News Canadian Open

Although Team Laycock didn’t qualify for the Meridian Canadian Open, half of the Saskatoon squad will still be in action at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament.

Skip Steve Laycock will fill in for Brendan Bottcher while fourth Matt Dunstone is sparing for Team Morris third Jim Cotter during the Meridian Canadian Open, which runs Jan. 16-21 at Encana Arena in Camrose, Alta.

Meridian Canadian Open: Tickets | Teams | Draw Schedule | TV Schedule

Laycock, who is a six-time provincial champion, was a finalist at the Canadian Open in 2014 when the tournament was held in his birthplace of Yorkton, Sask.

Dunstone has won two Canadian junior championships plus a pair of bronze medals at the world juniors. The 22-year-old from Winnipeg joined Team Laycock late last season at second.

Team Laycock underwent a lineup shuffle last month while looking for a spark ahead of the Roar of the Rings Canadian Olympic curling trials in Ottawa. Dunstone moved up to fourth with Laycock dropping to third rocks and Kirk Muyres sliding to second. Dallan Muyres stayed put at lead. Team Laycock finished with a disappointing 2-6 record tied at the bottom of the round-robin table.

It’s not the first time Dunstone has played alongside Morris at the Meridian Canadian Open. Dunstone made his Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling series debut as a substitute for second Carter Rycroft on Team Simmons, with Morris at third, during the 2015 event in Yorkton, Sask.

Edmonton’s Team Bottcher and Team Morris, based in Vernon, B.C., begin their Meridian Canadian Open title quests during the second draw (Jan. 16, 8 p.m. MT). Team Bottcher meets Winnipeg’s Team McEwen while Team Morris takes on Toronto’s Team Epping. CLICK HERE for the draw schedule.

The Meridian Canadian Open features a triple knockout preliminary round where teams must win three games before they lose three in order to advance to the playoffs. Winning teams earn spots to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup taking place April 24-29 at Calgary’s WinSport Arena.

Full-event and weekend passes plus single-draw tickets are available for purchase at Camrosegsoc.goigniter.com or by calling 780-678-2868.

Television coverage begins Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. ET on Sportsnet with mobile/online streaming available via Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and gsoc.yaretv.com (international). CLICK HERE for the full broadcast schedule.