Tour Challenge to open 2017-18 GSOC season in Regina
The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is kicking off next season in Regina with the third annual Tour Challenge.
The series announced Thursday the Co-operators Centre at Evraz Place will host the first event of the 2017-18 Pinty’s GSOC season running Sept. 5-10.
Team Carruthers third Braeden Moskowy, a native of Regina, said he’s “extremely excited” to have a Pinty’s GSOC event take place in his hometown.
“I’m probably a little biased but I don’t think there is a better place to play than in Saskatchewan,” Moskowy said. “The fans are very knowledgeable and passionate about curling. I’m really looking forward to playing in front of my friends and family as they don’t get to see us play in person very often.”
Tickets for the Tour Challenge go on sale to the public Friday, Feb. 3 through Ticketmaster.
The Tour Challenge is the largest of the seven events on the Pinty’s GSOC schedule with a total of 60 men’s and women’s teams split into two tiers of action.
Tier 1 features the top teams from around the world battling for curling supremacy. Edmonton’s Val Sweeting and Niklas Edin of Sweden are the reigning champions while Calgary’s Kevin Koe and Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland captured the inaugural titles in 2015.
The Tour Challenge also begins the chase for the Rogers Grand Slam Cup, awarded to the men’s and women’s teams who earn the most bonus points over the course of the Pinty’s GSOC season.
Tier 2 spotlights the next group of teams aiming to springboard up the ranks alongside a handful of local squads looking to make their mark. Past Tier 2 champions include Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson, Jim Cotter of Vernon, B.C., Greg Balsdon of Kingston, Ont., and Jacqueline Harrison of Mississauga, Ont.
Although this will mark the first time Regina hosts a Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event, it’ll be the fourth consecutive season the series swings through Saskatchewan. Yorkton held the Canadian Open in 2014 and 2015 and the tournament shifted to North Battleford this season.
Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men’s and women’s curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world.
