(by Joe Pavia)

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Christian Tolusso.

Now living in Prince Edward Island, Tolusso is returning to his old stomping grounds to compete in the Challenge Chateau Cartier de Gatineau next week.

“I am very excited to return and play in a place filled with good friends and memories. It’s also nice to rekindle some of the rivalries,” said Tolusso, 23, who played all but his last year of junior in Ottawa.

Tolusso made the Ontario final in 2007 and skipped Northern Ontario to the junior nationals in 2010.

The third-year golf course management student will be throwing lead for Charlottetown’s Eddie MacKenzie, who qualified for this event with the same team (minus Tolusso) last year.

Curler Eddie MacKenzie

MacKenzie skipped PEI at the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier.

“We are coming to Gatineau because there are a lot of good quality teams playing in it and we want the experience of playing at a top level,” Tolusso said.

The Challenge Chateau Cartier de Gatineau is the richest and largest cashspiel in the area and in the province of Quebec. There are a host of elite men’s and women’s teams competing as well as an open section.

Besides MacKenzie, past Brier players include Brad Gushue, Brad Jacobs, Jean-Michel Menard, Mark Dacey, Guy Hemmings, Robert Desjardins, Bryan Cochrane and Ian MacAulay. Other prominent players include John Epping, Craig Brown and Pierre Charette.

“Based on the season so far, Epping, Cochrane, Gushue and Dacey will be the top contenders this year,” Tolusso said.

Click for full story in the Ottawa Sun