Elite level curling is coming to the Battlefords. Not only is the city hosting the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event, but the Affinity Credit Union provincial men and women’s tournament will be played at Twin Rivers tomorrow and through the weekend.
Co-Chair of the provincial tournament, Ed Iwanchuk, says some tremendous talent will be on display.
“Of the 16 teams participating, they have won 51 provincial titles, and that includes the provincial open, mixed, senior or masters. Between these teams they have won eight Canadian titles … The level of play is not much different than what you’ll see on television, it really isn’t.”
On the men’s side, team Hritzuk from Saskatoon is one of those eight teams that have won a Canadian Championship.
Brad Heidt, Darrell McKee, Randy Gilewich and reigning senior champion Brad Law are favourites coming into the week long event.
On the ladies side, Iwanchuk says Joan McCusker and her squad from Regina is also a team to keep an eye on.
“They won the Olympics [in 1998]. That team has also won the Canadians three times.”
Iwanchuk states that Sherry Anderson, who is new on the senior scene but is no rookie, has won six women’s provincial titles with her team from Saskatoon, while Catherine Inglis’s squad can be pinned as one of the favourites as the team from Yorkton are the reigning senior champions.
It was a long process to earn a spot in this tournament. First, these teams had to enter either a northern or southern qualifying bonspiel. Sixteen teams from the north and 16 teams from the south. Out of those 32 squads, only eight men’s and women’s teams would qualify for the provincial championships.
Other teams involved in the men’s tournament is Gord Bell’s squad from Regina, Daryl Williamson’s team from Moosomin and Terry Marteniuk’s team from Yorkton.
On the women’s side, Tracey Streifel’s team will be making their way from Saskatoon, Delores Syrota’s squad from Wadena will be taking part in the tournament, Lorraine Arguin’s team from Moose Jaw, Peggy Fernquist and Linda Lund from Saskatoon and Merle Kopach also from Saskatoon round out the women’s competitors.
The five day event will begin with a round robin, where everyone plays everybody once, which will take up the first three days. Tiebreakers will take place after the round robin. The playoffs will begin on the final two days and over the weekend, with the finals going Sunday.
“There is a lot of competitive juice. They’re not just hanging out. The curlers are here to play and they are here to win,” Iwanchuk says.
The winner of the event will go to the National Championship of curling in Digby, Nova Scotia to represent the province of Saskatchewan.
The games start Feb. 24 with the first draw from the men’s side being played at 4 p.m. The first rock will be making its way to the house at 8 p.m. on the ladies side.
If you are a curling fan in the Battlefords, this is a tournament you will not want to miss. The Regional Optimist will have your updates.
To keep track with realtime results and line scores, fans can go to CurlSask.com.
