The Asham World Curling Tour (WCT) announced its 2011-2012 men’s and women’s schedule today, along with venues for all Grand Slam events, except for last two, the BDO Canadian Open, January 25-29, and the season finale, the GP Car and Home Players’ Championship, from April 10-15. This WCT wrapup event, won by Kevin Martin and Jennifer Jones in the 2010-11 season, will feature separate men’s and women’s draws consisting of the world’s top 16 ranked teams from the 2011-12 season, competing for a $100,000 total purse, along with Canadian Team Ranking System points, needed to secure a berth in the 2013 Olympic Trials.
At least one team believes that the Players’ Championship will be in Summerside. The Brad Gushue rink, which now includes Summerside-area native Adam Casey at lead, has listed Summerside as the venue for the event, on the Team Gushue Facebook page. CBC also mentioned Summerside as a 2011-12 Grand Slam venue during its coverage of the 2011 Players Championship. Team Gushue lists Dawson Creek, BC as the site for the BDO Canadian Open.
No formal announcement of the venue for the Players’ Championship has yet been made. J.P. Desrosiers, event development officer for the City of Summerside’s Community Services and Recreation Department, confirmed in February that the city was looking into submitting a bid for a Grand Slam event. In April he said that a site visit by the event organizing group was planned in early May, and that he hoped to have an announcement shortly after the visit.
Here are the events that Team Gushue is planning to attend next season:
(source: Team Gushue Facebook page)
Shorty Jenkins Classic – Brockville, Ontario – September 15 – 18
Swiss Cup Basel -Basel, Switzerland – September 29 – October 2
Mac Ice Classic- Ottawa, Ontario – October 6 – 9
Casino Lac Leamy Challenge – Gatineau, Quebec – October 21 – 24
World Cup of Curling- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – November 2 – 6
SunLife Invitational- Brantford, Ontario – November 17 – 20
Casino Challenge de Charlevoix- Charlevoix, Quebec – November 24 – 27
Brantford Nissan Classic- Brantford, Ontario – December 1 – 4
Swiss Chalet National- Kitchener, Ontario – December 14 – 18
Perth Masters – Perth, Scotland – January 5 – 8
Casino Rama Skins Game (Not confirmed) Rama, Ontario – January 21 – 22
Canadian Open – Dawson Creek, BC – January 25 – 29
Provincial Championships – St. John’s, NL – February 7 – 12
Tim Horton’s Brier – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – March 3 – 11
Victoria Curling Classic – Victoria, British Columbia – March 22 – 25
Grey Power Player’s Championship – Summerside, PEI – April 10 – 15