Final game to go on Sunday at 2 p.m. at PAGCC
[Update: The correct day and time for the event’s opening ceremonies have been updated, due to changes made by Curl Sask.]
One day out, and the city’s Golf and Curling Club is ready to go for hosting this year’s Provincial Mixed Curling Championship.
“We’re excited, and we think we have a good mix of 20 teams ready to play for a provincial title,” host committee co-chair Bryan Rindal said.
The winning team of the five-day tournament earns the right to represent Saskatchewan later this year at the national Mixed Curling Championship.
The opening ceremonies are set for Thursday evening at 6:15 p.m. at the P.A. Golf and Curling Club. Game action starts on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with 10 teams competing against each other.
There are 20 teams registered for the competition. Five teams are representing Regina, three from the Highland Curling Club and two from the Callie; Saskatoon has eight teams at the competition, with three representing the Sutherland Curling Club and five representing Nutana.
Prince Albert will be represented by two teams, both out of the city’s Golf and Curling Club. Yorkton will also be sending two teams.
Oxbow, La Ronge and Christopher Lake will each send one representative team to the tournament.
The first team from Prince Albert consists of skip Brad Bibby, third Patricia Bibby, second Chad Gareau and lead Sherry Just.
The second team from P.A. is skip Bruce Korte, third Brett Barber, second Jayden Shwaga and Robyn Despins.
The team from Christopher Lake, which plays out of the Lakeland Curling Club, consists of skip Dwight Desormeau, third Avis Halcro, second David Moerike and lead Gail Anderson.
“It’s going to be good curling. These people are competitive,” Rindal said. “When they hit the ice they still want to win, they want to try their best, it’s still an honour if you get to wear that green jacket (as provincial champions).”
The northern most team in the tournament is from La Ronge, representing the La Ronge Curling Club. That team consists of skip Jonah Sweatman, third Linda Hryniuk, second Glen Watchel and lead Faye Tam.
Rindal also hyped up the chance to see some up-and-coming curlers.
“The younger ones you get to see playing, maybe you’ll get to see some of the younger ones in the future that you’ll be seeing at the Scotties and at the Brier and playing on some of the world tour curling events.
“It’s a well-rounded mix. It’s young and old (curlers).”
Team Korte will play its first game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against team Thevenot, from Saskatoon Sutherland.
Team Bibby will play its first game on Thursday at 12 noon versus the winner of the Desormeau (Christopher Lake) – Kendel (Saskatoon Nutana) game, which goes on Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
Team Sweatman plays its first game on Thursday at 9 a.m. against team Heather (Saskatoon Nutana).
Quarterfinal games are set for Saturday at 7 p.m. at the curling club, with four games spread out over four sheets of ice.
The semis are slated for Sunday morning at 10 a.m., while he championship final is set for Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Admission to all events and games is free of charge.
Rindal asked that to help support the event and the curling club, spectators and fans considering purchasing 50-50 tickets during the event.
For a full schedule of the tournament’s games and draws, visit the CurlSask website at www.curlsask.ca
