in the off-season and assembled an entirely new one with the hopes it would give him the best chance at Olympic glory in 2018. The foursome has already won a tournament together, taking the Direct Horizontal Drilling Fall Classic in October and are seventh on the WCT Money List. Like any sport, it takes time for a new group of players to become comfortable together, but with the experience of these rock throwers, they might be able to figure things out quicker than most. Team McEwen (Winnipeg, MB.) Lead: Denni Neufeld Second: Matt Wozniak Third: B.J. Neufeld Skip: Mike McEwen Mike McEwen - Five WCT victories this season Mike McEwen has been on fire this season. The 34-year has already won five tournaments, including The National, and is number one by a large margin on the Money List. Coming off a solid 2013-14 campaign, many thought McEwen could break out this season and so far hes lived up to that expectation and then some. His Winnipeg rink has been together since 2007 and they could be ready to join the elite echelon of curlers on the circuit. Winning the Canada Cup would most definitely put them there if they arent there already. Team Gushue (St. Johns N.L.) Lead: Geoff Walker Second: Brett Gallant Third: Mark Nichols Skip: Brad Gushue Brad Gushue - 1x Olympic champ, Brier runner-up Brad Gushues reunion with his former Olympic-winning vice has already paid dividends in 2014-15. Gushue and Mark Nichols, who won Olympic gold back in 2006 in Turin, joined forces once again this season after Nichols left Jeff Stoughtons team in the summer. Alongside a young, powerful sweeping tandem of Geoff Walker and Brett Gallant, the pair won the first Grand Slam of the season, The Masters in Abbotsford, BC and sit in third place on the Money List. The 34-year-old Gushue and his East-coast rink could once again be considered one of the best in the game with the return of his old buddy. Team Howard (Penetanguishene, Ont.) Lead: Craig Savill Second: Jon Mead Third: Richard Hart Skip: Glenn Howard Glenn Howard - 4x Brier, 4x World, 1x Canada Cup champ Fifty-two-year-old Glenn Howard has had a so-so season to this point. The Beer Store manager brought back Richard Hart out of retirement hoping it could rekindle past success. So far he has yet to make it past a semi-final and sits in 11th place on the Money List this season. Despite being one of the oldest skips in curling, it appears Howard may attempt another run at an Olympic Games and winning the Canada Cup would get the ball rolling in that direction. Team Cotter (Vernon, B.C.) Lead: Rick Sawatsky Second: Tyrel Griffith Third: Ryan Kuhn Skip: Jim Cotter Jim Cotter - Brier runner-up Jim Cotter had a solid year in 2013-14 thanks in large part to John Morris joining the squad as a skip. Morris has now moved on and Cotter is back to throwing fourth stones. The West-coast rink has struggled so far this season, sitting 76th on the Money List. They also went winless at The Masters. Womens Preview Team Jones (Winnipeg, MB.) Lead: Dawn McEwen Second: Jill Officer Third: Kaitlyn Lawes Skip: Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones - 1x Olympic, 1x World, 4x Scotties, 2x Canada Cup Champ There has been no Olympic hangover for Jennifer Jones and her Manitoba rink. The Jones foursome struck gold in Sochi last winter and they havent missed a beat this season as they lead the WCT Money List with three victories already under their belt. The group has said they will commit four years for a shot at a second appearance at the Games and are plenty good enough to make it happen. Jones should be the favourite at the Canada Cup on the womens side. Team Homan (Ottawa, Ont.) Lead: Lisa Weagle Second: Joanne Courtney Third: Emma Miskew Skip: Rachel Homan Rachel Homan - 2x Scotties champ, World runner-up Twenty-five-year-old Rachel Homan is already a household name in the curling world and should continue to be one for years to come. Homan has won back-to-back Canadian championships and will look to continue her ascent up the ladder at the Canada Cup. The Ottawa rink could be even better this year with their new second, Joanne Courtney, who is one of the better sweepers in the game. They have yet to win a tournament this year, but sit fourth on the Money List. Team Sweeting (Edmonton, AB) Lead: Rachelle Brown Second: Dana Ferguson Third: Lori Olson-Johns Skip: Val Sweeting Val Sweeting - 1x Grand Slam champ, Scotties runner-up Last season, Val Sweeting surprised many people with her success. This season, it might be expected. Despite losing Joanne Courtney in the offseason to Team Homan, Sweeting hasnt missed a step, already winning The Masters and earning enough cash to rank second on the Money List. The 27-year-old almost won the Scotties last season and should continue to be a thorn in the sides of Homan and Jones at the Canada Cup. Team Nedohin (Sherwood Park, AB.) Lead: Laine Peters Second: Jocelyn Peterman Third: Amy Nixon Skip: Heather Nedohin Heather Nedohin - 2x Scotties Champ Heather Nedohin has struggled a little this year, as shes reached only one final on the World Curling Tour, but will still be in the mix at the Canada Cup. The 39-year-old has a new third this season as Amy Nixon has replaced longtime vice Beth Iskiw. Nedohin sits 19th on the Money List. Team Middaugh (Coldwater, Ont.) Lead: Leigh Armstrong Second: Lee Merklinger Third: Jo-Ann Rizzo Skip: Sherry Middaugh Sherry Middaugh - 1x Canada Cup champ, 4x Scotties bronze medalist Sherry Middaugh has won one event on Tour this season, the AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic in September, and sits a very respectable sixth on the Money List. The 48-year-old won the Canada Cup back in 2003 and almost represented Canada at the Olympic Games in 2014, but lost to Jones in the finals of the Canadian Curling Trials. Team Anderson (Saskatoon, SK.) Lead: Stephanie Schmidt Second: Marliese Kasner Third: Sherri Singler Skip: Sherry Anderson Sherry Anderson - 1x Scotties runner-up Sherry Anderson, who usually plays third, will be calling the shots for this Saskatoon rink at this event. Stefanie Lawton, the teams regular skip, had a baby boy in October and wont rejoin the team until the New Year. The 50-year-old will need a lot to go right in order to win the Canada Cup, but her years of experience should keep them competitive throughout the week. The rink sits 71st on the Money List. Team Flaxey (Listowel, Ont.) Lead: Morgan Court Second: Kristen Foster Third: Katie Cottrill Skip: Alli Flaxey Alli Flaxey Alli Flaxey, from the small town of Listowel, Ont., will replace Renee Sonnenberg after the Alberta skip declined the invitation to the tournament. The 29-year-old has played in five events this season, but has yet to advance to a playoff round. Flaxey sits 60th on the Money List. 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Real Jordan Shoes Cheap .500 ball against teams with winning records, so they needed a huge lift from somebody Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders. Cheap Jordans For Sale . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. He hoped to defy his doctors and race in the home Grand Tour he won in 2008 and 2012, but he says there have been complications in his recovery.So you were in college for four years and managed to maintain a 3.7 GPA. This is a draft known for its large amount of one-and-done players, how important was it to you to stay all four seasons?It was key for me. I mean it was an opportunity for me to get better, to get a degree and to do everything I wanted to do, I wanted to go to college. So I was able to just improve over those four years, clearly show that Ive been able to get better, work hard, the determination that I have as well to do something really good and get a degree as well as a number of academic accolades. So it was key for me. It taught me a lot of maturity, a lot of commitment and dedication. So I think that one-and-dones are not for everyone and if its not for you definitely take the time to stay in school and get a degree, it will help you in the long run. Was it ever difficult to balance basketball and school at the same time?Yeah, I mean a lot of the time when you have papers, homework, anything thats due, youve got to develop some good time management skills and thats something I think I really valued and really got out from college, being able to be good at time management skills, being able to prioritize and being able to put things in perspective that were most important. And for me that was at the time school and now its basketball. So now I think that its taught me a lot, but there are definitely times where its hard, definitely times after games and workouts where Im drained and I have to come back and do papers and homework and stuff like that. But ultimately it all works out and for me it was something that worked out for the best. When youre in the states, what is the one thing you miss most about Canada?(Image via Lays)Everything. I just miss being by family, I miss just being home. I also miss Tim Hortons [laughs], fuzzy peaches, ketchup chips, Ruffles all-dressed chips, just little things you wouldnt think about.Youve been posting the hash tag #DraftDreams. What does that mean to you? Charlotte was fun! On to the next! One step away! #DraftDreams — Melvin Ejim (@MelvinEjim) May 30, 2014Its important. Everything Im doing right now is for the drafts for the NBA and, you know, I just want to get people, especially on social media a way that they can follow me, a way that they can interact and feel like theyre coming along for the ride as well. So its definitely a cool thing to be a part of. But everything Im doing now is exactly what it means; its a draft dream. Im working as hard as I can to make that dream come true and that draft on the 26th is what everyone right now is working towards. So its important. Its just a way for fans and people to give support and interact with me on a social media network. So which players did you grow up idolizing?I really like Hakeem Olajuwon.(Image via Sports Illustrated) He was Nigerian. I really liked his game and even when I was in college playing the four, I thought he was someone who I could look up to for skill work; I mean hes trained a lot great players like Kobe, and guys who are smaller. I also liked watching Reggie Miller; he was a competitor. And obviously Steve Nash, being a Canadian, being someone who cares so much about Canada, those are three guys I grew up idolizing.Steve Nash said before that you were underrated by NBA scouts on Twitter, what did it feel like to get that compliment from Steve? @M3llyM3I wayyyy underrated by NBA scouts. RT @YungBoiMayes: Yo Melvin had 48pts and 18 Rebss!!!!!!!!!!! — Steve Nash (@SteveNash) February 8, 2014It was cool. Anytime that you are going underrated and people are starting to pick up on what youre doing, especially someone as renowned as Steve Nash who definitely knows the game and understands what it means to be a good player, for him to go out and say something on a social network , especially when he doesnt have to, that was a pretty cool feeeling.dddddddddddd Whenever you have someone like Steve Nash, who interacts with players and kids in colleges, to help you out and to be willing to be involved in your career, its great and its going to help you and its going to help basketball in Canada.Were you a big Raptors fan growing up?Yeah, I liked the Raptors because they were the only team we had. I wasnt watching any other sports or teams. Just watching them grow and develop, like through the Vince Carter years, and watching them really become a good team. Like this year, when people considered them not to have a good year, they were really able to overachieve. Thats great, and it shows perseverance. Theyve been able to a great job. You excited to workout with them tomorrow?Yeah. Anytime you can back home and work out for hometown team, youre always excited. You have the opportunity to work out for the team in your own backyard. Watching Vince Carter play, and watching those games, I never would have thought Id have the opportunity to play for them and to have the opportunity to work out for them and meet the people; its great, its refreshing. Its a gratifying opportunity. Did you play any other sports growing up?Yeah I use to play soccer, track and field and volleyball in high school. I played those competitively until tenth grade when I exclusively started playing basketball. Why did basketball stick out?(Image via Ames Tribune) It was just something I continued to get better at. When I went to school in the United States when I was 15 I was going there on a basketball scholarship and I didnt want to mess it up. Luckily, the school there didnt really offer any other sports I wanted to play so there was a chance for me to dedicate myself as a player.What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I have 11 siblings, I guess thats pretty surprising, not all with the same mother and father, but Im the oldest. I think when people see the things that I do and a lot of the academic stuff is something I try to preach because Im the oldest and I have brothers and sisters who look up to be and I want to set the best example that I can for them. My family and my siblings are the reason I go out and do what I do, Im trying to be the best role model I can be and guide them in the right direction.Whats your best basketball memory so far?I think obviously one of my best memories is the 48/18 game and that whole incredible experience.You know, the tournament runs, the last three years Ive had a great experience with a brand new group of guys and each team and each person has a special spot in my memory for the relationships and the things weve done together. When you get on an NBA court, is there going to be one guy youre playing against and just think "holy crap," Im playing against this guy?Right now, LeBron, Kobe and Kevin Durant and than there is guys like Paul Pierce, guys you would grow up watching whos a great player. I think Ill definitely have that moment but youve got to snap out of it quickly because youre going to be guarding and playing and playing against them, and you dont want to stand there with your mouth open. You have an admiration for these guys, but you got to shake it quick because now youre on the same page as these guys. I think that it may happen with a lot of people, but its only natural. So lets say you sign that NBA contract, whats the first thing you go out and purchase? Im probably going to get something for my mom, but Im not really a big spender, Im probably going to invest most of my money and make it last. Im not thinking about buying a huge car or a big house, Ill probably get something for my mom and my family and than open up a saving account and invest my money. Thats really how you set yourself up in the future. Dont forget to check out BarDowns sit-down with fellow Canadian NBA draft prospect Tyler Ennis. 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