GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA., April 18, 2009 – Jennifer Jones (Winnipeg, Man.) captured her third career Grey Power Players’ Championship title in the tournament’s four year history today after sliding past Shannon Kleibrink (Calgary, Alta.) 9-7 in the championship game of the season’s final Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event, taking place at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie, Alta.
The championship was Jones’ fifth career Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event title. As tournament champions, Jones, who finished with a record of 6-1, won $25,000 (CDN) and earned 40.000 Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points.
The reigning Canadian champion also won the season’s Capital One Cup title, earning a $50,000 (CDN) bonus. The $75,000 (CDN) in total prize money was most the team’s ever earned in one day.
“It’s definitely a big pay day,” said Jones. “It’s pretty exciting. It was a great game.”
Trailing 2-1 after two ends, Jones grabs her first lead of the game in the third after Kleibrink couldn’t tap her own rock into the eight-foot, resulting in two-point steal.
Another steal of one in the fourth, extended Jones’ lead to 4-2.
Kleibrink reclaimed the lead in the fifth after capitalizing on a pair of Team Jones miscues to set up a nose hit for three points.
Jones surged ahead to a 6-5 lead in the sixth after making an open draw for two points.
“It was big to get the two in six,” added Jones. “That was probably the turning point. And obviously we played a really good last end.”
After Kleibrink bounced back in the seventh, with an open hit for two points and a 7-6 lead, Jones won the championship in the eighth end after making a takeout on the game’s final shot to score three points.
“We just weren’t sharp,” said Kleibrink. “The ice was a bit different. We didn’t pick up on it early and we just missed a couple of key shots here and there.”
By finishing second with a record of 5-1, Kleibrink’s squad took home $16,000 (CDN) along with 30.000 CTRS points. The Calgary-based squad also finished third in the Capital One Cup standings, earning an additional $10,000 (CDN).
In this morning’s semi-final matches, Jones advanced to the final with an 8-4 victory over Cheryl Bernard (Calgary, Alta.) while Kleibrink moved into the championship game with an 8-3 win over Kelly Scott (Kelowna, B.C.).
After defeating Bernard, Jones mathematically clinched first place in the Capital One Cup.
“You could see how close the points were coming into the Players’ Championship,” said Jones. “All the teams are so close and even. To come out and be the winners of the Capital One Cup, we’re pretty excited about it.”
Team Bernard earned a bonus of $25,000 (CDN) after finishing second in the Capital One Cup standings with 37 points, 10 points behind Jones. Kleibrink finished with 34 points.
Featuring a total purse of $170,000, the Capital One Cup is a points-based competition that awards each women’s and men’s curling team a point value based on their performance during each Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event.
In the men’s draw, Kevin Koe (Edmonton, Alta.), Jeff Stoughton (Winnipeg, Man.) and Ted Appelman (Edmonton, Alta.) secured the final three quarterfinal berths at the Grey Power Players’ Championship after each won their respective “C” bracket final.
Koe powered past Wayne Middaugh (Midland, Ont.) 6-1 while Stoughton doubled up Dale Matchett (Churchill, Ont.) 6-3. Appelman grabbed the final playoff berth with a 6-4 win over Joel Jordison (Moose Jaw, Sask.).
The men’s quarterfinals are set for this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. MT. The playoff match-ups feature Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.) vs. Appelman, Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.) vs. Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.), Randy Ferbey (Edmonton, Alta.) vs. Koe and Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) vs. Stoughton.
Earlier today, Stefanie Lawton (Saskatoon, Sask.) secured the fourth and final direct berth to the 2009 Canadian Trials after Kleibrink eliminated Scott in the semi-finals. Scott needed to win the Grey Power Players’ Championship in order to move ahead of Lawton in the race for the final direct Trials berth.
The Grey Power Players’ Championship represents the final opportunity for teams to earn points towards securing a direct berth into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Trials event or a spot into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Pre-Trials tournament.
As the official television broadcaster of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling, CBC Television will air the men’s final on Sunday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. MT. Additionally, on Saturday, April 18, CBC’s digital channel bold will present live coverage of the men’s quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. MT and live coverage of the men’s semi-finals at 8:00 p.m. MT.
Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight premier men’s and women’s events that boast Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.
The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is one of a select few events that are tied to the Canadian Curling Association’s qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, rinks can earn points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials or the 2009 Canadian Pre-Trials event.