Those pre-qualifying stories raising their heads

I was wondering how long it would be before these stories started appearing. 

CBC.ca has an item this morning on the road the top team in P.E.I. will need to travel if it hopes of playing in the Brier this year. Yup, it not only needs to win its province but also come through the pre-qualifying tournament against Nova Scotia and Yukon.

Adam Casey, who skips a PEI team currently ranked 10th in the country, is voicing the concerns of curlers from the Atlantic provinces who feel they are getting the short end of the CCA's new set-up that involves a Team Canada at the Brier and a Northern Ontario squad at the Scotties.

Casey told CBC the new qualifying round is a polarizing concept, with smaller jurisdictions losing out. 

"I haven't spoken to many players that have been for it yet,” said Casey. 

“I know a lot of people from the Maritimes and sort of the small places really kind of take it like almost ruining the Brier, and it's making it tough to grow interest in the sport.”

Is suspect this will be the first of many such stories as the men's and women's national championships draw closer.