PRINCE GEORGE BC, October 2009 (CCA)…Twelve men’s and 12 women’s teams are set to contest the Road to the Roar (Pre-Trials), presented by Monsanto, when the competition takes place November 10-14 at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia.
The triple knockout format will qualify four men’s and four women’s teams for the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings (Canadian Curling Trials), December 6-13 in Edmonton, which will determine Canada’s representatives for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
The winners of the A, B and C finals in Prince George will advance to Edmonton to join the eight teams which have already qualified – Jennifer Jones, Shannon Kleibrink, Cheryl Bernard and Stefanie Lawton on the women’s side, Kevin Martin, Glenn Howard, Kevin Koe and Randy Ferbey on the men’s side.
TSN will televise the men’s and women’s A finals on Thursday, the B finals on Friday and the four C finals on Saturday, live from the CN Centre.
The men’s lineup includes reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue of St. John’s, two-time Brier, one-time world champion and past Trials runner-ups Jeff Stoughton and Kerry Burtnyk, both of Winnipeg, two-time world champion Wayne Middaugh of Toronto, 2006 Brier winner Jean-Michel Ménard of St-Romuald, Quebec and 2000 world champion Greg McAulay of Richmond.
They’ll be joined by Kelowna’s Bob Ursel, Manitoba’s Mike McEwen of Winnipeg and Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, Edmonton’s Ted Appelman, Saskatchewan’s Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw and Pat Simmons of Davidson.
The women’s field boasts 2007 world champion and 2005 Trials runner-up Kelly Scott of Kelowna, 1998 Canadian champion Cathy King of Edmonton and 2001 Trials runner-up Sherry Anderson of Saskatoon.
Joining them are Saskatchewan’s Michelle Englot of Regina and Amber Holland of Kronau, Quebec’s Marie-France Larouche of St-Romuald and Eve Bélisle of Montreal, Ontario’s Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Thunder Bay’s Krista McCarville and Rachel Homan of Ottawa and Calgary’s Heather Rankin and Crystal Webster.
Full Event passes can be purchased by visiting www.Ticketmaster.ca/Road, by phoning (250) 614-9100 or in person at the CN Centre Box Office. For other information, please contact the Event Office (250) 562-8772.