World champ Homan to open Players’ Championship vs. Wang
World champion Rachel Homan from Ottawa now sets her sights on the WestJet Players’ Championship.
The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling announced the full draw schedule Monday for the fourth and final major of the 2016-17 season running April 11-16 at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. Live TV coverage begins April 13 on Sportsnet.
Homan, who completed a historic 13-0 run Sunday in Beijing to win gold, kicks off the WestJet Players’ Championship taking on Bingyu Wang of China in the first draw.
WestJet Players’ Championship: Buy Tickets | Teams | Draw Schedule | TV Schedule
Scotland’s Eve Muirhead, who earned bronze at the worlds, will also be on the ice for opening night playing Edmonton’s Val Sweeting. Muirhead won the Players’ Championship during the previous three times Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre has hosted the event over the past four years.
Meanwhile, reigning Players’ men’s champ Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., will also be in action for the opener and goes up against Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton. Gushue will first compete for Canada at the world men’s curling championship before beginning his title defence at the Players’.
Hometown hero John Epping takes on Scotland’s Kyle Smith and Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock meets Peter de Cruz of Switzerland to round out Draw 1.
The WestJet Players’ Championship features 12 of the top men’s teams and 12 of the top women’s teams from around the globe based on the World Curling Tour’s year-to-date standings. Winners will receive berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup taking place April 25-30 in Calgary.
The Rogers Grand Slam Cup will also be awarded to the overall season champions following the conclusion of the WestJet Players’ Championship.
Tickets are now available, call 1-844-389-4754 or click here to purchase online today.
