Jacobs to open hometown Boost National vs. Bottcher
Reigning Olympic champion Brad Jacobs will kick off his homecoming Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
The series announced Monday the full draw schedule for the 2016 Boost National, running Dec. 6-11 at the Essar Centre, with Jacobs set to face Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher in the opening draw.
Jacobs looks to settle the score on home ice after finishing runner-up to Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen when Sault Ste. Marie hosted the National in 2014.
Meanwhile, Team Gushue’s quest to defend the men’s title begins against sponsor’s exemption Tanner Horgan during Draw 1 (Dec. 6, 7 p.m. ET).
Skip Brad Gushue has yet to play for the St. John’s, N.L., squad this season due to a hip injury with third Mark Nichols moving up to call the shots in the interim. Gushue plans to be back in Sault Ste. Marie for the event.
It’ll be the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling series debut for the 18-year-old Horgan, of Sudbury, Ont., who earned the silver medal at the Canadian junior championships last season.
In the women’s division, recent Tour Challenge winner Val Sweeting of Edmonton looks to keep the momentum going and plays reigning world champ Binia Feltscher of Switzerland on opening night. Scotland’s Eve Muirhead clashes with Russia’s Anna Sidorova to round out the first evening of action.
The Boost National is the third stop of the 2016-17 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and features 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams from around the world. Ottawa’s Rachel Homan is the defending women’s champion with Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay, Ont., receiving the sponsor’s exemption spot for the division. All teams play four round-robin games with the top eight on both sides advancing to the weekend playoff rounds.
Winners of the Boost National qualify for the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup running April 25-30 at WinSport Arena in Calgary.
Teams at the Boost National also compete for bonus points towards the Rogers Grand Slam Cup, awarded to the overall season champions following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship.
Tickets are now available for the Boost National, visit thegrandslamofcurling.com/tickets for more information.
