The Brad Gushue rink, which includes PEI natives Brett Gallant and Adam Casey, are heading west this weekend to the $50,000 triple-knockout Point Optical Curling Classic in Saskatoon. Schedule and results at:  http://www.worldcurl.com/events.php?eventid=3052

Also in the 32 team event is the Kelowna BC team skipped by John Morris, throwing third stones, with Jim Cotter throwing final rocks.  Alberta-based Morris, formerly with the defending Olympic champion Kevin Martin rink, works part time in BC, and has been given a one-year exemption to curl in that province.

Photo John Morris with 2010 Olympic Medal

The Alberta Curling Federation has agreed to the one-year exemption for Morris. The ruling will be reviewed for the 2014-15 season because  the Canadian Curling Association  is expected to revise its residency requirements for teams competing at nationals.

Morris said he was looking forward to playing with his BC teammates. “I feel really lucky to be able to play with such great, talented and nice guys like Jim, Rick and Ty,” he said.

He added that the team had lots of work ahead of them. “Over the summer we’ve been focused on the physical and mental side and we still have a lot of strides to make up on the ice, but we have been working extremely hard,” he said.

Morris is happy to be spending more time in BC. “I love BC,” he said. “I spent a lot of time there in the summer. I love the laid-back atmosphere, the outdoors, the fishing and the friendly people.”

Cotter said he was looking forward to a busy season. “We’re excited and looking forward to our first bonspiel of the year in Saskatoon,” he said.

(With info from CurlBC: http://www.curlbc.ca/defending-olympic-champion-john-morris-to-curl-in-bc/ )