News Champions Cup

Reigning world champ Kevin Koe of Calgary will be among the first to hit the ice for the inaugural Humpty’s Champions Cup.

Koe takes on Mick Lizmore in the opening draw Tuesday night for the all-new, season-ending Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event in Sherwood Park, Alta.

The Humpty’s Champions Cup features 15 men’s and 15 women’s teams, all of whom had to win an event over the course of the season in order to qualify, with a $200,000 purse on the line in one final showdown of the season.

Koe was the first to qualify for the Humpty’s Champions Cup by capturing the Tour Challenge title in September. Lizmore, of Edmonton, was victorious at the Red Deer Curling Classic.

The women’s division also begins with a Battle of Alberta between Edmonton’s Kelsey Rocque and Scotties Tournament of Hearts Champion Chelsea Carey of Calgary. Rocque won the Red Deer Curling Classic to qualify and also captured the CCT Uiseong Masters title in her sensational rookie season on tour.

Humpty’s Champions Cup: Draw Schedule | TV Schedule | Watch Online

Elsewhere in the opening draw, recently crowned Players’ Championship winner Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., takes on world junior champ Bruce Mouat of Scotland. Gushue completed a career Grand Slam (winning all four majors) when he captured the Players’ title this past Sunday and also took home the Rogers Grand Slam Cup title as the overall season champion.

Meanwhile, Rogers Grand Slam Cup women’s champ Rachel Homan of Ottawa faces Edmonton’s Val Sweeting, winner of the HDF Insurance Shoot-Out. Homan booked her spot to the Humpty’s Champions Cup by defeating Sweeting in the Masters final in November.

The Humpty’s Champions Cup runs April 26 to May 1 at the Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre in Sherwood Park, Alta. Tickets are moving fast, visit thegrandslamofcurling.com/tickets to learn how to purchase yours today.

Can’t make it to Sherwood Park? Sportsnet will have you covered starting April 28.