(by Jonathan Brazeau)
Sochi Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones capped a dream season by claiming the Players’ Championship in Summerside PEI, and will now look to kickstart the 2014-15 campaign winning a major in her backyard.
Photo: Jennifer Jones
Jones’s Winnipeg rink highlights the list of teams already confirmed for the Masters, the opening leg of the Grand Slam of Curling series, running Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 at the Selkirk Recreation Complex in Selkirk, Manitoba.
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Reigning Scotties champion Rachel Homan will also be at the Masters as her Ottawa rink aims to win the event for a third consecutive year.
The women’s draw will also see Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni, whose team reached the semifinals at last season’s Players’ Championship.
On the men’s side, Calgary’s Kevin Koe’s new rink featuring Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing and Ben Hebert will play in their first Grand Slam together.
Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen, who won the Masters in 2010 to capture his first career Grand Slam title, is also hoping home-ice advantage works in his team’s favour.
Brad Gushue, from St. John’s, confirmed his rink will be in Selkirk. His team includes PEI native Brett Gallant at third stone.
Sochi Olympics silver medallist David Murdoch from Scotland and reigning world champion Thomas Ulsrud from Norway will also have their teams in the field.