Brad Jacobs headlines field for hometown Boost National

Reigning Olympic champion Brad Jacobs makes his Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling homecoming at the 2016 Boost National in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The third stop of the season returns to the Essar Centre, Dec. 6-11, and features 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams from around the world.

Jacobs, who won gold at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, has some unfinished business to take care of in his hometown. Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen edged out Jacobs in the National final two years ago at the Essar Centre to claim the title.

The Boost National has doubled in size since then with the addition of a women’s championship last season. Rachel Homan captured the inaugural trophy in Oshawa, Ont., the second of a record three consecutive major women’s titles for the Ottawa skip. Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., is the defending men’s champion.

Teams also earn points towards the Rogers Grand Slam Cup, awarded to the season champions following the conclusion of the 2017 WestJet Players’ Championship.

Winners of the 2016 Boost National will also qualify for the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup, running April 25-30, 2017, in Calgary.

Tickets are now available for the Boost National, visit thegrandslamofcurling.com/tickets for more details.

Can’t make it to Sault Ste Marie? Sportsnet and CBC will have you covered, click here for the full TV schedule. Watch online with Sportsnet NOW, click here to subscribe today and get your first seven days free.

Below is the list of teams set to compete in the Boost National:

MEN’S TEAMS

WCT OOM Rank	Team	Hometown
1	Brad Gushue	St. John’s, NL
2	Kevin Koe	Calgary, AB
3	Reid Carruthers	Winnipeg, MB
4	Niklas Edin	Karlstad, SWE
5	John Epping	Toronto, ON
6	Brad Jacobs	Sault Ste. Marie, ON
7	Mike McEwen	Winnipeg, MB
8	Steve Laycock	Saskatoon, SK
9	David Murdoch	Stirling, SCO
10	Charley Thomas	Edmonton, AB
11	John Morris	Vernon, BC
12	Brendan Bottcher	Edmonton, AB
14	Peter de Cruz	Geneva, SUI
15	John Shuster	Duluth, USA
Sponsor’s Exemption	Tanner Horgan	Sudbury, ON

WOMEN’S TEAMS

WCT OOM Rank	Team	Hometown
1	Rachel Homan	Ottawa, ON
2	Jennifer Jones	Winnipeg, MB
3	Silvana Tirinzoni	Aarau, SUI
4	Eve Muirhead	Stirling, SCO
5	Val Sweeting	Edmonton, AB
6	Allison Flaxey	Caledon, ON
7	Chelsea Carey	Calgary, AB
8	Anna Hasselborg	Sundbyberg, SWE
9	Kelsey Rocque	Edmonton, AB
10	Anna Sidorova	Moscow, RUS
11	EunJung Kim	Uiseong, KOR
12	Tracy Fleury	Sudbury, ON
13	Kerri Einarson	Winnipeg, MB
14	Binia Feltscher	Flims, SUI
Sponsor’s Exemption	Krista McCarville	Thunder Bay, ON