If curling was racing, planning for the 2018 SaskTel Tankard would be headed into the stretch drive.
Tankard will be taking place at Affinity Place Jan. 31-Feb. 4, dates that are now a lot closer since the calendar flipped from 2017 to this year.
“We’re going in high gear right now,” said Helen Fornwald, one of the co-chairs for the event. “We are probably halfway or a little bit better with volunteers so we’re certainly looking for that at this point. With sales, we are starting to be promoting the tickets, not just on the radio now but we were at the (Power Dodge Estevan) Bruin game against Weyburn as well.”
The top 16 men’s curling teams in the province will be battling it out to represent Saskatchewan at the Tim Hortons Brier in March in Regina. Those teams include Estevan’s Brent Gedak rink, as well as rinks skipped by Ryan Deis, Scott Bitz and Jeff Hartung. The final southern and northern qualifiers are Jan. 19-21 in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, and the points deadline for the national and provincial curling tours is Jan. 8.
As mentioned, the Tankard organizing committee set up a display at the Jan. 1 Bruins game against the Weyburn Red Wings and were there soliciting interest in the Tankard and for volunteers.
“It was very positive that we were there,” she said.
They are in the final stages of setting up the schedules and volunteers and getting the facility ready, Fornwald said.
“We have an icemaker coming down,” she said. “We’re gearing up for set up and takedown and making sure we’re working within the guidelines of SaskCurl.”
They are still looking for volunteers for help.
“We won’t close the door on that,” she said. “We’ll welcome anybody that can help come down even for an hour.”
Volunteers are still being sought, as are sponsors.
Individual draw tickets are $10 each or day passes are available for $20. Tickets for the entire event are $80 and corporate passes are also available. All seating is rush.
The event passes will also include admission to live music entertainment Friday and Saturday nights.
People can also pick up tickets at the Power Dodge Curling Centre in the evenings or visit https://event.bookitbee.com/e/4h3ev
