(by Mike Carson)
SUMMERSIDE – In less than two weeks many of the best curlers in the world will be at Credit Union Place to take part in the Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship at Eastlink Arena. Twenty-four teams, 12 men’s rinks and 12 women’s rinks will begin play on April 15.
The men’s gold-medallists from Canada, skipped by Brad Jacobs, have confirmed their attendance. The Jacobs rink currently sits in first place in the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit ranking system. On the women’s side, the Olympic gold-medallists from Canada, led by skip Jennifer Jones, will also be competing in Summerside. After becoming the first female curling team in history to go undefeated at an Olympics, they will be looking to continue their dominance at the Players’ Championship.
Summerside director of community services, J P Desrosiers said when the city hosted the event in 2012 there were 16 teams competing so this year’s event will be bigger and better.
J P Desrosiers, director of the Summerside community services department, is predicting another successful Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championships for Credit Union Place. The event will bring some of the best curlers in the world to Summerside from April 15-20.
© Mike Carson/Journal Pioneer
The championship runs from April 15 to April 20 with 19 draws over five days and is expected to draw a large contingent of off-Island visitors.