News Masters

Sochi Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones capped a dream season by claiming the Players’ Championship and will now kick off the 2014-15 campaign looking to win a major in her own backyard.

Jones’s Winnipeg rink highlights the list of teams already confirmed for the Masters, the opening leg of the Grand Slam of Curling series, running Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 at the Selkirk Recreational Complex in Selkirk, Manitoba.

Reigning Scotties champion Rachel Homan will also be at the Masters as her Ottawa rink aims to win the event for a third consecutive year.

The women’s draw will also see world champion Binia Feltscher’s team from Switzerland as well as compatriot Silvana Tirinzoni, whose rink reached the semifinals at last season’s Players’ Championship.

Sochi silver medallist Margaretha Sigfridsson from Sweden has also confirmed.

On the men’s side, Calgary’s Kevin Koe’s new rink featuring Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing and Ben Hebert will play in their first Grand Slam together.

Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen, who won the Masters in 2010 to capture his first career Grand Slam title, is also hoping home-ice advantage works in his team’s favour.

Glenn Howard’s rink from Penetanguishene, Ont., will feature a new look with Jon Mead moving over from Team Stoughton and Richard Hart coming out of retirement to rejoin the squad. Craig Savill will retain his familiar spot at lead.

Brad Gushue, from St. John’s, confirmed his rink will be in Selkirk.

Sochi Olympics silver medallist David Murdoch from Scotland and reigning world champion Thomas Ulsrud from Norway will also have their teams in the field.

Niklas Edin, who won bronze at Sochi, will have an all-new lineup with him in Selkirk featuring Oskar Eriksson, Kristian Lindstroem and Christoffer Sundgren.