(by Jonathan Brazeau)
Five-time B.C. champion Jim Cotter will skip his team into the Tier 2 group for the Tour Challenge, the season-opening event of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season.
Click for Tier 1 details (released earlier)
The full Tier 2 schedule was released Wednesday for the all-new event, running Sept. 8-13 in Paradise, N.L.
Cotter, from Vernon, B.C., begins his quest for the Tier 2 title against Scotland’s Tom Brewster during Draw 3 action.
Reigning Ontario champion Mark Kean and his all-new rink from Stoney Creek, Ont., are set to kick off the Tier 2 stage in Draw 1 against local favourite Ken Peddigrew, of St. John’s, N.L.
[No PEI men’s teams are entered in Tier 2, but the Adam Casey rink, along with the Gushue team that includes PEI native Brett Gallant, are in Tier 1.]
Tour Challenge: Buy Tickets | Tier 2 Schedule | TV Schedule | Watch Online
The Tier 2 women’s division stars Halifax’s Mary-Anne Arsenault, a two-time world champion and five-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts winner. Arsenault hits the ice in the opening draw against 12-time Newfoundland and Labrador champion Heather Strong of St. John’s. [PEI’s Suzanne Birt rink are also among the entrants].
Here is the Tier 2 schedule:
Here is the Tier 2 schedule by team:
TIER 2 SCHEDULE BY TEAM
MEN’S DIVISION
Team Adams
Draw 4: vs. Smith (NL), Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Heidt, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Comeau, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Balsdon, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Balsdon
Draw 2: vs. Smith (NL), Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Comeau, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Heidt, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Adams, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Brewster
Draw 3: vs. Cotter, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Symonds, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Stevens, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Thomas, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Comeau
Draw 2: vs. Heidt, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Balsdon, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Smith (NL), Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Adams, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Team Cotter
Draw 3: vs. Brewster, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Thomas, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Symonds, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Stevens, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Fanset
Draw 4: vs. Peddigrew, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Grattan, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Kean, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Smith (SC), Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Team Grattan
Draw 3: vs. Smith (SC), Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Kean, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Fanset, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Peddigrew, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Heidt
Draw 2: vs. Comeau, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Adams, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Balsdon, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Smith (NL), Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Kean
Draw 1: vs. Peddigrew, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Grattan, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Fanset, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Smith (SC), Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Peddigrew
Draw 1: vs. Kean, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 4: vs. Fanset, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Smith (SC), Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Grattan, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Smith (NL)
Draw 2: vs. Balsdon, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 4: vs. Adams, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Comeau, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Heidt, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Smith (SC)
Draw 3: vs. Grattan, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Peddigrew, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Fanset, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Kean, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Stevens
Draw 3: vs. Thomas, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Brewster, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Symonds, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Cotter, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Symonds
Draw 1: vs. Thomas, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Brewster, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Cotter, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Stevens, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Team Thomas
Draw 1: vs. Symonds, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 3: vs. Stevens, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Cotter, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Brewster, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Team Arsenault
Draw 1: vs. Strong, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 4: vs. Thurston, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Hasselborg, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Einarson, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Birt
Draw 1: vs. Robichaud, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 3: vs. Overton, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Montford, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Roth, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Curtis
Draw 1: vs. Sinclair, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 4: vs. Eberle, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Spencer, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Ostlund, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Team Eberle
Draw 2: vs. Spencer, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 4: vs. Curtis, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Sinclair, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Ostlund, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Einarson
Draw 2: vs. Hasselborg, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Thurston, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Strong, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Arsenault, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Hasselborg
Draw 2: vs. Einarson, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Strong, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Arsenault, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 13: vs. Thurston, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. NT
Team Montford
Draw 2: vs. Roth, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Robichaud, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Birt, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 13: vs. Overton, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. NT
Team Ostlund
Draw 3: vs. Sinclair, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Spencer, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Curtis, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 12: vs. Eberle, Friday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. NT
Team Overton
Draw 3: vs. Birt, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Roth, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Robichaud, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 13: vs. Montford, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. NT
Team Robichaud
Draw 1: vs. Birt, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Montford, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Roth, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Overton, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Roth
Draw 2: vs. Montford, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 6: vs. Overton, Thursday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Robichaud, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 11: vs. Birt, Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m. NT
Team Sinclair
Draw 1: vs. Curtis, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 3: vs. Ostlund, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 8: vs. Eberle, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 13: vs. Spencer, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. NT
Team Spencer
Draw 2: vs. Eberle, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Ostlund, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Curtis, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 13: vs. Sinclair, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. NT
Team Strong
Draw 1: vs. Arsenault, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. NT
Draw 5: vs. Hasselborg, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 9: vs. Einarson, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Thurston, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Team Thurston
Draw 4: vs. Arsenault, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. NT
Draw 7: vs. Einarson, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. NT
Draw 10: vs. Strong, Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. NT
Draw 13: vs. Hasselborg, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. NT
A total of 30 men’s and 30 women’s teams will compete in the Tour Challenge with both divisions split into two tiers of 15 teams each. The top 15 teams ranked on the World Curling Tour’s order of merit (OOM) were invited for Tier 1 (if any team declined their spot, the next ranked team on the OOM list was invited). After the Tier 1 lineup was finalized, Tier 2 invites were sent out to the next 10 teams ranked on the OOM list. Five spots were reserved for teams from within the province or region of the event’s location.
Although Tier 2 teams do not earn points in the Rogers Grand Slam Cup standings, the winners receive guaranteed berths to the following Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event, the Masters (Oct. 27-Nov. 1 in Truro, N.S.)
Click to read Tier 2 press release at the Grand Slam of Curling site