With no NWT Women鈥檚 Curling Championship to determine who will represent the territory at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont., how is it determined who goes?

That question was answered Tuesday as NWT Curling announced that Team Galusha, consisting of Kerry Galusha, Jo-Ann Rizzo, Margot Flemming, Sarah Koltun and coach Shona Barbour, has been nominated as the territory鈥檚 representatives for the Canadian women鈥檚 curling championship.

And they鈥檝e accepted it, which Galusha confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

鈥淓veryone was on board,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to represent the NWT again.鈥�

When it comes to the cancellation, Nick Saturnino, NWT Curling鈥檚 president, said on Tuesday afternoon that the organization鈥檚 policy states if a competition to determine the NWT representatives for national events can鈥檛 be held, the previous year鈥檚 champions will first be offered the spot.

鈥淲e do not have enough time to reschedule the event, so Team Galusha has been offered the spot,鈥� Saturnino said.

The NWT qualifier was set to be held in Inuvik with Galusha taking part in the opening game on Wednesday evening. NWT Curling announced on Monday afternoon that there would be no qualifier due to the new Covid-19 regulations issued by the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer earlier that day.

Tournament organizers had already implemented a number of safety precautions to protect athletes and residents, including not allowing spectators in-person for the event and instead planning to broadcast the games online. Opening ceremonies were also planned to be showcased digitally.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unfortunate because we would have liked to win our way to the Scotties,鈥� said Galusha. 鈥淏ut with the (Covid) outbreak, we weren鈥檛 feeling comfortable being the only team travelling to play and we could have been exposed (to the virus).鈥�

The cancellation follows those out of Ontario, where both the northern and southern qualifiers were cancelled within days of each other. Prince Edward Island also called off its qualifier. The qualifiers for Yukon, Alberta and B.C. are taking place this week while Manitoba and Nova Scotia have already held theirs. Nunavut鈥檚 rink was named last month while Newfoundland and Labrador named its rink on Jan. 3. The province didn鈥檛 host a qualifier because of concerns around Covid-19.

As for the main event itself in Thunder Bay, Ont. later this month, that鈥檚 still on schedule, according to Kyle Jahns, Curling Canada鈥檚 manager of communications and media relations.

鈥淎t the moment, we鈥檙e continuing to consult with local, regional and national health authorities and are discussing numerous options to find a way to have the Scotties in Thunder Bay in a safe and secure environment,鈥� he stated on Wednesday.

With the NWT spot confirmed in the national championship, the concern now turns to how to prepare. Like every other user group in the city, there鈥檚 no ice time available to practice at the Yellowknife Curling Centre as the city ordered some facilities shut until at least Jan. 21.

Galusha said the ladies were able to get in a couple of hours on the ice on Monday before the shutdown took effect but there鈥檚 no guarantees once the order is lifted.

鈥淚t could be extended,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just doing our best to stay healthy and prepare as best as we can. All of the other teams are in the same boat we are 鈥� they鈥檙e doing whatever they can.鈥�

To help with the preparation, Barbour has put together a three-week plan with on-ice and off-ice scenarios with Covid-19 protocols built in.

鈥淭he off-ice plan is to go to the Fieldhouse or to a gym to get in some low-impact workouts,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also making some sacrifices, such as not going out to dinner with friends if we鈥檙e invited. We鈥檙e avoiding situations like that.鈥�

In the final week leading up to the Tournament of Hearts, Barbour said Curling Canada is asking teams to self-isolate before heading out.

鈥淔our days of soft isolation and three days of hard isolation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he last three days before we leave is the hard portion.鈥�

The goal for the team this year? The championship round 鈥� same as it鈥檚 been for a while.

鈥淭he difference last year was we didn鈥檛 play any spiels,鈥� said Galusha. 鈥淲e鈥檝e put in a lot of work this year and we鈥檙e prepared. We have a new line-up (player order) and we want to peak again at the Scotties.鈥�

-with files from Eric Bowling